1. The Workshop and this Tome In the excellent bucolic setting of SchloB Ringberg in Upper Bavaria, over 50 scientists assembled during the week of 23-28 September 1996 to discuss recent results, both theoretical and observational in nature, on the large scale structure of the Universe. Such a topic is perhaps nowadays far too encompassing, and is essentially all of what we used to call "observational cosmology. " The original philosophy of the organization of this meeting was deliber ated aimed at the younger community and their contributions. As a conse quence, the content of the presentations was refreshingly new, as it should be. In spite of the deficiences caused by the lack of certain key researchers in this field, for one reason or another, the final result was rewarding to all. Although the conference was held in Fall 1996, the contributions contained herein were submitted as late as Spring 1998, thus the content maintains some degree of trendiness. Originally the current volume was to be a "proceedings. " This refers to the usual archival tome that fills one's shelf and is rarely consulted, except to see the canonical group photo, which by the way, we also have. Nevertheless, I wanted something more than that. Although the field is rapidly changing, with so-called facts in a state ofconstant volubility, now is a good time for reflection prior to the commencement ofthe Sloan Survey, presumably the definitive large-scale program of low- to moderate-redshift galaxies in our lifetime.
"The Evolving Universe" is a compendium of topics on and related to the large-scale structure of the Universe. These include galaxy luminosity functions and their dependence upon environment and galaxy type; clustering of galaxies; evolution of the clustering of galaxies; rich clusters of galaxies; superclusters of galaxies; and analyses of redshift surveys both old and new. With the impending commencement of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, presumably the definitive survey of nearby and moderate-redshift galaxies in our lifetime, the time is ripe for sober reflection of what has been recently accomplished and the directions that future research should take. The centerpiece of "The Evolving Universe" is the seminal review by A. Hamilton on linear-redshift distortions.Results are presented from the following surveys: The Norris Survey (Palomar), the Munster Redshift Project, the ESO Slice Project, Southern Sky Redshift Survey, CfA surveys and their extensions, Las Campanas Redshift Survey, CNOC, and CFRS. Theoretical analyses of luminosity functions, CMB-X Ray correlations, Cosmic String Models, Power Spectra, and quasar absorption line studies are also included.
Scientists in the field as well as graduate students in astronomy will find "The Evolving Universe" to be a useful reference for current research as well as an explanation of the basic concepts of the field.
