Three major radiation oncology textbooks have become reference library staples. Oncologists have come to know these books simply by the editors' names—Leibel and Phillips, Perez and Brady, Gunderson and Tepper—bestowing on them a nearly iconic status.
The first edition of the Textbook of Radiation Oncology, published in 1998, was soon followed by a second (2004), which, owing to its unparalleled ability to concisely and thoroughly present the key topics of radiation treatment, solidified its place as one of the premier reference books in the field. With the death of Steve Leibel prior to the completion of the most recent edition, the field has lost a true leader, but his vision and passion remain integral to the text.