Java Programming with CORBA is an excellent introduction to Java application development with CORBA. It is a large book, weighing in at the 700-page mark, that's around 200 pages more than the previous edition.

As you would expect from a book from OMG Press it is technically correct. It is a welcome change to read a book by people who are, not only knowledgeable about their subject, but also know how to convey that knowledge to the reader.

The authors provide an in depth coverage of the CORBA 2.4. The book is better suited to developers new to CORBA, or at least parts of it. The descriptions are concise and complete, the authors don't just scratch the surface and move on. The supporting examples make both good illustrations and useful code snippets.

Highlights of the book are the 'Discovering Services' chapter (providing an excellent introduction to the basic CORBA services) and the 'Events' chapter, which is the clearest explanation of the Notification service I have seen. One disappointment was with the 'Practical POA Programming', which I felt concentrated on the sample applications too much, rather than the technical aspects of the POA.

Another minor blemish is the introduction to Java section, if you don't know Java well enough these 20 pages or so are not going to help. My only negative issue with this book is the lack of a CD. However the entire source is available from the supporting web site.

This is an excellent book that I would wholeheartedly recommend. There is something in this book for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced developers. Its format provides for use as both a tutorial and a reference (the index is useable in this respect).