Research on the formation, structure and evolution of binary stars with at least one compact component (that is, a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole), has in recent years been one of the most active areas in astrophysics. This volume gives an overview of recent progress in this area, with particular emphasis on the evolutionary connection that may exist between these binaries as observed in a variety of wavelength bands, in particular in the radio and X-ray bands. Among the subjects covered are: Type Ib/c supernovae and supernovae in binaries; common-envelope evolution, coalescence of binaries and Thorne-Zytkow objects; gravitational waves from compact bodies; binary and millisecond radio pulsars; planets around pulsars; the pulsar velocity distribution; transient X-ray sources and black-hole binaries; quasi-periodic oscillations in X-ray sources; supersoft X-ray sources and their possible connection with Type I supernovae; soft gamma-ray repeaters; and gamma-ray bursts and binary neutron star mergers.
