by Gerard Holzmann

isbn: 0818667826
subject: Nonfiction, Computing, General Science, History
finished: 3/8/1998

The desire for rapid and reliable long distance communication is as old as civilization; The Early History of Data Networks describes the evolution of systems to effect them. It begins around 4000 B.C. with smoke and fire signals, and ends with the optical and electrical telegraphs of the 18th and 19th centuries. I recently had the good fortune to meet Gerard -- his work is described in another book, Design and Validation of Computer Protocols (which is available online, by the way). His research for the first chapter of that book was the inspiration for him to write The Early History of Data Networks. It includes lots of biographical information, many quotes from original sources, and is a fascinating book for people who find this stuff interesting. I guess that last sentence is vacuously true, but you get the idea.