diff --git a/scopes-core.asd b/scopes-core.asd
index 359aa7c..39a0e65 100644
--- a/scopes-core.asd
+++ b/scopes-core.asd
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
                (:file "logging" :depends-on ("config" "util/util"))
                (:file "shape/shape")
                (:file "util/util")
+               (:file "util/async" :depends-on ("util/util"))
                (:file "util/crypt" :depends-on ("util/util"))
                (:file "util/iter")
                (:file "testing" :depends-on ("util/util")))
diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index a1e1d08..ff3bfa0 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 (defpackage :scopes/test-core
   (:use :common-lisp)
   (:local-nicknames (:alx :alexandria)
+                    (:async :scopes/util/async)
                     (:config :scopes/config)
                     (:core :scopes/core)
                     (:crypt :scopes/util/crypt)
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@
     (unwind-protect
       (progn
         (test-util)
+        (test-util-async)
         (test-util-crypt)
         (test-util-iter)
         (test-shape)
@@ -82,6 +84,10 @@
     (== (util:plist-add pl :b 1) '(:b 1 :a 0))
     (== pl '(:b 1 :a 0))))
 
+(deftest test-util-async ()
+  (let ((tsk (async:task)))
+    (format t "~%~a~%" (async::taskid tsk))))
+
 (deftest test-util-crypt ()
   (util:lgi (crypt:create-secret))
   )
diff --git a/util/async.lisp b/util/async.lisp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..891c64d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/async.lisp
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+;;;; cl-scopes/util/async - utilities for asynchronous (concurrent or parallel) operations
+
+(defpackage :scopes/util/async
+  (:use :common-lisp)
+  (:local-nicknames (:util :scopes/util)
+                    (:lp :lparallel)
+                    (:lpq :lparallel.queue))
+  (:export #:startup #:shutdown
+           #:task #:start #:restart #:stop #:kill #:status
+           #:mailbox #:send #:receive))
+
+(in-package :scopes/util/async)
+
+(when (not (boundp '+quit-message+)) 
+  (defconstant +quit-message+ (gensym "QUIT")))
+
+(when (null lp:*kernel*)
+  (setf lp:*kernel* (lp:make-kernel 2)))
+
+(defclass task ()
+  ((job :reader job :initarg :job)
+   (taskid :reader taskid :initform (gensym "TSK"))
+   (channel :reader channel :initform (lp:make-channel))
+   (mailbox :reader mailbox :initarg :mailbox :initform nil)
+   (status :accessor status :initform :new)
+   (logdata :accessor logdata :initform nil)))
+
+(defun task ()
+  (make-instance 'task))