Book excerpt: There is a major international interest in thin film materials and devices, Future Directions in Thin Film Science and Technology stimulated by important current and projected applications in many areas of information technology and other fields, constitutes the proceedings of the Ninth International School on Condensed Matter Physics. It features invited review articles by over 40 scientists of international repute, covering many aspects of thin film science and technology. Also included is a broad selection of shorter contributed papers by other participants, describing results of their recent research.The book will be of interest to postgraduate students and established scientists involved in the fabrication, characterisation, and applications of thin film materials and devices. The invited reviews will also be of value to final year undergraduates in physics, materials science, and electronic engineering studying many areas of contemporary solid state technology.