Authoritative and widely acclaimed, this encyclopedic reference work is as practical and helpful for novices as it is for experts. It combines careful organization, insightful discussions and evaluations, and a thorough introduc- tion to computers with clearly defined technical terms. Indexes, extensive bibliographies, and numerous charts, diagrams, and comparative tables increase the usefulness of this unique book.

BITS, BYTES, & BIBLICAL STUDIES includes

Clear introductions to computers, multilingual word processing, concording programs, computer-assisted language learning, machine-readable ancient texts and text archives, telecommunications, computers and archaeology, and other

application programs. Reviews of 14 computer-assisted language-learning programs for Hebrew, 20 for Latin, 3 for Greek, and 1 each for Sumerian and Egyptian.

Detailed information about more than 60 projects worldwide that are working with machine-readable versions of the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Greek New Testament, and with related Semitic and classical texts. Descriptions of 25 archives and data banks of machine-readable biblical, Semitic, and classical texts and inscriptions.

In-depth analyses and evaluations of over 35 multilingual word-processing programs, as well as information about 28 font programs; 23 spelling, thesaurus, and grammar programs; 10 bibliographical and sorting programs; 16 text-retrieval and concording programs; and 27 desktop-publishing programs. Introduction to all major on-line services, such as CompuServes and The

Source, and their religious offerings. Reviews of 13 English Bible texts and concording programs, and information about 7 other text-only packages.

Sections on data-base management, keyboard macro programs, typesetting serv ices, and more.

John J. Hughes studied at Vanderbilt University, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Cambridge University, and taught in the Religious Studies Department at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He is a freelance editor, author, technical writer, and computer consultant