This massive, comprehensive guide to Java, weighing in at over 1,100 pages, is dedicated to the principle that more is more. Beginning with basic Java syntax and keywords, the fundamentals of Java are examined in a tour of the basics that is probably as good as any available--in that it mentions important object-oriented design principles early on without getting bogged down in jargon. The book also manages to integrate some Unified Modeling Language (UML)--particularly class diagrams--throughout, making this an up-to-date and effective guide to object-oriented design. Sections on built-in core Java classes for strings, threads, and collections (centering on the new collection classes from Java 2 onward) help build basic Java skills.

The book does a good job of exploring user interface design and graphics under both the older Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) and the new Swing classes. The solid tour of basic image processing and the nicely meticulous tour of user interface components are especially good. Advanced programmers will benefit from the material on the JFC Accessibility APIs; drag-and-drop functionality; and Java Media Framework API (JMF), which permits video and sound streaming.

Later sections move on to coverage of network, I/O, and database programming, including a clear explanation of the (sometimes confusing) support for Java streams. Later chapters on JDBC cover the basics while highlighting new features in Java 2 (which permit updating records, for instance). For advanced developers, a closing section on the powerful Java support for reflection (which allows code to "inspect" Java classes at run time and call methods dynamically) rounds out this capable tour. All in all, this text covers virtually all the topics that Java beginners will need in order to use its core features effectively--and, if you're in a hurry, you can read chapter by chapter. --Richard Dragan