The eighth volume of this series comprises six chapters and describes a variety of interesting strained and not so strained molecules and their use - or abuse - in the widest sense. This volume contains a position summary of planar carbon networks, the field of strained allenesis addressed by considering the five- to- nine-membered ring derivatives and this is followed by an introduction to the nature of carbene geometry and the use of ESR spectroscopy in deducing carbene structure. The use of strained molecules in the synthesis of important new compounds of a natural and non-natural nature is a main theme in the volume. Other areas that are discussed are strained carbohydrates, stereocontrolled access to natural products and polymer systems as well as a much sought after contribution to the series on small-ring nitrogen heterocycles.