Book excerpt: Elements of Rapid Solidification: Fundamentals and Applications is the product of many years of concentrated work in the field of rapid solidification and processing. This quasi-monograph is unique in two ways. It brings together the talent of many international scientists in an effort to focus attention on all aspects of a new scientific field and it concentrates on fundamentals and practical applications. Simply stated, this book has been written by the senior students in the field of rapid solidification technology for the new generation of solid-state physicists, materials scientists, materials engineers, metallurgists and ceramicists.