Serious introduction to the chemistry of explosives recommendation I'm looking for a serious introduction to the chemistry (and perhaps to a lesser extend the physics) of explosives. Presupposition of basic university courses in Organic Chemistry and Thermodynamics is no problem, though it would be helpful if some of the specifics needed to understand subsequent material would be briefly outlined as a reminder (e.g. in an introductory chapter). Sadly this search is quite hard because of all the Uncle Fester and like trash clogging up search results. To be clear, that is absolutely not what I'm after. I want an academically oriented introduction, not some "recipe" book.

A book that more or less resembles (I guess) what I'm after is The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives by Tenney L. Davis. However, it is over 70 years old and might be a little to advanced for me (might, I just don't know without some guidance).

Every help is appreciated!

PS. I actually found an online copy of the book I mentioned. It does not look really theoretical?
To be clear, that is absolutely not what I'm after. I want an academically oriented introduction, not some "recipe" book.


I'm glad to read that!

I'm aware of Chemistry of Energetic Materials (Eds. George A. Olah and David R. Squire, Academic Press, 1991) which seem to cover


  
  The Structural Investigation of Energetic Materials. 
  Studies of Initial Dissociation Processes in 1,3,3-Trinitroazetidine By Photofragmentation Translational Spectroscopy. 
  Studies of Molecular Dissociation By Means of Ultrafast Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy and Picosecond X-Ray Diffraction. 
  Computer-Aided Design of Monopropellants. 
  Polycyclic Amine Chemistry. 
  Metallacarboranes of the Lanthanides and Alkaline-Earth Metals: Potential High-Energy Fuel Additives. 
  Methods for Preparing Energetic Nitro-Compounds: Nitration with Superacidic Systems, Nitronium Salts, And Related Complexes.
  


On a side note, if you are interested in current research on high-energy materials free of nitro groups, have a look at the work of Thomas M. Klapötke.