BKINTBOK.RVW 940408 Prentice Hall 113 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 (515) 284-6751 FAX (515) 284-2607 or 11711 N. College Ave. Carmel, IN 46032-9903 or 201 W. 103rd Street Indianapolis, IN 46290 or 15 Columbus Circle New York, NY 10023 800-428-5331 or Market Cross House Cooper Street Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1EB England phyllis@prenhall.com - Phyllis Eve Bregman is postmaster 70621.2737@CompuServe.COM Alan Apt Beth Mullen-Hespe beth_hespe@prenhall.com "The Internet Book: Everything You Need to Know About Computer Networking and How the Internet Works", Comer dec@purdue.edu It is difficult to find books which give some background to the Internet. Most guides assume that readers are either already thoroughly familiar with computer communications, or are uninterested. The history of the Internet often vaguely mentions military or government projects without giving much idea of the problems which needed solving. Given the growth in computer networking, a reference is needed which lies between non-explanations ("This computer is connected to that computer and they talk to each other.") and the TCP/IP programming manuals. This book fills a lot of those gaps. After an initial introduction to the current state of the Internet, chapters two through six give a very simple introduction to data communications and the need therefor. Those who have any kind of technical background may find the explanations a touch simplistic. With such rapid Internet growth, however, and for those who need some level of explanation without getting beyond their technical depth, this is likely to be very useful. It's easily readable. (It's also accurate.) Chapters seven to ten explain the drive for, and growth of, the Internet including excellent explanations of "why". The basic underlying concepts of the Internet protocols are covered in chapters eleven to seventeen, before the remaining nine chapters describe the primary application level tools of the system. (Actually, I'm jumping the gun a bit here. I've seen two drafts of the book, but the final version isn't done yet. The drafts I've seen have had some problems, particularly in regard to repetition of material and significant variation in reading level from ome section to another. A section addressing the concept of bandwidth, particularly as applied to text versus sound versus video application might also be helpful. The explanation of the tools of the Internet is quite reasonable, although mailing lists get dismissed very briefly while Usenet news gets perhaps a trifle more ink than it really deserves. The latest version, though, shows improvement in many of these areas, and I have great hopes for the final work.) The problems notwithstanding, this is an important addition to the library of Internet references. I heartily recommend it to those involved in network training. To date, the primary source material for the study of the development of the Internet, aside from the RFCs themselves, has been the "Internet System Handbook" (cf BKINTSYS.RVW), but it tends to be written at a technical or academic level. For those at the non-technical level who are wondering what the heck the Internet is (and one of Comer's anecdotes points out the hilarious misconceptions that are abroad), and what it all means, this is your book. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKINTBOK.RVW 940408