This is a concise version of the Encyclopedia of computer science [1]. It is intelligently and thoughtfully organized, and all of the papers it contains are classified around a few main themes: hardware, computer systems, information and data, software, the mathematics of computing, the theory of computation, methodologies, applications, and computing milieus.

There is a wealth of information in the book; it is a great reference guide for computer technology and its applications. Each chapter provides the reader with concise coverage of its topic. I have, as of this writing, read through about half of the encyclopedia, and found it to be of the highest value. The text has helped me gain insights into areas that I am foggy in, and has also expanded my knowledge of areas in which I have some expertise.

To claim that something is a concise version of an encyclopedia of computer science implies a great undertaking; this work succeeds in its task. Lucid and authoritative, this comprehensive work on computer science is a must have for computer science professionals, and for academics who need a refresher. Students will also find it to be highly educational. For questions about theory, this reference could be your first place to look and find answers, with helpful illustrations, diagrams of data structures, tables and charts, and pertinent mathematical formulas.

Because of its encyclopedic nature, this book’s coverage of theory and applications is limited. Even given that, every computer scientist should have a copy to rely on, just as anyone should have a dictionary of his or her native language.