Book excerpt: This book is intended as a textbook for a first course in the theory of functions of one complex variable for students who are mathematically mature enough to understand and execute E - I) arguments. The actual pre requisites for reading this book are quite minimal; not much more than a stiff course in basic calculus and a few facts about partial derivatives. The topics from advanced calculus that are used (e.g., Leibniz's rule for differ entiating under the integral sign) are proved in detail. Complex Variables is a subject which has something for all mathematicians. In addition to having applications to other parts of analysis, it can rightly claim to be an ancestor of many areas of mathematics (e.g., homotopy theory, manifolds). This view of Complex Analysis as "An Introduction to Mathe matics" has influenced the writing and selection of subject matter for this book. The other guiding principle followed is that all definitions, theorems, etc.