I was raised in post-war England, in a country still rebuilding after the upheavals of the Second World War. A classical education, together with an early fascination with technology, history and the written word, shaped interests that have remained with me throughout my life.

My working life began at sea, first aboard a trawler and later as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy, serving on ships voyaging to the Persian Gulf, the East Indies and China. Life at sea provided an education of its own. Long passages, demanding conditions and encounters with different countries and cultures gave me a lasting appreciation of both the scale of the world and the connections that bind it together.

After leaving the sea, I began a career in information technology and computer and electrical engineering. My professional life took me through England, Germany and Switzerland before eventually bringing me to Canada. Living and working in different countries broadened my perspective on technology, society and the institutions that shape our lives.

Throughout my career, I maintained a strong interest in history, science, government and international affairs, particularly the way societies change and how ideas, institutions and technology influence their development.

Now retired, I devote much of my time to writing. My books range across history, contemporary affairs, technology, maritime subjects and speculative fiction, drawing upon a lifetime of travel, technical experience and historical curiosity.

I write from a desire to understand how the past shaped the world we inherited, what the present may be telling us, and where the choices we make today might eventually lead. Above all, I write for readers who share that curiosity and enjoy exploring the enduring connections between past, present and future.

John Shenton