Introduction

John Maynard Smith is one of the most influential evolutionary biologists of our time. This year he celebrates his 80th birthday, and it seemed appropriate to mark this occasion with a collection of papers by his former associates, and distinguished evolutionists whose work has been influenced by his example. John is noted for his breadth of interests and his ability to spot important but soluble problems, which he continues to attack by deceptively simple methods. He has published 13 books and collections of papers on an astonishing diversity of subjects. He has also published many semi–popular articles on biology, which are remarkable for their clarity and diversity. He is a widely sought–after lecturer, who is famous for his humorous and lucid presentations.