In 1987 our world changed for ever. Now in the year 2002 humanity is still trying to adjust to a world controlled by Superheroes.

The United Nations flag now flies over the Houses of Parliament, alongside the fascist standard of the Tabula Rasa and a small, modest looking, Union Jack. The pigeons still fly in Trafalgar Square, and the shit-stained statue of Nelson still watches over his people, but tradition aside, England is nothing more than the fabled ‘Airstrip One’ predicted in Orwell’s 1984.

“It was perhaps inevitable that they would eventually decide we were incapable of governing ourselves. Unruly children can only get away with so much before the frustrated parents decide to confine them to their bedrooms and stop their pocket money. Perhaps we never saw it coming. Perhaps we were naïve in believing they were like us only stronger. We were certainly blinded by the colourful post war antics of the first batch of supermen and women. They certainly weren't to be taken seriously then, nor during the Cold War years, or the early sixties when the old values of obedience to traditional structures of authority still held sway. Even in the seventies when the heroes and villains began to be more politically inspired we still didn't concern ourselves with the bigger picture. But by the mid eighties events were to take a turn for the worse. Our caped crusaders, our Guardians of Truth and Justice grew tired of our petty squabbling and territorial disputes. They grew tired of the way half the world starved while the other half lived in comparative luxury. It was time to take our toys away. It was time to spank our bottoms and send us to bed early. It was time to seize control.”

- Roger Farnham from his introduction to ‘The New World Order’. 456 pp, Secker & Warburg, price £12.99

“When the world’s strongest super heroes banded together and formed the Tabula Rasa, governments shrugged and said, it’s just one more super team to keep an eye on. When the Tabula Rasa intervened in the civil wars that plagued Africa many of the Governments secretly approved as it spared them one more headache to worry about. But when they took control of the UN there was uproar. Not that it made any difference in the long run of course.”

- Jeremy Bowen, BBC1

“The simple fact is they're in charge and we're not. And there's nothing we can do about it.”

- Tony Benn, MP (retired)

“It's just American Imperialism writ on a larger scale. I don't believe a word of this super hero take over. America is behind it. Most of the super heroes are American. It's a conspiracy - the White House is probably issuing their orders as we speak.”

- Michael Shaw, The New Internationalist magazine.

“The only thing Orwell got wrong was the date.”

- Julie Burchill, The Guardian.

“People ask, why did so many superheroes join the Tabula Rasa over the years? The answer is simple when you think about it. Deep down, everyone wants to be on the winning side, don’t they?”

- From a Radio 4 discussion programme.

‘For Your Protection’ and ‘Because You Deserve Peace’ - the slogans on Tabula Rasa posters worldwide.

‘The Tempel of Psychic Youth Loves You’ – anonymous graffiti scrawled on the surface of Tabula Rasa posters throughout London.

Click on the links below

Book 1: Mother London (21 chapters)

1 – Caligula and Conurbia
2 – Kind Hearts and Coronets
3 – Don't Dilly Dally
4 – Blitz Spirit
5 – Thunder and Consolation
6 - Mab's Tale: What Has Not Been
7 - Tea and Sympathy
8 - Foreshadow
9 - Amelia's Tale: Hampstead Brown
10 - Taking Care of Business
11 - House of Cards
12 - Bring me the head of Mary Pawpins
13 - Jakkal's Tale: It Was In Error I
14 - The Mask Within
15 - Hard Day's Night
16 - Clara's Tale: What Flesh May Fail?
17 - Mirror Mirror
18 - Never Tears, Never Bedtime
19 - Downward Spiral
20 - The Hit
21 - For see you the carrot...
22 - ...For feel you the stick.

Book 2: Father Thames