Cirrus@Austlit

'Patriotism's for those who have never been to War.

'Susan Ulrich is a seasoned avionics engineer. Brian Ulrich, Jason Duhamel and Jedidiah Williams are US marines. But no amount of training can prepare them for the horror that confronts them after returning from a day's paintball skirmish: the smouldering ruins of their lodgings and the twenty bullet-ridden corpses of its other residents. And on meeting the surly Gulf War veteran and owner of the paintball lodge, the four are soon thrust into a desperate struggle that will demand more than their own survival. With ten billion dollars of munitions at stake and a ruthless militia vying to claim them, the race is on to expose the venal politics enshrouding the issue and thwart an initiative to arm every extremist in the East with the finest modern weapons available. ' (Publication summary)

'In Book 5 of the acclaimed Megs series, Edward 'Megs' Morrison and the Vootball Kids are confronted with issues both on and off the pitch that make them take a good, hard look at what they like about Vootball - and resort to some unusual measures to fight for it.

'Off-field issues are reflected in difficulties faced on the pitch. The Simpfenator is going off the rails, Mrs Morrison is slowly losing it, and the pressure of performing in the state team seems to highlight the fact that sometimes parents should just sit in a rocking chair, read the paper and let the kids play.

'Megs and the Wonder Strike is about finding balance in life, about the different shapes and sizes of bullying, and about sticking up for what you believe in. Maybe it's also about you.' (Publication summary)

'When all is said and done, Les Erdi's life on the printed page still is not enough. Here, all that can be done is to create a feeling about the man, his actions and his views on life.

'His views may be abrupt, but they are refreshingly, enthusiastically abrupt, and people respond.

'Right up to the end of this book project, I was still learning things about Les. And I still would be if I didn't find the final full stop. Regularly, an innocently made, arbitrary comment would trigger another anecdote, but I couldn't write a two hundred thousand word thesis, however much more accurately it represents the man.

'Here is a man that knows the meaning of life and has a richness of experience to back it up. Les Erdi has the answer to "why are we here?" and has spent more than eight decades acting on the answer. Topics like Hitler, Stalin, war, business, religion, life, death, football, travel, economics, science and evolution all roll off his tongue with equal enthusiasm and authority. He doesn't just think about meaty subjects, he knows about them.

'So perhaps when faced with the enormity of something that's too enigmatic to truly throw reigns over, it's best to just ride as well as you can. Content yourself with a big picture insight because if there isn't a black and white answer to any one person, then there will certainly never be a way to find something definite to pigeon-hole this little Hungarian born, Australian-Jewish businessman and philanthropist.

'That's just one lesson I'll take away from this experience and it will stay with me long after I write the final full stop. I hope you'll feel the same, because this is what it is.' - Neil Montagnana Wallace

Source: Erdi Group website, http://www.erdigroup.com.au/book.htm
Sighted: 09/08/2010

'Here, a refugee from Sudan is introduced as a new character at Pennendale Primary and player with the Pennendale Wanderers. Megs and the "Vootball Kids" begin to see their own lives through his eyes and the hardship of his background, and once Megs overcomes his initial jealously, the two become friends united by their "crazy legged", trick filled version of the world game. Much of this instalment is set on an English backdrop as the team head off on tour to the home of football to play some top clubs and watch some top level action. Away from home, playing against superior opposition and tired from all the travelling, team unity frays. Can the team put aside pretty difference and unite again? How will they rediscover their joy for playing the game? The fun (and the drama) of the Megs series continues!' (Publication summary)

'Edward "Megs" Morrison's legendary dedication and tenacity are sternly tested in this instalment of the Megs series and not just because he so desperately wants to beat his long standing juggling record. Tougher trials are thrown his way and as he wallows in self-pity, his footballing dreams drift away.

'Will Megs succumb to set back, or show courage and rise to the challenge? Can he adjust his attitude? Is it possible to live a life without football? Megs & the Complete Left Foot is about appreciating that when life throws you a lemon, it's best to make lemonade.' (Libraries Australia)

'After a 5-0 demolition of Bayside Blues in Pennendale Primary's first real match, Megs was on cloud nine. Particularly after he bagged a hat-trick with half the school watching. But after scouring the paper's for Val's report, he was disappointed to see that there were only a couple of lines in the Pennendale Press next to the lawn bowls section and above an ad for Barb and Pete's Bloomin' Great Nursery. Not quite the big time Megs was expecting, it must be said.

'But Megs' competitive spirit would soon be tested when his Wanderers team discover a major prize awaits the year's Champions. And things become even more heated after Pennendale's arch rivals hatch a mean-spirited campaign to ensure things are made even more difficult for the new team on the block. Will the "Vootball Kids" band together in the face of adversity? Will Megs remain focused on football whilst having to face some spiky issues at home? And what lessons in life will the game teach them all this time around? Megs, Scarves & Sombreros is about dealing with racism, overcoming obstacles, and striving for shared goals. Oh yeah... and there's also new tricks, bags of fun, and plenty of football action along the way!' (Publication summary)

'Truth was, he didn't know anything about Australia except that it was a long way away, it was sunny, there were kangaroos, his friends weren't there, and they called football "soccer". What was there to look forward to about that?Edward "Megs" Morrison is starting at a new school. That's hard enough, but to do it in a foreign land makes it even more uncomfortable. At least Megs speaks the language... Sort of. Luckily, football is an international password, and football just happens to be something Edward Morrison loves - but the school has no proper team, because no one is available to coach.Megs makes an unlikely friend of a quirky old Hungarian school cleaner, but will he ever make friends his own age? Will he ever feel at home on the other side of the planet? And with no school team, how will Megs quench his thirst for competitive football?Megs & The Vootball Kids is a story about persistence, dedication and overcoming obstacles. It's about making a difference whatever your background... And it's about football.' (Publication summary)