Strings, conformal fields, and M-theory

the long version

"String theory (and its latest incarnation, M-theory) has advanced at an astonishing pace in the last decade, and this book aims to acquaint the reader with the most active topics of research in the field. Building on the foundations laid in his Introduction to Superstrings and M-Theory, Kaku discusses such topics as conformal field theory, knot theory, the Yang-Baxter relation, quantum groups, nonpolynomial string field theory, topological field theory, S-T-U dualities, D-branes, and M-theory. The book conveys the vitality of current research in string theory and M-theory and places the reader at its forefront."--BOOK JACKET.