Recent experiments at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory using the 10 TW Novette laser demonstrated increased absorption and conversion to X-rays and decreased production of suprathermal electrons with short-wavelength (<0.5 μm) light. Stimulated Raman scattering was identified as the primary source of suprathermal electrons. The collisionality of the laser/target coupling can be controlled by the proper selection of laser wavelength and target material. This very favourable laser/target coupling has led to achieving high inertial fusion target compressions and to the unambiguous demonstration of the first laboratory X-ray laser.