Stephen Robertson Libri

The Wirral peninsula is a microcosm, having experienced every historical development to have affected England since the Stone-Age hunter-gatherers came. Inhabited in the Bronze and Iron Ages, it was exploited by Romans from their nearby fortress of Deva, then settled by Celts, Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians. Its growing medieval population mainly lived by farming and fishing, but the 19th century brought dramatic changes-colonisation by wealthy Liverpudlians, then the rapid growth of the great urban and industrial centres of Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead and Wallasey. Every aspect of the past lives of its people is explored, and how they moulded today's Wirral.

Challenging the notion of a singular technological rupture in the mid-twentieth century, this work explores the gradual evolution of human thought and invention leading up to the digital age. It traces the history of information technologies from early data processing to the origins of writing systems, weaving together significant milestones in a non-linear narrative. The book emphasizes the cumulative learning and adaptation required before society could fully embrace the information technology revolution.

The narrative explores the human side of war through fictionalized dialogues inspired by true events in Afghanistan. It features a diverse cast of characters navigating absurd situations and complex helicopter missions. The story centers around the Shakedown, a civilian helicopter converted into an escort gunship, highlighting Canada's unique role in NATO. Despite lacking traditional gunships, the crew's effectiveness and humanity shine through, as they respond to ground troops' calls for support with the iconic phrase, "Go for Shakedown."