This special publication of the Geological Society draws together a collection of 17 papers stemming from an international conference hosted by the Geological Society in September 2005. The volume focuses on the complexities which arise when non-planar strike-slip faults develop local areas of contraction or extension to create so-called restraining and releasing bends respectively. The editors once again provide a useful summary to the contents and main issues tackled by the collection of papers, and have divided the volume up into three main sections covering bends and sedimentary basins, restraining bends and releasing bends. Following the introduction, the book actually commences with a major review paper by Mann (extending to some 130 pages) which provides an excellent catalogue and classification of restraining and releasing bends on ancient and currently active strike-slip faults. The volume also covers the geometry and reactivation of strike-slip faults, the magnitude and distribution of strain together with stress fields, and feedbacks between climate, topography and thermal histories. The editors also provide some pointers concerning the future direction of this research topic highlighting the unravelling of deformation histories in regions affected by coalescing strike-slip faults, together with the linkages and interactions of fault bends with the lower crust and lithospheric mantle as potential themes.

In summary, this is a very useful, well illustrated and timely contribution to what is an extremely important topic in terms of Earth tectonics and seismicity. As with the theme of many special publications of the Geological Society, the topic will appeal more to the specialist audience, although this volume does provide an excellent benchmark and ready-to-use source of up-to-date information for those who wish to delve further into the subject. It deserves to find a place on the shelves of many university libraries.