Theory of finite groups. An introduction (Q1383005)

A new book about finite groups, and a book we have waited for. This book contains the usual introduction into the field, we can find in many other books too, but and this is the key point, we will get an introduction in the new method in group theory, the amalgam method. Let us start with the chapter headings: 1. Grundlagen (the basic technics for working in groups), 2. Abelsche Gruppe (structure theorem), 3. Operieren und Konjugieren (Sylow's theorem), 4. Permutationsgrupppen (Frobenius groups, wreath products); 5. \(p\)-Gruppen und nilpotente Gruppen (Fitting group, Frattini group), 6. Normalteiler- und Subnormalteilerstruktur (solvable groups, Schur-Zassenhaus-theorem, generalized Fitting subgroup, Scott-O'Nan-theorem), 7. Verlagerung und \(p\)-Faktorgruppen, 8. Operation von Gruppen auf Gruppen (coprime action, minimal action, linear groups), 9. Quadratische Operation (Thompson group, Timmesfeld replacement, Thompson's \(p\)-complement theorem, nilpotence of the Frobenius kernel), 10. Einbettungen \(p\)-lokaler Untergruppen (strongly \(p\)-embedded subgroups, Bender's theorem on primitive pairs, \(p^aq^b\)-theorem, the amalgam method, application to a special case of Goldschmidt's theorem), 11. Signalisator-Funktionen, 12. \(N\)-Gruppen. The first eight chapters contain the basic fundament of an introductory lecture in group theory. The exposition is appropriate to a beginner in this area. Results are well motivated and put into a context with later parts of the book. There are some unusual proofs of standard results, which might be of interest even for experts in this area. There are many exercises of different level of difficulty. Unfortunately, the authors do not tell us which one are easy, which one are hard, and even which one would be a theorem in another book of group theory. There are a couple of misprints which can be corrected by the reader (Lemma 1.6.5 is wrong as stated, the four group is a counterexample). The last four chapters of the book are for a different audience. This also can be seen as now exercises are missing. Here the authors show us modern group theory, the interplay of local and global structure and as a highlight, the power of the amalgam method in the last chapter. This is part of the second author's recent work [J. Algebra 190, No. 1, 11-67 (1997; Zbl 0877.20008)] giving a new proof of the \(N\)-group paper using the amalgam method as a basic tool. The part treated in the book is under the additional assumption that \(C_G(\Omega_1(Z(S)))\leq N_G(S)\) for \(S\in\text{Syl}_2(G)\). Here almost all what has been handled before plays a role. The reader gets a good feeling how strong the methods are and that there are many questions in group theory waiting to be treated by a similar approach. If we would need a proof what an active area group theory is and will be in the future, we could find it in this chapter. All together, we have a well written book, which gives an introduction into the field and furthermore shows us one of the most active recent areas of research. This is the first book which shows us the amalgam method and moreover shows us how it works. Maybe it can get the same influence on group theory today as Gorenstein's famous book got in the late sixtees and seventees. This book should be in any library. We wait for an English translation.