This abridged (printed only in black & white, so more affordable) version is based upon the more detailed and advanced 2nd edition of the original 'unabridged' (462 page, blue cover and in-colour) publication on the clear basis that many readers are seeking a less advanced text. Also, at this level, we have opportunity, with a lighter text (just 298 pages), to provide a serious nuclear engineering publication but at a very favourable price. Within we shall discuss: nuclear & atomic physics and technology, nuclear fission, fusion, radiation, shielding and instrumentation, thermal power plant detailed design, commercial nuclear reactor types and characteristics, nuclear accidents, process safety and systems, critical mass calculations and fuel pitch optimization, analysis of reactor core design geometries, fuel poisoning, reactor stability, fuel manufacture, chemistry and enrichment, metallurgy of reactor materials, fuel loading, burn-up calculations, economics and future prospects. With anticipation, this abridged version has been heavily focussed to a more reactor and power plant engineering, systems and technology perspective (65% of the contents) but at the same time still incorporating the essential physics (32%) and mathematical-physics (3%) fundamentals; any less than this would render an inadequate understanding. In this context this abridged version is ideal for those who are students of, or qualified in, engineering, physics or chemistry or for those in possession of pre-university level physics and mathematics but who seek a rather excellent, impressive and quite fluent working knowledge of this subject that is very untypical of non-nuclear engineers. It is important to note here that much of the fundamental material concerning nuclear and reactor physics and its associated less advanced level of mathematics is retained from the unabridged edition as it would be impossible to properly understand this subject without this material. Hence, here we cater for those who desire to just understand the technology of nuclear power, if they so wish; but to really understand how it all works we must retain at least some of the deeper theory and so this material is, and must be, retained. For the benefit of the reader; the contents, list of illustrations and index include all materials as are available in the original full unabridged edition as marked throughout as 'UE'. The reader may then appreciate the additional subject matter and greater depth that would