Many applications revolve around data storage within relational databases. Java supports both object serialisation, or persistence and also relational database access via the JDBC (Java DataBase Connectivity) API, which parallels Microsoft's ODBC. This mechanism in conjunction with Java's RMI (Remote Method Invocation) package is the subject of this book. The target audience includes developers who have mastered the basics of Java (a Java tutorial is not included in this book) and have an understanding of relational databases, although this topic is briefly explained.

The book is well presented, with well-commented code. It is closely focused on showing how the Java developer can access a relational database such as Oracle. It develops this single theme in a number of ways, such as a short discussion of client server architectures, 3 (or n) tier architectures and the use of patterns, which has heavily influenced Java's design. Each subject is gently introduced and explained in a way that makes it all seem very simple, this in itself is quite an achievement. This theme is then extended into the distributed database arena and RMI is blended into the mix of subjects.

At around two hundred pages it is quite surprising that the author has managed to pack in so much focused information. The clarity and straightforward progression into what is really quite a complex area impressed me. The code itself is not included with the book, but it can be obtained from a web-site. It looks well laid out and clear, with plenty of comments and so should reward careful study. Java developers who are interested in (JDBC) database programming should get this book.