Cirrus@Austlit

'A direct sequel to Aliens and Alien 3--Weyland-Yutani, the Colonial Marines, and Bishop's creator all pursue the android for the deadly Xenomorph data contained in his brain. Written by T. R. Napper, author of the acclaimed 36 Streets, whose explosive work explores the artificial intelligence and what it is to be human.

'"Do me a favor. Disconnect me. I could be reworked, but I'll never be top of the line again. I'd rather be nothing."

Lance Bishop, model 341-B, on Fiorina 161

'The USCSS Patna has been found.

'Although the synthetic Bishop asked to be shut down forever, his creator has other plans. Michael Bishop seeks the Xenomorph knowledge stored in the android's mind, and brings Bishop back to life--but for what reason? No longer an employee of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, Michael tells his creation that he seeks to advance medical research for the benefit of humanity. Yet where does he  get the resources needed to advance his work, and with whom do his new allegiances lie? 'The USCSS Patna is pursued by Colonial Marines Captain Marcel Apone, commander of the Il Conde and  younger brother of Master Sergeant Alexander Apone, one of the casualties of the doomed mission to LV-426. Also on his trail are the "Dog Catchers," commandos employed by Weyland-Yutani. 'There are many who would profit from Lance Bishop's intimate knowledge of the deadliest creatures in the galaxy.' (Publication summary)

'It's a few days until her eighteenth birthday, and Cass is holding the fort at the Sharp detective agency. All is quiet in the office until a distraught girl runs in, seeking refuge from an rampaging boyfriend who is hell bent on destroying the place. Tara Sharp arrives home from a holiday to find her workplace in chaos. At the same time, she receives an urgent summons by the bikies to do a job for them. It seems they believe she still owes them a favor. As usual with Tara though, all roads lead back to John Viaspa, this time by way of a rival bike gang and John's cousin Abramo. How can Tara keep the bikies happy, the young girl safe, and her mother from finding out about the body in the trunk of her car? Situation normal. Riotous!' (Publication summary)

'At the lake's edge, I made my promise. In the forest, I will fall.

'The curse that haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption.

'To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that sees her living at his side in the land of the dead. And though he claims to have given her all he promised, Leta knows this world of souls and mists hides many secrets.

'When she discovers she is still bound to Rowan, Leta goes to drastic lengths to reforge their connection. But her search for answers, and a path back home, will see her drawn into even more dangerous bargains, and struggling to resist the allure of a new, dark, power in Forestfall by Lyndall Clipstone.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lin 'The Silent One' Vu is a gangster and sometime private investigator living in Chinese-occupied Hanoi, in the steaming, paranoid alleyways of the 36 Streets. Born in Vietnam, raised in Australia, everywhere she is an outsider.

'Through grit and courage Lin has carved a place for herself in the Vietnamese underworld where Hanoi's crime boss, Bao Nguyen, is training her to fight and lead. Bao drives her hard; on the streets there are no second chances. Meanwhile the people of Hanoi are succumbing to Fat Victory — a dangerously addictive immersive simulation of the US-Vietnam war.

'When an Englishman comes to Hanoi on the trail of his friend's murderer, Lin's life is turned upside down. She is drawn into the grand conspiracies of the neon gods - of regimes and mega-corporations — as they unleash dangerous new technologies.

'Lin must confront the immutable moral calculus of unjust wars. She must choose: family, country, or gang. Blood, truth, or redemption. No choice is easy on the 36 Streets.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lizzie Burdett was eighteen when she vanished, and Noah Carruso has never forgotten her. She was his first crush, his unrequited love. She was also his brother’s girlfriend.

'Tom Carruso hasn’t been home in over a decade. He left soon after Lizzie disappeared under a darkening cloud of suspicion, and now he’s back for the inquest into Lizzie’s death – intent on telling his side of the story. As the inquest looms, Noah meets Alice Pryce on holiday. They fall for each other fast and hard, but Noah can’t bear to tell Alice his deepest fears. And Alice is equally stricken – she carries a terrible secret of her own. Is the truth worth telling if it will destroy everything?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The Fathomless Caves deals with the final confrontation with the Fairgean. Before his death, the blind prophet Jorge had foreseen the conjuring of a tidal wave by the sea-dwelling Fairgean, the people of Eileanan's bitterest enemies. Driven by ancient hatreds, the Fairgean have called upon dreadful powers to aid them in their quest to totally annihilate all those that dwell upon the land. As the time of the comet draws ever closer, Lachlan and Iseult try desperately to avert the terrible fate the seer had prophesied, testing their strength and love to the utmost. Meanwhile, Isabeau must travel a dark and dangerous road to fulfil her own destiny. On her journey she must prove herself worthy of both the scar of the Soul-Sage and the ring of the sorceress. Facing old enemies and new, the most difficult challenge of all will be conquering the ghosts of her past. For if Isabeau is to heal the land, she first must find the way to healing her own troubled spirit.'

Source: Author's website. www.kateforsyth.com.au (Sighted 15/4/10)

'Isabeau has remained in exile on the Spine of the World, for Lachlan has not forgiven her for saving Maya from death and giving the Ensorcellor back her daughter Bronwyn. Isabeau is unhappy that her actions should be so misunderstood, but gains some measure of peace getting to know her parents and spending each winter with the Khan'cohbans as the queen-dragon had commanded. The time comes when she must undertake her journey of initiation to the Skull of the World, where the cruel and enigmatic Gods of White will reveal her destiny to her. On this journey she will face many dangers but by overcoming them, will finally discover her true Talent. She is at last free to return to Lucescere and the Tower of Two Moons, where she plans to study to be a sorceress. Meanwhile, Iseult and Lachlan have been busy with the invasion of Tìrsoilleir. While they are away fighting the Bright Soldiers, Margrit the Thistle kidnaps their son Donncan, the heir to the throne, and her grandson, Iain's son Neil. There is no-one but Isabeau left in Lucescere to try and save them. Alone, she has to try and vanquish Margrit, the cruellest and most subtle sorceress in the land.'

Source: Author's website www.kateforsyth.com.au (Sighted 15/4/10)

'After her adventures with the League of the Healing Hand, Finn the Cat finds life at Castle Rurach boring. Snowbound for the winter and faced with the prospect of being molded into 'Lady Fionnghal' by her mother, she pines to be on the battlefront with her father against the sea demons...But Finn's talents are needed elsewhere. Summoned by the Righ, Lachlan the Winged, she must embark on a perilous journey to the Forbidden land to rescue a rebellious prophet whose words can free a land enshrouded in darkness.'

Source: back cover (Arrow).

'Arabella Lane, senior executive at a children’s publisher, is found dead in the Thames on a frosty winter’s morning after the office Christmas party. No one is sure whether she jumped or was pushed. The one person who may know the truth is the newest employee at Parker & Lane – the office temp, Eleanor.

'Eleanor has travelled to London to escape the repercussions of her traumatic childhood in outback Australia, but now tragedy seems to follow her wherever she goes. To her horror, she has no memory of the crucial hours leading up to Arabella’s death – memory that will either incriminate or absolve her.

'As Eleanor desperately tries to remember her missing hours and uncover the events of that fateful night, her own extended family is dragged further into the dark, terrifying terrain of blame, suspicion and guilt.

'Caught in a crossfire of accusations, Eleanor fears she can’t even trust herself, let alone the people around her. And soon, she’ll find herself in a race against time to find out just what happened that night – and discover just how deadly some secrets can be.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'"Rumours in the countryside tell o' a prophecy - they say a winged man will come to save the land, bearing the lost lodestar in his hand. He shall come with the dragons at his shoulder and all the powers o' sorcery at his command."

Synopsis
As Eileanan nears its darkest hour, Meghan must gather rebel forces to move upon the city of Lucescere. There, the Rìgh lies near death and the Banrìgh, Maya the Ensorcellor and her babe stand to inherit his power. To end Maya's brutal reign and bring magic out of the shadows, what was broken must be brought together: Twin sisters who have never met ... three parts of an enchanted key ... and the winged man with the powers of the lost Lodestar.

"On the eclipse o' the two moons, all will be healed or broken, saved or surrendered ..."'

Source: Author's website. www.kateforsyth.com.au (Sighted 15/4/10)

'Lachlan the Winged now holds the Lodestar. He and Iseult have been crowned Righ and Banrigh of all Eileanan and the Far Islands, but dark times still lie ahead...As Iseult's twin, Isabeau, seeks her own destiny beneath the glittering eyes of the dragons, Lachlan is struck by a paralysing curse. And Iseult finds that she alone must lead the country through a terrible and bloody war.'

Source: back cover (Arrow).

'Belfast 1988: a man has been shot in the back with an arrow. It ain't Injuns and it isn't Robin Hood. But uncovering exactly who has done it will take Detective Inspector Sean Duffy down his most dangerous road yet, a road that leads to a lonely clearing on the high bog where three masked gunmen will force Duffy to dig his own grave. Hunted by forces unknown, threatened by Internal Affairs and with his relationship on the rocks, Duffy will need all his wits to get out of this investigation in one piece.' (Publication summary)