The Meran System, like most of Steffen Pedersen's books, has all the desired qualities in a "serious" book with the exception, generally, of the last one. His is a well-organized and intelligent approach to a very complex and complicated variation of the Slav Defense. Because of his competence and up-to-date examples, this certainly is the best book to own on the Meran. In conjunction with his Botvinnik Semi-Slav book, both White and Black will have all the information and recommendations they can handle in the Semi-Slav. I didn't want to write a long review about a subject I have little expertise in, but I went over the book looking for general features and then took a close look at three 6.Qc2 variations in which I have quite a bit of experience (7.g4, 7.Bd2, and 7.Bd3).

A few observations: This is no mere database dump, despite Pedersen's obviously adequate database. The book has clearly benefited from an excellent library, and Pedersen quotes liberally from previous books. On the other hand, my overall impression is that the book lacks the passion and enthusiasm that Pedersen brought to his Botvinnik Semi-Slav project. Of course, that book is almost impossible to live up to--indeed, I called it "brilliant," and Pedersen obviously drew upon years of his own analysis to write it. Nevertheless, although Pedersen covers just about all existing theory in this book, he didn't seem to look hard for improvements, even ones not too difficult to find, in the lines I knew. The general overview showed me a few spots of extended analysis at the end of lines, perhaps computer-inspired; but based upon limited evidence, I wouldn't expect much original material.

Of course, Pedersen's books are consistently excellent, and it's obvious that any serious player of the Semi-Slav with White or Black will want this book. Oh yes: I should remember to point out that the lines in this book are much easier to learn than those in the Botvinnik volume.

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