For the student of retrovirology, this comprehensive, four-volume, detailed, and often complex publication reviews the state of the art of retrovirology. Despite its size, it is an exciting overview of the remarkable biology of the retroviridae. These volumes are written neither for the internist nor the general medical physician, but for the virologist, the infectious disease specialist, the microbiologist, and the student of molecular biology. On the other hand, any internist who has the wherewithal to get through this long read would profit from the wealth of knowledge offered about retrovirology.

These volumes presume that the reader has a basic understanding of the chemistry of DNA, although the earlier chapters successfully prepare the reader for the complexities of some of the later ones. They can be considered the sequel to previously published books that review this group of viruses, such as Coffin's RNA Tumor Viruses. The Retroviridae sums up the extraordinary discoveries that have occurred in retrovirology in the past 15 years. Some sections, such as Coffin's review of structure and classification, stand out for their excellent and clear discussions. Luciw and Leung's review of the mechanisms of retrovirus replication is also clearly written and lays the groundwork for later chapters. Hematologists in particular will marvel at the biology of the avian retroviruses and the array of complex hematologic disorders that they produce in birds. One can't help but speculate that we might yet discover human retroviruses that act in ways similar to those of these avian agents.

Volume 2 is replete with masterpieces of biology described by major contributors to the field, including a wonderful chapter on cellular receptors by Robin Weiss and a provocative chapter on feline oncoviridae by William Hardy Jr. The chapter on caprine lentiviruses suggests that medical scientists should readdress the role that agents similar to these viruses might play in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Sugamura and Hinuma's review of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) I and II, although interesting, revises the history of the discovery of HTLV I and II by greatly understating the role played by Robert C. Gallo and colleagues, who discovered HTLV I in 1980. In Volume 3, Green and Chen provide a current review of the molecular biology of HTLV I and II.

In Volume 3, we are treated to a wonderful chapter on the simian retroviruses, and the authors are convincing when they argue that we can understand the pathogenesis of human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by carefully studying the simian AIDS viruses. Norley and Kurth describe the complexity of the immune response to retrovirus infection. Their detailed, clear drawings will enhance any lecture on immunology, and their discussion will give the internist or student of immunology a sound basic understanding of modern immunology.

In Volume 4, Levy takes on the task of describing the explosion of knowledge about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite the restrictions imposed by such an attempt, Levy and colleagues provide useful knowledge even for the non-molecular biologist. Conversely, later chapters on intracellular factors, gene factors, and the molecular biology of HIV, although well written, comprehensive, and informative, are not for the general internist or medical professional who wants more practical knowledge of HIV and other retroviruses. A later chapter on the central nervous system and retroviruses provides a superb general outline of the effects of HIV and other lentiviruses on the brain.

These four volumes are studded throughout with chapters on the complex nature of endogenous retroviruses and spuma viruses and a splendid review on oncogenes and autoimmunity, which oncologists and rheumatologists will certainly enjoy and find useful. It takes perseverance to read this work in its entirety, and although that venture would be worthwhile, most readers will use The Retroviridae in other ways. The publication's usefulness as a reference should dictate its inclusion in medical and college libraries.