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I reviewed the first edition ofExploring Javain C Vu January 1997. This edition has been updated to reflect changes in Java 1.1 and is a good introductory book to Java for a reader who has some C/C++ experience (in many places the text compares Java with C and C++). It moves very rapidly but provides sufficient detail to enable the reader to gain a good understanding. For example, Chapter two introduces programming with a basic 'Hello Web' applet, which is then modified to use the mouse to drag the text, a button to change the text colour and the Thread class to blink the text. This quickly introduces fundamental concepts such as objects, methods, overloading, events (only Java 1.1 events are considered), garbage collection, interfaces, exceptions, threads, etc. Following chapters provide an overview of Java tools and the language and detailed explanations of utility classes, threads, I/O, networking, RMI, the AWT and Java Beans. At each stage example programs are presented which enable to reader to gain a practical understanding of the topics covered.

I would recommend this book as a first level crash course in OO and Java for readers who have experience of C or C++. It is easy to read and while moving very rapidly provides sufficient detail to enable the reader to gain a good understanding. It does not come with a disc but all the code can be obtained from ora's web site.