diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8aed3d8..a1d99f0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ prolog.consult("knowledge_base.pl")
 ### Foreign Functions
 
 ```python
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip import Prolog, registerForeign
 
 def hello(t):
@@ -77,7 +76,6 @@ print(list(prolog.query("father(michael,X), hello(X)")))
 ### Pythonic interface (Experimental)
 
 ```python
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip import Functor, Variable, Query, call
 
 assertz = Functor("assertz", 1)
diff --git a/examples/coins/coins.py b/examples/coins/coins.py
index 670fac7..a1ae124 100644
--- a/examples/coins/coins.py
+++ b/examples/coins/coins.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -23,27 +21,21 @@
 
 # 100 coins must sum to $5.00
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip.prolog import Prolog
 
-try:
-    input = raw_input
-except NameError:
-    pass
-
 
 def main():
     prolog = Prolog()
-    prolog.consult("coins.pl")
+    prolog.consult("coins.pl", relative_to=__file__)
     count = int(input("How many coins (default: 100)? ") or 100)
     total = int(input("What should be the total (default: 500)? ") or 500)
     for i, soln in enumerate(prolog.query("coins(S, %d, %d)." % (count, total))):
         S = zip(soln["S"], [1, 5, 10, 50, 100])
         print(i, end=" ")
         for c, v in S:
-            print("%dx%d" % (c, v), end=" ")
+            print(f"{c}x{v}", end=" ")
         print()
-    list(prolog.query("coins(S, %d, %d)." % (count, total)))
+    list(prolog.query(f"coins(S, {count}, {total})."))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/examples/coins/coins_new.py b/examples/coins/coins_new.py
index 6f3b403..e12f08b 100644
--- a/examples/coins/coins_new.py
+++ b/examples/coins/coins_new.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -23,19 +21,12 @@
 
 # 100 coins must sum to $5.00
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip import Prolog, Functor, Variable, Query
 
 
-try:
-    input = raw_input
-except NameError:
-    pass
-
-
 def main():
     prolog = Prolog()
-    prolog.consult("coins.pl")
+    prolog.consult("coins.pl", relative_to=__file__)
     count = int(input("How many coins (default: 100)? ") or 100)
     total = int(input("What should be the total (default: 500)? ") or 500)
     coins = Functor("coins", 3)
@@ -47,7 +38,7 @@ def main():
         s = zip(S.value, [1, 5, 10, 50, 100])
         print(i, end=" ")
         for c, v in s:
-            print("%dx%d" % (c, v), end=" ")
+            print(f"{c}x{v}", end=" ")
         print()
         i += 1
     q.closeQuery()
diff --git a/examples/draughts/puzzle1.py b/examples/draughts/puzzle1.py
index 6cc0614..e44bfcb 100644
--- a/examples/draughts/puzzle1.py
+++ b/examples/draughts/puzzle1.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -35,19 +33,12 @@
 # are four guards watching each wall.  How can they be rearranged such
 # that there are five watching each wall?"
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip.prolog import Prolog
 
 
-try:
-    input = raw_input
-except NameError:
-    pass
-
-
 def main():
     prolog = Prolog()
-    prolog.consult("puzzle1.pl")
+    prolog.consult("puzzle1.pl", relative_to=__file__)
 
     for soln in prolog.query("solve(B)."):
         B = soln["B"]
diff --git a/examples/hanoi/hanoi.py b/examples/hanoi/hanoi.py
index 93af1b1..528a260 100644
--- a/examples/hanoi/hanoi.py
+++ b/examples/hanoi/hanoi.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -21,7 +19,6 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from collections import deque
 
 from pyswip.prolog import Prolog
@@ -78,15 +75,13 @@ def draw(self):
 
 
 def main():
-    N = 3
-    INTERACTIVITY = True
-
+    n = 3
     prolog = Prolog()
-    tower = Tower(N, INTERACTIVITY)
+    tower = Tower(n, True)
     notifier = Notifier(tower.move)
     registerForeign(notifier.notify)
-    prolog.consult("hanoi.pl")
-    list(prolog.query("hanoi(%d)" % N))
+    prolog.consult("hanoi.pl", relative_to=__file__)
+    list(prolog.query("hanoi(%d)" % n))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/examples/hanoi/hanoi_simple.py b/examples/hanoi/hanoi_simple.py
index 9b73fde..0fb72ca 100644
--- a/examples/hanoi/hanoi_simple.py
+++ b/examples/hanoi/hanoi_simple.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -21,7 +19,6 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip.prolog import Prolog
 from pyswip.easy import registerForeign
 
@@ -36,8 +33,8 @@ def notify(t):
 
     prolog = Prolog()
     registerForeign(notify)
-    prolog.consult("hanoi.pl")
-    list(prolog.query("hanoi(%d)" % N))
+    prolog.consult("hanoi.pl", relative_to=__file__)
+    list(prolog.query(f"hanoi({N})"))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/examples/sendmoremoney/money.py b/examples/sendmoremoney/money.py
index f70f661..21a4d2d 100644
--- a/examples/sendmoremoney/money.py
+++ b/examples/sendmoremoney/money.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
-# Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -29,12 +27,11 @@
 # So, what should be the values of S, E, N, D, M, O, R, Y
 # if they are all distinct digits.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip import Prolog
 
-letters = "S E N D M O R Y".split()
+letters = list("SENDMORY")
 prolog = Prolog()
-prolog.consult("money.pl")
+prolog.consult("money.pl", relative_to=__file__)
 for result in prolog.query("sendmore(X)"):
     r = result["X"]
     for i, letter in enumerate(letters):
diff --git a/examples/sendmoremoney/money_new.py b/examples/sendmoremoney/money_new.py
index 8b63001..fcbc7a4 100644
--- a/examples/sendmoremoney/money_new.py
+++ b/examples/sendmoremoney/money_new.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
 # pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
 # Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
 #
@@ -29,15 +27,14 @@
 # So, what should be the values of S, E, N, D, M, O, R, Y
 # if they are all distinct digits.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
 from pyswip import Prolog, Functor, Variable, call
 
 
 def main():
-    letters = "S E N D M O R Y".split()
+    letters = list("SENDMORY")
     prolog = Prolog()
     sendmore = Functor("sendmore")
-    prolog.consult("money.pl")
+    prolog.consult("money.pl", relative_to=__file__)
 
     X = Variable()
     call(sendmore(X))
diff --git a/src/pyswip/__init__.py b/src/pyswip/__init__.py
index fd3d872..520d29f 100644
--- a/src/pyswip/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pyswip/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-
-# pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
-# Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip Contributors
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -22,8 +19,6 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-
-# PySwip version
 __VERSION__ = "0.3.1"
 
 from pyswip.prolog import Prolog as Prolog
diff --git a/src/pyswip/core.py b/src/pyswip/core.py
index aa364cd..aed0550 100644
--- a/src/pyswip/core.py
+++ b/src/pyswip/core.py
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-
-# pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
-# Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip Contributors
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -22,8 +18,6 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
-
 import atexit
 import glob
 import os
diff --git a/src/pyswip/easy.py b/src/pyswip/easy.py
index e751d73..04a23bd 100644
--- a/src/pyswip/easy.py
+++ b/src/pyswip/easy.py
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-
-# pyswip.easy -- PySwip helper functions
-# Copyright (c) 2007-2018 Yüce Tekol
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip Contributors
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -22,18 +18,10 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-
 from pyswip.core import *
 
 
-# For backwards compability with Python 2 64bit
-if sys.version_info < (3,):
-    integer_types = (
-        int,
-        long,
-    )
-else:
-    integer_types = (int,)
+integer_types = (int,)
 
 
 class InvalidTypeError(TypeError):
@@ -146,17 +134,8 @@ def __hash__(self):
         return self.handle
 
 
-# support unicode also in python 2
-try:
-    isinstance("", basestring)
-
-    def isstr(s):
-        return isinstance(s, basestring)
-
-except NameError:
-
-    def isstr(s):
-        return isinstance(s, str)
+def isstr(s):
+    return isinstance(s, str)
 
 
 class Variable(object):
diff --git a/src/pyswip/prolog.py b/src/pyswip/prolog.py
index 3aaa117..b695b79 100644
--- a/src/pyswip/prolog.py
+++ b/src/pyswip/prolog.py
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-
-# prolog.py -- Prolog class
-# Copyright (c) 2007-2012 Yüce Tekol
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip Contributors
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -22,8 +18,34 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
-
-from pyswip.core import *
+from typing import Union
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from pyswip.utils import resolve_path
+from pyswip.core import (
+    SWI_HOME_DIR,
+    PL_STRING,
+    REP_UTF8,
+    PL_Q_NODEBUG,
+    PL_Q_CATCH_EXCEPTION,
+    PL_Q_NORMAL,
+    PL_initialise,
+    PL_open_foreign_frame,
+    PL_new_term_ref,
+    PL_chars_to_term,
+    PL_call,
+    PL_discard_foreign_frame,
+    PL_new_term_refs,
+    PL_put_chars,
+    PL_predicate,
+    PL_open_query,
+    PL_next_solution,
+    PL_copy_term_ref,
+    PL_exception,
+    PL_cut_query,
+    PL_thread_self,
+    PL_thread_attach_engine,
+)
 
 
 class PrologError(Exception):
@@ -180,8 +202,11 @@ def retractall(cls, term, catcherrors=False):
         next(cls.query(term.join(["retractall((", "))."]), catcherrors=catcherrors))
 
     @classmethod
-    def consult(cls, filename, catcherrors=False):
-        next(cls.query(filename.join(["consult('", "')"]), catcherrors=catcherrors))
+    def consult(
+        cls, filename: str, *, catcherrors=False, relative_to: Union[str, Path] = ""
+    ):
+        path = resolve_path(filename, relative_to)
+        next(cls.query(str(path).join(["consult('", "')"]), catcherrors=catcherrors))
 
     @classmethod
     def query(cls, query, maxresult=-1, catcherrors=True, normalize=True):
diff --git a/src/pyswip/utils.py b/src/pyswip/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..006cda3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pyswip/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip Contributors
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+# copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+# SOFTWARE.
+
+from typing import Union
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def resolve_path(filename: str, relative_to: Union[str, Path] = "") -> Path:
+    if not relative_to:
+        return Path(filename)
+    relative_to = Path(relative_to)
+    if not relative_to.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(None, "Relative path does not exist", str(relative_to))
+    if relative_to.is_symlink():
+        raise ValueError("Symbolic links are not supported")
+    if relative_to.is_dir():
+        return relative_to / filename
+    elif relative_to.is_file():
+        return relative_to.parent / filename
+    raise ValueError("relative_to must be either a filename or a directory")
diff --git a/tests/test_issues.py b/tests/test_issues.py
index 6ca84a1..ba4c437 100644
--- a/tests/test_issues.py
+++ b/tests/test_issues.py
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import unittest
-import os
-
-current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 
 
 class TestIssues(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -250,8 +247,7 @@ def test_issue_62(self):
         from pyswip import Prolog
 
         prolog = Prolog()
-        path = os.path.join(current_dir, "test_unicode.pl")
-        prolog.consult(path, catcherrors=True)
+        prolog.consult("test_unicode.pl", catcherrors=True, relative_to=__file__)
         atoms = list(prolog.query("unicode_atom(B)."))
 
         self.assertEqual(len(atoms), 3, "Query should return exactly three atoms")
@@ -275,8 +271,7 @@ def test_functor_return(self):
         import pyswip.prolog as pl
 
         p = pl.Prolog()
-        path = os.path.join(current_dir, "test_functor_return.pl")
-        p.consult(path, catcherrors=True)
+        p.consult("test_functor_return.pl", catcherrors=True, relative_to=__file__)
         query = "sentence(Parse_tree, [the,bat,eats,a,cat], [])"
         expectedTree = "s(np(d(the), n(bat)), vp(v(eats), np(d(a), n(cat))))"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_prolog.py b/tests/test_prolog.py
index 59fff35..a870789 100644
--- a/tests/test_prolog.py
+++ b/tests/test_prolog.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 import unittest
 
 import pyswip.prolog as pl  # This implicitly tests library loading code
-from tests.test_issues import current_dir
 
 
 class TestProlog(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -112,6 +111,7 @@ def test_prolog_read_file(self):
         """
         See: https://github.com/yuce/pyswip/issues/10
         """
+        current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
         prolog = pl.Prolog()
         path = os.path.join(current_dir, "test_read.pl")
         prolog.consult(path)
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfca329
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# pyswip -- Python SWI-Prolog bridge
+# Copyright (c) 2007-2024 Yüce Tekol and PySwip
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+# copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+# SOFTWARE.
+
+import os
+import unittest
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from pyswip.utils import resolve_path
+
+
+class UtilsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_resolve_path_given_file(self):
+        filename = "test_read.pl"
+        path = resolve_path(filename)
+        self.assertEqual(Path(filename), path)
+
+    def test_resolve_path_given_dir(self):
+        filename = "test_read.pl"
+        path = resolve_path(filename, __file__)
+        current_dir = Path(__file__).parent.absolute()
+        self.assertEqual(current_dir / filename, path)
+
+    def test_resolve_path_symbolic_link(self):
+        current_dir = Path(__file__).parent.absolute()
+        path = current_dir / "test_read.pl"
+        temp_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory("pyswip")
+        try:
+            symlink = Path(temp_dir.name) / "symlinked"
+            os.symlink(path, symlink)
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, lambda: resolve_path("test_read.pl", symlink))
+        finally:
+            temp_dir.cleanup()