This volume studies the dynamics of iterated holomorphic mappings from a
Riemann surface to itself, concentrating on the classical case of
rational maps of the Riemann sphere. This subject is large and rapidly
growing. These lectures are intended to introduce some key ideas in the
field, and to form a basis for further study. The reader is assumed to
be familiar with the rudiments of complex variable theory and of
two-dimensional differential geometry, as well as some basic topics from
topology. This third edition contains a number of minor additions and
improvements: A historical survey has been added, the definition of
Lattés map has been made more inclusive, and the écalle-Voronin theory
of parabolic points is described. The résidu itératif is studied, and
the material on two complex variables has been expanded. Recent results
on effective computability have been added, and the references have been
expanded and updated.
Written in his usual brilliant style, the author makes difficult
mathematics look easy. This book is a very accessible source for much of
what has been accomplished in the field.