'This is a very readable, well-written and beautifully illustrated account of some of the most exciting and energetic phenomena in the Universe. The treatment is aimed at the senior undergraduate level but the clarity of the text and the carefully worked examples and exercises make it accessible and interesting to a much wider audience. This book will be appreciated by everyone wishing to know about accreting binaries, active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts, from astronomy and physics undergraduates to research astrophysicists.' Juhan Frank, Louisiana State University 'This is in the best tradition of an Open University text, being self-contained, split into clearly defined sections with worked examples for each concept, and superbly illustrated. The clarity of the discussion is such that any of the chapters could be used in undergraduate courses on accretion, while the entire book gives a very complete survey of the field, making it especially suitable as an introduction for graduate students.' Chris Done, Durham University