Complex analysis 2. Riemann surfaces, several complex variables, Abelian functions, higher modular functions (Q547832)

The book under review is a faithful English translation of the author's recent German text [Funktionentheorie 2. Riemannsche Flächen, mehrere komplexe Variable, Abelsche Funktionen, höhere Modulformen'', Springer-Lehrbuch. Berlin: Springer (2009; Zbl 1178.30001)], which was reviewed in great detail two years ago. In fact, the present book is the companion volume of the foregoing, meanwhile very popular and widespread introductory text by the author and \textit{R. Busam} [Complex analysis, Universitext. Berlin: Springer (2009; Zbl 1167.30001)], the German original of which first appeared in 1993. Based on courses taught by the author at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and building upon the foundations laid in the first volume, the current text is devoted to a number of more advanced topics in complex analysis, where the main themes are already indicated in the subtitle of the book: Riemann surfaces, several complex variables, Abelian functions, and modular forms of several variables. As the author points out in the preface, these topics are to make the current text a thoroughgoing continuation of the first volume on a higher level, with important conceptual generalizations of the basics as developed in the former. More precisely, the eight chapters of this second volume provide an utmost lucid and comprehensive introduction to the following areas of advanced complex analysis: {\parindent=1cm \begin{itemize}\item[I.]Riemann surfaces; \item[II.]Harmonic functions on Riemann surfaces; \item[III.]Uniformization; \item[IV.]Compact Riemann surfaces; \item[V.]Analytic functions of several complex variables; \item[VI.]Abelian functions; \item[VII.]Modular forms of several variables; \item[VIII.]Appendix; Algebraic tools. \end{itemize}} As for the more specific material covered in the various sections of the single chapters, we may entirely refer to our extensive review of the original German edition, due to the very fact that absolutely no alterations of the presentation have been made in the English translation of the book. However, we would like to stress again that this long anticipated second volume of the author's fairly unique methodological approach to complex analysis stands out by all the features that already characterized the first part of the overall treatise. Those have been circumstantially summarized and appraised in our review of the second English edition of the first volume, and we may refer to this lauding judgement in every regard and detail, as the current second volume breathes exactly the same individual spirit, the same refined cultural viewpoint, and the same didactic mastery as its predecessor. Together with the latter, the book under review is largely self-contained, pleasantly down-to-earth, remarkably versatile, and highly educating simultaneously. No doubt, this fine textbook provides an excellent source for the further study of more advanced and topical themes in the theory of Riemann surfaces, their Jacobians and moduli spaces, and in the general theory of complex Abelian varieties and modular forms likewise. It is very welcome that the English translation of the German original has been made available so quickly!