Preface

Summary

Válame Dios, y con cuánta gana debes de estar esperando ahora, lector ilustre, o quier plebeyo, este prólogo.

Now God defend, reader, noble or plebeian, whate'er thou art! How earnestly must thou needs by this time expect this prologue.

Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha (Translation by Thomas Shelton)

Winston Smith, the main character in George Orwell's apocalyptic novel 1984, perceived while reading the secret Brotherhood's book that the best books are those that tell you what you know already. If you are encountering the field of molecular organic materials for the first time and do not want to contradict Orwell, you are invited to read the book you are holding in your hands more than once. If you are an expert in the field I hope you will discover new and perhaps unexpected issues.

This book, my opera prima, was conceived for both beginner and experienced chemists, physicists and material scientists interested in the amazing field of molecular organic materials. Some basic notions of solid-state physics and chemistry and of quantum mechanics are required, but the book is written trying to reach a broad multidisciplinary audience.

When entering this field for the first time one is faced with myriad names and materials and it becomes an arduous task to find one's way. This volume is based on my own experience, aware of the difficulty that non-specialists encounter.