Foreword

 Welcome to the  "The Architect's Web," where fantasy and reality are intended to intertwine. 

I am Ella Hartmann, the author of these tales. It is particularly important to note that "The Architect's Web" is an adult story that delves into challenging subjects. Within these pages, you will encounter a diverse array of characters, most are real, several are fictional but each serves as a means of expressing life‘s real journey. Some characters embody moments which are deeply personal to me, while others reflect the extraordinary experiences of individuals I have met—people from around the world whose real-life stories are often more dramatic than the narratives presented here. 

Still, there are those who exist purely within the realm of imagination, offering you the task of discerning between the real and the fantastical. For the sake of privacy, all names have been altered to protect the innocent, while for those who might be less deserving of such protection, their identities have been; shall we say, modestly fully modified. In the process of creating this tale I immersed myself as a volunteer within three centers for people arriving into Europe by irregular methods.

 I found myself within the scenic yet costly confines of Davos, Switzerland. There, I walked the halls of the World Economic Forum's Conference centre, or Kongress Centrum as it is officially entitled. 

I engaged with ANTIFA supporters, in and around Switzerland and listened to their perspective with an inquisitive and sympathetic ear. I also worked voluntarily in 3 different asylum seekers around Europe and had conversations with these souls. I can almost guarantee that if these conversations were included in this story, readers would presume it to be mere fantasy. Maybe they will be.

 Throughout these chronicles, you will encounter an array of vivid characters. I had the privilege of meeting many. I'll refer to them as 'Hans, Emma, Heinrich, and Archie' (aliases, of course), an experience for which I remain profoundly thankful. The experience enlightened me more than ever I was aware of at that time. Although Ivana became a familiar presence in my life, the chance to meet Zara or Maya never came to fruition. While my understanding of Alex is deeply intimate, my connection with other characters is of a somewhat more distant nature. 

Human existence relies heavily on resources like water, crops and oil, yet the sands of time remind us that these lifelines possess an expiration date. This truth propels us toward innovative solutions, such as alternative energy; and other choices which ultimately will determine our journey. Our lives are increasingly influenced by external factors—both human and artificial, and shaped by perspectives once deemed 'normal' but now seen as radical. The stories etched within these pages serve to question if life is an odyssey entirely of our own making; I have no view either way. 

With warm regards,

 Ella Hartmann Author of "The Architect's Web"