Book excerpt: Energetic materials are distinguished from other materials primarily by the fact that rapid, exothermic reactions can be induced with the release of gaseous products. This complex phenomenon cuts across many boundaries of chemistry (synthesis, kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, quantum and molecular dynamics calculations, etc.) and engineering physics (shock and detonation waves, hydrodynamics, fracture and solid mechanics, defects, etc.). This volume offers the latest chemistry advancements in understanding the complex dynamic processes in these materials in the condensed phase. The focus is on fundamental research into the rates and pathways of rapid exothermic reactions, product specification, diagnostic methods, molecular processes of energy transfer, and molecular processes at extreme pressure and temperature. Many novel materials are discussed.