Date: Thu, 09 Mar 1995 13:28:40 EST From: Rob Slade Subject: Book Review: "The Internet Navigator" by Gilster (2nd Ed.) BKINTNAV.RVW 950206 "The Internet Navigator", Gilster, 1994, 0-471-05260-4, U$24.95 %A Paul Gilster gilster@interpath.net %C 22 Worchester Road, Rexdale, Ontario M9W 9Z9 %D 1994 %G 0-471-05260-4 %I John Wiley & Sons, Inc. %O U$24.95 800-263-1590 800-263-1590 212-850-6630 Fax: 212-850-6799 %P 624 %T "The Internet Navigator" There are, of course, a great many Internet guides. Even if you include only the longer guides, with resource information and suggested destinations, I have no less than thirteen on the shelf. "The Internet Navigator", however, is not on my shelf. It is on my desk, constantly. By and large, this is an Internet guide like other Internet guides. A bit of an introduction and some history, then coverage of the major applications (email, ftp, telnet) and the more esoteric ones (gopher, WAIS, World Wide Web). Right from the front cover, though, Gilster avoids the "whole Internet" bias of so many guides and aligns himself with the dial-up user. There is, in fact, a whole chapter devoted to the use of email to access Internet resources; particularly useful to those on commercial online services, business "mail only" connections or Fidonet. There is, perhaps, no one specific that sets this among the top four books that an Internet user must have. It is more a matter of tone and completeness. Gilster is friendly without being sarcastic; mature without being dictatorial; explanatory without being verbose; and comprehensive without being in any way boring. It is, of course, very much easier to point out the flaws. Although Gilster explains "why UNIX," there is a heavy emphasis on the specific commands of mail, trn, elm and other UNIX specific programs. (In the chapter on email access to resources, Gilster has improved the earlier emphasis on CompuServe.) In spite of minor shortcomings, however, this book has a very comfortable feel to it. The material is clear and well-written, with little attempt at the sarcasm or barbed wit of some other beginner materials. One positive factor may be the grouping of functional items together, so that archie, for example, is covered in the chapter on ftp. There is only one icon; a very helpful little ship which points out Internet accessible resources for the item under discussion. The bibliography is, perhaps, more exhaustive than useful. Overall, I highly recommend this either for the beginner to the Internet, or as a very helpful reference for the seasoned Internaut. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994, 1995 BKINTNAV.RVW 950206. Distribution permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated publications. Rob Slade's book reviews are a regular feature in the Digest. Vancouver roberts@decus.ca Institute for Robert_Slade@sfu.ca Research into Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/ User .fidonet.org Security Canada V7K 2G6