The succinct title of this book belies a great breadth ofdiscussion and detail regarding not only ionospheres themselvesbut all those physical and chemical processes upon which theircharacteristics, dynamics and energetics depend.After a descriptive scene-setting first two chapters introducingsolar system neutral and ionised atmospheres, it moves rapidlyand comprehensively into the mathematics of the underlyingmechanisms such as plasma distribution functions, collisionalprocesses, 13-moment transport equations, diffusion and shocks. This requires the reader to have good graduate-level agility inmathematics and, although it is written in a logical and lucidfashion, this may deter readers with less experience. Conversely, it will be welcome reference material for thosewhose work is in plasma and space physics and for whom suchmaterial is essential and yet difficult to come by in a singlepublication. There follows, amongst many other things, anextensive discussion of influences.Such is the authors' determination to provide a completetoolkit for understanding how ionospheres are formed, theirenergy sources and sinks and their coupling to the planetaryatmosphere, that the first real mention of the layers of theEarth's ionosphere does not appear until over half-way throughthe book. It does not dwell on the Earth's ionosphere for adisproportionate time, however, but treats it with commensurateweight to the ionospheres of the other planets, of theirsatellites and of comets. Therefore, this is not, in my view, abook for those who are looking for a comprehensive treatise onthe Earth's ionosphere and its phenomenology; there are severalof those already in print. Instead, this publication standsapart as taking a generic look at ionospheres from firstprinciples. In addition, whereas others often look at theEarth's ionosphere from a geocentric perspective, this worktakes a more global view as if looking on the system fromoutside the planet. It should prove excellent both as atutorial for postgraduate or specialist final-year students andas a reference book for atmospheric scientists and plasmaphysicists.Its value for students is greatly enhanced by the problems setat the end of most chapters and by its extensive appendiceswhich provide fundamental mathematical equations and modelparameters, etc. The set problems, however, are predominantlynumerical or formulaic derivations and are excluded from themore descriptive chapters (e.g. Space Environment, MeasurementTechniques); therefore the student appears to be asked to testtheir mathematical ability more than their philosophicalunderstanding. On the other hand, many of the mathematicalproblems would suit plasma physics students with little directinterest in ionospheres. The final chapter on ionosphericmeasurement techniques seems a little superfluous and patchy butthe general references supplied should be able to satiatewhetted appetites.Ionospheres is a book which I anticipate will appear as astandard on bookshelves both in research laboratories anduniversity libraries. The combined sixty-five years ofexperience of the two authors at the cutting-edge of this topicarea should certainly provide a sound and reliableknowledge-base for dedicated students and academics alike.Dr M J Jarvis Geospace-Atmosphere Transfer Functions,British Antartic Survey,Madingly Road,CambridgeCB3 0ET