Particles with fractional statistics interpolating betweenbosons and fermions have attracted considerable interestfrom mathematical physicists. In recent years it has emergedthat these so-called anyons have rather unexpectedapplications, such as the fractional Hall effect, anyonicexcitations in films of liquid helium, and high-temrperaturesuperconductivity. Furthermore, they are discussed also inthe context of conformal field theories.This book is a systematic and pedagogical introduction thatconsiders the subject of anyons from many different pointsof view. In particular, the author presents the relation ofanyons to braid groups and Chern-Simons field theory anddevotes three chapters to physical applications. The book,while being of interest to researchers, primarily addressesadvanced students of mathematics and physics.