This volume is a collection of research articles on the subject of solar flares and flares on other cool stars, which are currently extensively studied using new ground- and space-based instruments, together with highly sophisticated numerical simulations. The collection memorializes the work of a pioneer in the study of solar physics, Professor Zdenek Švestka (1925 Prague – 2013 Bunschoten), a leading expert in the field of solar flares and the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Solar Physics. The book contains many contributions to the conference “Solar and Stellar Flares: Observations, simulations and synergies”, held in Prague during 23 – 27 June 2014, organised in honor and memory of Professor Švestka.

Originally published as Topical Issue of Solar Physics, Vol. 290, Issue 12, 2015.