This is one of a growing number of introductory texts, from both sides of the Atlantic, on simulation. It covers all three simulation paradigms--Monte Carlo, discrete, and continuous--but with a primary emphasis on discrete.

In common with other texts of this kind, the essential aspects of simulation are covered, namely random variate generation, discrete methodology, continuous methodology, validation, and experimentation. There are also entire chapters on the discrete simulation programming languages GPSS and SIMSCRIPT; a large part of the chapter on continuous methodology is devoted to the continuous simulation programming language CSMP. More unusually, there are two interesting chapters on the theory of systems and modeling. In these chapters, the author is able to treat the entire field of simulation coherently, rather than side with one half of the discrete/continuous dichotomy. The author has not resisted the temptation to provide material on the basic statistics and probability theory needed to tackle discrete simulation; a chapter on this sits uneasily in the early part of the text. Unfortunately, there is very little on graphics and animation. This subject plays a large part in simulation these days. It must surely warrant at least a chapter in any new text.

Having said that, it should not be inferred that this book is poor; in comparison with its competitors, it is excellent. The best thing about this book, unlike so many simulation texts, is its balance. The mix of material on the statistical and computing aspects is about right, as is the allocation of coverage to the Monte Carlo, discrete, and continuous paradigms. The emphasis on GPSS, SIMSCRIPT, and CSMP is sensible, given that GPSS and CSMP are, respectively, the most used discrete and continuous simulation languages in the world, and SIMSCRIPT may be the second most common discrete language.

The writing is quite plain, but very readable. There are no obvious errors, or at least none that leap out of the page on first reading. There are, however, a number of comments and statements with which the more knowledgeable reader might disagree, but most of these are a function of the scope of the text since the range of material covered doesn’t leave the author much room for elaboration or discussion.

Given that so many texts on simulation are biased towards the statistical aspects of the subject, include unnecessary secondary material on adjacent topics (for instance, queueing theory), or concentrate on a single programming language, Neelamkavil’s text may now be the best general-purpose simulation text available. It is an ideal book for computer scientists, engineers, etc., who, unfamiliar with simulation, wish to gain a broad overview. It should serve as an excellent text for a one-semester or one-year course on simulation.