This volume contains the proceedings of the Algebraic Geometry Conference on Classification of Algebraic Varieties, held in May 1992 at the University of L'Aquila in Italy. The papers discuss a wide variety of problems that illustrate interactions between algebraic geometry and other branches of mathematics. Among the topics covered are algebraic curve theory, algebraic surface theory, the theory of minimal models, braid groups and the topology of algebraic varieties, toric varieties. In addition to algebraic geometers, theoretical physicists in some areas will find this book useful. The book is also suitable for an advanced graduate course in algebraic geometry, as it provides an overview of areas of current research.

Fascinating and surprising developments are taking place in the classification of algebraic varieties. The work of Hacon and McKernan and many others is causing a wave of breakthroughs in the minimal model program: we now know that for a smooth projective variety the canonical ring is finitely generated. These new results and methods are reshaping the field. Inspired by this exciting progress, the editors organized a meeting at Schiermonnikoog and invited leading experts to write papers about the recent developments. The result is the present volume, a lively testimony to the sudden advances that originate from these new ideas. This volume will be of interest to a wide range of pure mathematicians, but will appeal especially to algebraic and analytic geometers.

An introduction to abstract algebraic geometry, with the only prerequisites being results from commutative algebra, which are stated as needed, and some elementary topology. More than 400 exercises distributed throughout the book offer specific examples as well as more specialised topics not treated in the main text, while three appendices present brief accounts of some areas of current research. This book can thus be used as textbook for an introductory course in algebraic geometry following a basic graduate course in algebra. Robin Hartshorne studied algebraic geometry with Oscar Zariski and David Mumford at Harvard, and with J.-P. Serre and A. Grothendieck in Paris. He is the author of "Residues and Duality", "Foundations of Projective Geometry", "Ample Subvarieties of Algebraic Varieties", and numerous research titles.

The finite generation theorem is a major achievement of modern algebraic geometry. Based on the minimal model theory, it states that the canonical ring of an algebraic variety defined over a field of characteristic zero is a finitely generated graded ring. This graduate-level text is the first to explain this proof. It covers the progress on the minimal model theory over the last 30 years, culminating in the landmark paper on finite generation by Birkar-Cascini-Hacon-McKernan. Building up to this proof, the author presents important results and techniques that are now part of the standard toolbox of birational geometry, including Mori's bend and break method, vanishing theorems, positivity theorems and Siu's analysis on multiplier ideal sheaves. Assuming only the basics in algebraic geometry, the text keeps prerequisites to a minimum with self-contained explanations of terminology and theorems.

The book covers topics in the theory of algebraic transformation groups and algebraic varieties which are very much at the frontier of mathematical research.

The aim of this book is to provide an introduction to the structure theory of higher dimensional algebraic varieties by studying the geometry of curves, especially rational curves, on varieties. The main applications are in the study of Fano varieties and of related varieties with lots of rational curves on them. This Ergebnisse volume provides the first systematic introduction to this field of study. The book contains a large number of examples and exercises which serve to illustrate the range of the methods and also lead to many open questions of current research.

The volume consists of invited refereed research papers. The contributions cover a wide spectrum in algebraic geometry, from motives theory to numerical algebraic geometry and are mainly focused on higher dimensional varieties and Minimal Model Program and surfaces of general type. A part of the articles grew out a Conference in memory of Paolo Francia (1951-2000) held in Genova in September 2001 with about 70 participants.