Contains enough material for two semester courses. Introduces the subject from a differential topologists' viewpoint, bridging the gaps to other disciplines and presenting classical but important topological techniques that have not previously appeared in expository literature. A main goal is to provide an exposition of Kirby calculus that is both elementary and comprehensive, there apparently being nothing in the literature that satisfies either condition. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)