This text is both an introduction to and a study of finite symmetric inverse semigroups. The book presents much of the material on the theory of finite symmetric inverse semigroups, unifying the classical finite symmetric group theory with its semigroup analogue. A comment section at the end of each chapter provides new historical perspective.

Symmetry is one of the most important organising principles in the natural sciences. The mathematical theory of symmetry has long been associated with group theory, but it is a basic premise of this book that there are aspects of symmetry which are more faithfully represented by a generalization of groups called inverse semigroups. The theory of inverse semigroups is described from its origins in the foundations of differential geometry through to its most recent applications in combinatorial group theory, and the theory tilings.

With over 60 figures, tables, and diagrams, this text is both an intuitive introduction to and a rigorous study of finite symmetric inverse semigroups. The book presents much of the material on the theory of finite symmetric inverse semigroups, unifying the classical finite symmetric group theory with its semigroup analogue. A comment section at the end of each chapter provides new historical perspective. New proofs, new theorems and the use of multiple figures, tables, and diagrams to present complex ideas make this book current and highly readable.

Descriptive set theory has been one of the main areas of research in set theory for almost a century. This text presents a largely balanced approach to the subject, which combines many elements of the different traditions. It includes a wide variety of examples, more than 400 exercises, and applications, in order to illustrate the general concepts and results of the theory.