Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Computer Programming

Editor, Richard Dragan

FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL:
* Just off the Presses: Triple discipline Java,
interconnectedness, and introducing compsci.
* What's Hot? Programming bestsellers at press time
* Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century
* Recommended Reading: Perloined objects
* Almost Published: Books that are selling before they've
even been printed
* Featured Reviews: "AI for Games and Animation"
* Featured Store: The Java Shop


JUST OFF THE PRESSES
********************
"Java for Engineers and Scientists"
by Stephen J. Chapman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0139195238/entertainmentsit
There certainly is no shortage of introductory texts on
Java, but Stephen J. Chapman's "Java for Engineers and
Scientists" provides an example-based guide to Java that
draws on problems from math, science, and engineering. "From
the very beginning, this book teaches Java in a style
suitable for use on large projects," the author
says. Remarkably clear and surprisingly accessible, this
book may well be one of the very best choices for learning
Java, provided you have just a little background in math or
science.

"Interconnections: Bridges, Routers, Switches, and
Internetworking Protocols"

by Radia Perlman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201634481/entertainmentsit
The new edition of "Interconnections: Bridges, Routers,
Switches, and Internetworking Protocols" "is about what goes
on inside the boxes that move data around the Internet,"
says author Radia Perlman. "These boxes are variously called
bridges, routers, switches, and hubs." Whatever you call
them, the author's wide-ranging experience with network
protocols will give any network programmer or administrator
all the information required to understand how the Internet
and intranet really work under the hood. This book also
gives the nuts and bolts of all popular packet formats
(including addresses and headers) for all popular packet
formats, including the new IPv6 standard.

"Simply Scheme: Introducing Computer Science"
by Brian Harvey and Matthew Wright
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262082810/entertainmentsit
For anyone learning the Scheme programming language, the
second edition of "Simply Scheme: Introducing Computer
Science" provides a very digestible textbook-style
introductory tutorial to this powerful and elegant
language. In the words of the authors, "Simply Scheme" is
designed to be a prequel to another book, "Structure and
Interpretation of Computer Programs." This latter title has
been a staple of introductory computer science courses for
years, but it assumes a certain background.


WHAT'S HOT?
***********
At the top of this month's Programming bestseller list are a
core Java 1.2 resource, a Windows gamer programming guide,
and programmer's manual for Java servlets.

"Core Java 1.2 , Volume 1: Fundamentals"
by Cay S. Horstmann and Gary Cornell
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130819336/entertainmentsit
If you need to get something done in Java, "Core Java 1.2,
Volume 1: Fundamentals" is one of the best books you can
turn to for assistance. It's devoid of shaky, academic
examples and packed with robust demonstrations that
illustrate hundreds of powerful concepts. This book begins
with an explanation of the Java programming and execution
environments in general terms and then provides specific
examples of how to put key parts of the core packages to
work.

"Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus"
by Andre Lamothe
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0672313618/entertainmentsit
Written by game programming expert Andre LaMothe, "Tricks of
the Windows Game Programming Gurus" takes the reader through
Win32 programming--and that's not all. You'll get
information on the major components of DirectX and
DirectMusic; 2D graphics and rasterization techniques; and
extensive coverage of game algorithms, multithreaded
programming, artificial intelligence (including fuzzy logic,
neural nets, and genetic algorithms), and physics modeling.
After all this, you'll be ready to create a Windows
9X/NT-based game for the PC.

"Java Servlet Programming"
by Jason Hunter, with William Crawford
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156592391X/entertainmentsit
"Java Servlet Programming" is a superb introduction to Java
servlets and their various communications mechanisms. It
includes deep and comprehensive coverage of the Java Servlet
API, and also of HTTP, non-HTTP socket communications,
Remote Method Invocation (RMI), and more. Throughout, the
authors present excellent illustrative code and go to much
effort to explain why things work the way they do.

Explore our top 50 computer titles, updated weekly:
Computers & Internet


AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY
*******************************************
As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at
the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100
years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by
decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end
of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast
your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our
best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our
customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles.
Books of the century


RECOMMENDED READING: PERLOINED OBJECTS
**************************************
"Object Oriented Perl"
by Damian Conway and Randal L. Schwartz
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1884777791/entertainmentsit
Most programmers know that Perl is a great language for "ad
hoc solutions that are quick, cryptic, and unstructured. But
Perl can also be a great language for developing large and
complex applications" argues expert author Damian Conway.
His new book, "Object Oriented Perl," is simply a tour de
force guide to Perl development using objects. Filled with
tips for design and better performance, this book is all you
need to harness the new object-oriented capabilities of
today's Perl.


ALMOST PUBLISHED
****************
Programming guides that have garnered the most pre-orders
from Amazon.com customers--before they've even been
published.

"Mastering Delphi 5"
by Marco Cantu
Publication Date: October 1999
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782125654/entertainmentsit
This latest edition of "Mastering Delphi 5" introduces
programmers to Delphi 5's new features, along with new
techniques such as creating Internet-enabled applications.
You'll learn how to use direct calls to the Windows API to
add features to existing applications. Cantu introduces
basic programming topics and presents detailed examples of
COM, CORBA, and advanced ActiveX implementations.

"Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming"
by Joe Celko
Publication Date: October 1999
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558605762/entertainmentsit
In the SQL database community, Joe Celko is a well-known
columnist and purveyor of valuable insights. In "Joe Celko's
SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming," he picks up
where basic SQL training and experience leaves many database
professionals, and offers tips, techniques, and explanations
that help readers extend their capabilities to top-tier SQL
programming.


FEATURED REVIEWS: "AI FOR GAMES AND ANIMATION"
**********************************************
"AI for Computer Games and Animation: A Cognitive Modeling Approach"
by John David Funge
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568811039/entertainmentsit
Written for the mathematically knowledgeable researcher or
game developer, "AI for Games and Animation" shows how games
and simulations can benefit from techniques borrowed from
cognitive robotics. Simply put, this book shows how video
game characters can be taught to "think" for themselves.
While this book features formal mathematical proofs of its
arguments, it also provides a worthwhile overview of how
today's video game characters are currently programmed, as
well as future possibilities for making them "smarter" (and
more realistic) through techniques borrowed from AI and
robotics.


FEATURED STORE: THE JAVA SHOP
*****************************
Our Java Shop features the best selections for those of you
starting from ground zero with the Java programming
language--you'll find the right books on our well-stocked
shelves. Intermediate Java programmers and Web site
designers will also find titles to fit their skill
level--there's "Ready to Run Java 3D," "Developing JavaBeans
Using VisualAge for Java, Version 2," and "Java Modeling in
Color with UML."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=java&tag=entertainmentsit

******

Give the Perfect Gift -- Get the Perfect Gift

Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an
Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the
unwanted gift.
Wish list



Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas?
Send him an e-card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish
List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire.
Wish card

******

You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and
interviews in Amazon.com's Computers & Internet section at
Computers & Internet


******

Search:

Keywords:

In Association with Amazon.com


Copyright 1999 Amazon.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1