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C Vu is published six times a year. As a periodical aimed at programmers working with C, C++ or Java as their principal languages it includes a wide range of material. All the contents are written by programmers but with differing perspectives and levels of expertise. One thing they share is a highly critical view of what is being offered in books.

Books are expensive, and computing books are extremely expensive. It is not unusual for a book on programming to cost more than an elegantly produced glossy full colour coffee table production. If such books were accurate and accurately described we might excuse the cost. Unfortunately many are inaccurate to the point of being dangerous.

Among the reviews on these pages you will find bluntly critical comments. Some of these addressed to books by well-known authors whose knowledge is far from current.

We aim to warn you about the bad books as well as point you towards the good ones.

If you are reading this it is because you have an interest in books on programming. You probably realise how easy it is to spend a hundred pounds or more on books. I guess, unless you have been lucky, you also know how easy it is to waste a hundred pounds or more.

More disturbing from my perspective is to know how easy it is for people to not know that they have just wasted both their time and money on buying and reading books that are seriously faulty. When a piece of equipment fails to work it is usually fairly obvious. Only the really unlucky discover faults by disasters. Equipment manufacturers have to recall dangerously faulty equipment. When did you last hear of a book being recalled because it contained dangerously inaccurate information?

Do both yourself and good authors a favour by refusing to be fobbed off with inferior products.

One small element of ACCU's work is to direct your money into the pockets of authors who deserve their royalties and away from those who do not.

Francis Glassborow
Editor, C Vu