This book is the fifth in Chris Date's well known Relational Database Writings series. Like its precursors, the book consists of a collection of papers on various aspects of relational technology. It is divided into four parts:

I. Theory is Practical
II. Relational Database Management
III. The Problem of Missing Information
IV. Relational vs. Nonrelational Systems

This unique collection combines practical advice on how to solve real world implementation problems with more thought-provoking and sometimes controversial articles. The first part consists of installments from Chris Date's regular column in Database Programming and Design magazine in which he takes a variety of theoretical aspects of relational technology and explains, in a non-academic way, just why those aspects are important and why they should be of interest to the database practitioner. In Part II, Hugh Darwen and David McGoveran comment on the true nature of databases and on the status of attempts to implement the relational model in the industry. There is also a detailed introduction to the ideas behind The Third Manifesto - the logical foundation for object/relational databases - something every database professional will want to read. Part III addresses the much discussed but serious issue of missing information and provides a well argued case for why many-valued logics are unsuitable as a basis for addressing the problem. Finally, Part IV provides a critical and sometimes controversial analysis of object databases. In addition, an appendix contains the transcript for a live presentation entitled "Database Graffiti".

Relational Database Writings 1994-1997 continues the tradition established by its predecessors and will need no further recommendation for readers familiar with them. It is essential reading for all serious database students and professionals.