AustLit

'A handsome clockmaker fixes a broken time machine to help a cursed lady. A young scientist betrays his people to protect an alien species. A girl bonds with her new technological helper and sees in him a personality and a soul. A boy finds his whole life changing when his best friend writes in a mysterious notebook. A crew aboard a settlement spaceship discover that sleeping passengers have gone missing.

'Come on a journey of exploration with aliens, spacecrafts, bewildering technology and even ghosts. There’s friendship, strong families and romance. In these seventeen stories humanity is pushed to its limit and forced to question what is most important in life.

'Lynne Stringer and RA Stephens bring together a collection of fantasy and science-fiction stories based in worlds that are not quite our own.

'Authors include Penny Jaye, Emily Larkin, Janeen Samuel, Stephanie Martin, Catriona McKeown, Rosanne Hawke and many more.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'As Princess Vashta of the Vendel finishes her combat training, she hopes she will lead their forces into battle against her race's deadly enemy, the Verindal. But when Brandonin, the heir to the Verindal throne, comes to see her father, it's clear he desires peace, not war.

'When a new enemy arises, striking at all who call their planet home, each race blames the other, even though the princess is sure this danger comes from somewhere new. She seeks Brandonin's help in fighting this menace, but what can they do when both Vendel and Verindal refuse to work together? Can they defeat this deadly threat themselves or will it mean the end of life on Verindon?'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'After a normal day turns disastrous, Madison Craig tries to put her life back together. She’s jumping at shadows and finds even familiar places terrifying. Can she forgive the men who hurt her?

Her friend Evan Mansfield sees no need to do anything but hate their assailants. He struggles with bitterness, but Maddy wants to move on. But what will she do when one of the men asks for forgiveness? Is it the only way forward for her?' (publication blurb).

'Sarah hates the prestigious high school she attends. Most of the other students ignore her. School is only made tolerable by the presence of Dan Bradfield, the boy she adores. Dan is the heir to his father's multinational computer company, but he is dating Sarah's best friend, Jillian.

When tragedy strikes, Dan is the one who supports Sarah. But she can't shake the feeling there is something strange about him. Is he protecting her from something? Is there something going on that she doesn't know about?

'And did she really see a monster in the bushes?

'Sarah is desperate to uncover the truth, but it could take her to another galaxy, and change everything she believes about who she is. Will it bring Dan and Sarah closer together or tear them apart?'

(Publisher's blurb)

'As Sarah tries to live with the knowledge that she and Keridan can never be together, she accepts a pledge of allegiance from the graduating class of agents. But this allegiance will be tested when an unexpected visitor arrives on Verindon; a visitor with a shocking secret. How will this affect Sarah’s reign?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Five months after arriving on Verindon, Sarah’s coronation is rapidly approaching. An unknown enemy seems determined to kill her before she can be crowned. With assassins all around her, Keridan and his squad of agents hide her to keep her safe.

'But will the danger follow her?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.