Book excerpt: Reports in this collection, first published in 2001, address progress and problems in the emerging field of microphotonics. Papers highlight materials systems with high refractive index contrast and processing; microcavities and spontaneous emission enhancements; high-speed photonics and nonlinear optics; tuning and detuning of resonators; waveguides and low bending losses; filters and splitters; and detectors. Topics include: microphotonics and lithographic structures; theory, simulation and enhanced emission; waveguides and emitters; novel material photonic crystals; fabrication of photonic crystals by self-assembly; and patterning and templating of photonic crystals.