In the past year several colleagues have inquired whether this book
might be reprinted. But it was not at all obvious that after 33 years the
book would still command enough attemion in the community to justify
the cost. Consequently, James Bishop, of Computational Physics, Inc. in
Fairfax, Virginia, undertook to sample the interest in a reprint among
current research workers and university teachers. The response was
gratifying and seemed sufficiently strong to warrant a reprint edition.
Although a thorough revision would have been desirable, that task
looms herculean against the effort I am able to muster, and I have had
to be content with some "Notes and Erram" that I hope will aid the
reader in finding up-to-date material.
I am indebted to James Bishop for his initiative and owe thanks to
John Winckler at the University of Minnesota and Geoffrey McHarg at
the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for their encouragement.
Charles Arthur at Academic Press has been extremely cooperative
in arranging for a transfer of the copyright, thereby allowing the
publication of the reprint to proceed.