Book Reviews Symbolic Computing with Lisp and Prolog by Robert A Mueller and Rex L. Page Co|orado State University Published by John Wiley and Sons 605 Third Ave New York, N.Y. 10158 Reviewed by Faisel Saeed Department of Computer Science OMahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone (405)-744-5668 This book covers the major portions of symbolic computing and denotational (declarative)programming. The main thrust of the authors is to contrast and compare the two major tools for symbolic computing, viz. Lisp and Prolog. For this purpose, the book has been sub-divided into the following four major sections: Section Section Section Section I: II: III: IV: Lisp; Prolog; Lisp vs Prolog; and Applications. topics covered for each language includes, notation for data and variables, relations containing facts, list manipulation, recursion, unification, debugging, input/output, backtracking, higher-order functions, and manipulation of numbers. The examples given in the first half of the book help programmers with intermediate and high level of proficiency in conventional high-level programming languages, to familiarize with the different approach adopted by Lisp and/or Prolog. The examples in the latter two sections help the reader observe the similarities and differences between the two languages. Thus the reader starts with tasks as simple as establishing/declaring facts in the form of lists and is guided through with the help of detailed examples and (solved) skill-building exercises to engaging applications dealing with substantive issues like natural languag.e parsing, two-opponent games, and automated theorem proving. However, only a subset of Lisp and Prolog is discussed. These subsets include only the parts of the languages necessary for presenting the declarative version of the algorithms presented in the book. A discussion on the limitations of the respective languages to fulfill all the requirements of the first-order logic wold have significantly contributed to the material. Also, some important topics such as the difference lists have not been duly presented. The index given at the back of the book is weakly constructed and has no cross-reference. For instance, the different search strategies discussed in the applications section are listed only under their respective names and none of them is listed under the keyword "search". In general, this book can be used for self-guided learning in the areas of symbolic computing and denotational (declarative) programming, or as the textbook for an elementary course in Artificial Intelligence covering either one or both Lisp and Prolog. Each of these sections is further sub-divided into several chapters covering different aspects of the topic. Every chapter contains a variety of examples, solved respectively in Lisp or Prolog in the first two sections and in both the languages in the last two sections. Also, each of the chapters is followed b y a chapter summary, bibliography notes, and a set of exercises. The spectrum of S I G A R T Bulletin Vol. 1, No. 1

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