Summary

Researchers in the fields of finite groups, representation theory, and algebra will appreciate this volume for it presents an excellent view of the many significant developments in the representation theory of finite groups. The papers in these proceedings were presented at the Summer Research Institute on Representations of Finite Groups, held at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California in July 1986. There has been intense research in the representation theory of finite groups in recent years.Particularly striking is the influence of algebraic geometry and cohomology theory in the modular representation theory and the character theory of reductive groups over finite fields, and in the general modular representation theory of finite groups. Noteworthy too are the continuing developments in block theory and the general character theory of finite groups. These proceedings contain nearly 100 papers of an expository and research nature and will give readers a sense of the new and important influences in this vital field.