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3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 SCIENCE IN the vast and wide world of literature, the themes can be diverse and powerful, but some of these can be found more frequently than others in the framework and story plots. A universal theme, and a strong one at that, is undoubtedly the theme of love, and this is more so because love is a sentiment strongly entwined with human nature. Love, in all its diverse forms, presents to us a vast range of emotions, which can change from moments of ecstasy to moments of despair. Love is a feeling that every- one, at one time or another, in one form or another, has expe- rienced, and felt. This strong sentiment, as conveyed in the various literary works, gives us the opportunity to explore in depth the complex labyrinths of human emotions. All this lends itself to better understand the human condition. Themes of love present a rich landscape of human conditions and emo- tions, which help us all the more to perceive the world through a kaleidoscope of perspectives as presented to us by the author. This is, in fact, what the author, Edgar Formosa, is presenting to us in his latest book, L-Aħħar Żifna u Stejjer Oħra, a collection of three long short stories. The central theme of these stories is the sentiment of love in all its diverse aspects and innuendos. We do not see a stereotype of love, far from it. We do not see it catalogued and classified in vari- ous rigid modes and forms, as to how it should be seen and how it should be. Who tells us that the stereotyped concept of how an amorous relationship should be is truly the best one? Appearanc- es can be deceiving. The three long short stories are different from each other, they feel dif- ferent from each other, but if we analyze them to the core we find that, after all, they are the same. All three are instilled with a love that is strong and sincere; we can feel the respect, the acceptance, the compassion, the friendship, the heartache, the passion, the beauty and the vulnerabilty of love. Realities which anyone could have encountered in life. The reader will see the multi-di- mensional nature of human rela- tionships. These three long short stories will take the reader to a total- ly new world from the one ac- customed to. The element of fantasy, which the author uses often in his works, runs openly throughout the entire book, and therefore it is all the more im- portant that the reader will make a conscious decision to overlook the implausibility of the narra- tive in order to engage with the story and enjoy it. In short, this is termed 'Suspension of Disbelief'. This same 'Suspension of Disbe- lief' gives the author the liberty to create worlds and situations which are not on par with reality. It enables the reader to immerse himself in the narrative, and to accept the fictional world and its rules, its beauty and its magic, its internal logical structure. Only then can the reader fully expe- rience the narrative's emotional and thematic depth, and have a deeper connection with the nar- rative and the characters in it. In the long short story entitled L-Aħħar Żifna, we meet Imelda, a widow, a lovable old woman, who spends the last years of her life in Aged Care. In the years she spends there, she remembers all that she experienced in her life, and most importantly, the beau- tiful moments that she spent with her late husband, Victor. She wishes to relive those mag- ical moments. On one particular night, she has a visitor ... was she expecting this visitor, or not? What did she have tucked up her sleeve? What was she planning? Then we meet Mapansha in the long short story entitled Il- Ġrajja tal-Kelba li Ħabbet Tajra. How unique is the love between the dog and the owl! Is it at all possible that an owl could fall in love with a dog? As the author so wisely puts it, yes, it is possible indeed! Apart from the allego- ry in the story, the reader is en- couraged to never lose hope in love, to believe that true love, in its pure and beautiful form, truly exists. They say that, aesthetical- ly, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. This applies to both the owl and the dog, in this case, and not only to us people. We, as humans who feel, can truly learn a lot from this long short story. In the third and final long short story entitled Il-Qamar kien se jegħreq f'dak il-Lejl, we find James who feels a strong attraction to the moon, but he does not understand why. Nev- ertheless, is the moon really the moon as we know it? What does James' dream mean? Amazing- ly enough, the dream that he is having, continues night after night, and strangely enough too, always developing! Will James fi- nally find the answer that he so desperately wants? It is this beauty shown in the sincere and beautiful love that is felt throughout every page of this book that makes the world what it is, a beautiful world, a better world, a place of peace and love, respect and kindness, a world where isolation and heartache can be minimised. What would the world be like if none of the sentiments in the three long short stories existed? It would be an extremely tragic world. Evil still exists out there, but evil can be overcome, with a strong will, and love. The reader is thus invited to embark on an emotional jour- ney, which can foster a sense of empathy and understanding that goes beyond the written word. The book will be on sale during the National Book Fair in No- vember, and from all the major bookstores. This review was written by Out- look Coop. Author: Edgar Formosa Publication House: Horizons Date of Publication: Septem- ber 2025 Book review L-Aħħar Żifna u Stejjer Oħra Red Arrows return this weekend for The Malta International Airshow HELD every two years, Mal- ta's skies are set to impress this weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, as the Malta International Air- show 2025 returns with a full- on weekend of aviation action. The highlight for many spec- tators will be the return of the world-famous RAF Red Arrows, dazzling the crowd with their incredible precision aerobatics and breathtaking formations. This year's airshow boasts an extraordinary lineup of inter- national participants. The Ger- man Air Force will showcase its Eurofighter and Tornado solo display teams, while Solo Türk will return with their renowned F-16 display. The French Navy's agile Falcon 10 MER, the Slove- nian Air Force PC-9M, and the Italian Air Force HH-139 rescue helicopter are among the aerial highlights, offering captivating flying demonstrations over St Paul's Bay. On the ground, the static dis- plays are equally fascinating. First-time visitors can see the Jordanian C-130H Hercules, the Austrian Air Force C-130K, and the USAF TC-135W Stratolif- ter. Italian participants feature prominently, including the Na- vy's EH-101 Merlin, Guardia di Finanza's ATR P-72B, and PH- 139D helicopters. Civil aviation fans will enjoy Harmony Jets' elegant Dassault Falcon 100, Challenge Group's Boeing 767 freighter, and classic airworthy aircraft from the Malta Avia- tion Museum, such as the Tiger Moth and Piper Cub. The flying display will be best viewed from the St Paul's Bay coastline, while the static air- craft are located at Safi Aviation Park and the easyJet Engineering Apron near Luqa. Gates open mid-morning, with flying dis- plays starting early afternoon on both days. Tickets are available online or at the gate, with options for sin- gle-day entry or a full weekend pass. Reduced rates apply for children. Food and drink ven- dors, merchandise stalls, and dedicated photo zones will en- sure a full day of entertainment for all ages. For the latest announcements, weather information, and daily briefings, check the airshow's of- ficial Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. A detailed FAQ and contact information are also available online. There's no denying that the Malta International Airshow 2025 offers a brilliant experi- ence for aviation enthusiasts and casual spectators alike. So, look to the skies above St Paul's Bay and prepare for a weekend of speed, skill, and astonishing aerial feats as the Red Arrows return to Malta!