Ever wondered where the fable of Father Christmas came from? Well, here is an imaginative answer. Set in the forests of the cold north one Yuletide Eve long ago, A Father Christmas Story tells of strange encounters and mysterious events. The tale provides an account, in keeping with the spirit of the festive period, of the first appearance of Father Christmas. It is the story of one man's appointment with destiny and a meeting that changed the world forever. Conveying the true meaning of Christmas, this unusual and engaging book is full of familiar Christmas images.

How will information and communication technologies shape our future? What will the world be like in 10, 20 or even 30 year's time as a result of further advances in such technologies as the Internet? Will the application of these technologies in every aspect of human activity - in the home, at work, in public spaces, in hospitals, etc. - be a blessing or a curse? This book attempts to provide some answers to such questions, but without the resorting to unrealistic and exaggerated expectations. Based on the considered views of several European experts, European Visions for the Knowledge Age...

One book, two tales, one story; A Tale of Two Deserts is a literary work most unusual. Consisting of two very enigmatic tales set in two deserts separated in time by two thousand years, the book speaks to the contemporary world of that which is in danger of being lost, and warns of the dangerous and damaging delusions that are condemning humanity to a bleak future. The desert of the first tale, being a desert literal, is a place where people have very little, but most of that which matters. The desert of the second tale is a desert figurative, where people, dominated by collective delusions,...

In the best tradition of Christmas stories, Father Christmas Adventures provides a celebration of the festive season, while also critiquing contemporary society. Consisting of three short tales, all involving Father Christmas, this book delivers fables with unexpected twists and encounters, resulting in a degree of novelty that is rarely seen in this genre of fiction. Starting with a light-hearted account of what happens to parents who do not believe in Father Christmas, the book then offers a story where Father Christmas shows his concern for humanity's often damaging attitudes towards the...

Encounter with a Wise Man was first published as part of a trilogy of short stories all involving Father Christmas. It is published here, on its own, as a fable that speaks clearly of the follies which are enslaving the minds of the peoples of the world, leading to a future that must not be. Being without doubt an unusual tale from the mind of a highly creative writer, Encounter with a Wise Man contains a powerful message and a warning to contemporary civilisation, for which the notion of wisdom is rapidly taking a back seat. What is becoming all too prevalent instead are the fruits of the...