While Paul Georgiou’s ‘Adventures in…’ series may first appear to be children’s fairy tales, it’s a pleasant surprise to learn that they’re also geared toward adults, re-teaching vital topics they have likely forgotten since their own younger days.

The series kicked off in 2014 with ‘Adventures in Grammarland’ (co-authored with Chris Prendergast) which saw remarkable success as it redefined adult fiction in a way not seen before. Georgiou is now back with ‘Adventures in Numberland’, compelling readers to focus on the importance of numeracy through a timeless adventure story. 
   
The hero is Piff, the wood-cutter’s daughter, a beautiful, strong-minded young girl who is thrown out of her home by her fat and lazy step-mother. Alone in the forest, Piff meets the fairy, Numberlina, who decides to help Piff by showing her how useful numbers are and how powerful they can be in life and in business. In return Numberlina wants a share of the profits they make while developing the wood business - and help in dealing with the Anathemath, an evil and confusing spirit, shrouded in a noxious green cloud. 
   
Piff develops the wood business successfully, moving into furniture manufacturing and finally ship building. While expanding her business, Piff learns from Numberlina the importance of all the numbers (including pi, phi and e). Because of her success, Piff attracts the unwelcome attention of the greedy Prince Baltigral who owns almost everything in Numberland. Baltigral, not the sharpest sword in the armoury, has enlisted the help of the Anathemath, to mislead, suppress and exploit the population of Numberland. 
  
In the end there is a final cataclysmic numerical struggle between Piff, backed by Numberlina, and Prince Baltigral, aided by the Anathemath. 
   
“At its core, this book carries a very important message about numeracy and the need to be proficient at it in life,” explains the author. “While primarily geared to adults, the book’s enchanting story means it will also appeal to anyone over the age of 12. In fact, it’s especially useful to younger people currently developing their own numeracy skills.” 
  
This book challenges readers with puzzles, thought-provoking life lessons and a series of anagrams that flit effortlessly between fiction and the real world. There’s nothing else quite like this out there. With the series being so unique and well received, the good news is that there’s plenty more to come!”