For students with more than a passing interest in carbohydrate chemistry, scientists from Europe, North America, and New Zealand provide an overview of the current status in a number of particular areas perceived to be central at a level between basic texts and specialist treatments. They summarize the working understanding of the structure and syntheses of monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, and glycopeptide units and the properties of some important examples and derivatives including suphates and polysaccharides. Among specific topics are the conjugation of monosaccharides, oligosaccharide geometry and dynamics, shapes and interactions of polysaccharide chains, the chemistry of polysaccharide modification and degradation, and interactions between carbohydrates and proteins. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR