How many times have you picked up a Java book which purports to be for advanced developers, only to find that it is just another case of let's show them how to program anyway starting from Hello World and then add a single chapter at the end which explains all the advanced topics superficially?

Thankfully, the cover of 'Advanced Techniques for Java Developers' doesn't lie. In 500 pages it describes topics including Networking and I/O, JavaBeans and Enterprise JavaBeans, Servlets, Threads, Security, Java Native Method Interface and Java Database Connectivity. Hello World does make an appearance, but in the context of a client/server architecture, in the Remote Method Invocation chapter. Final chapters include Understanding Network Computers and the JavaOS and the Future of Java.

The revised edition covers the Java 2 platform, although if you are developing enterprise solutions in Java 1.1 don't be put off looking at this book. This just seems to refer to the two chapters about Java Foundation Classes and Java Media Framework at the beginning of the book, plus a small section related to Security.

The content of each chapter is well presented and highly readable, with important tips highlighted in strong type and related ideas shown in a separate box-out. Code listings are clear and understandable with appropriate comments and explanations in the text surrounding them - I would say the split between prose and code is roughly 70:30.

An accompanying CD contains the source code featured in the book, the Java 2 platform and documentation and the Java City multimedia demo.

It's refreshing to find a book that examines a number of complex techniques within one volume so clearly and effortlessly for the reader. Obviously it cannot cover every facet of the topics included but it serves as an excellent jumping off point. Highly Recommended.