This book engages the reader in a journey of discovery through a spirited discussion among three characters: philosopher, teacher, and student. Throughout the book, philosopher pursues his dream of a unified theory of conics, where exceptions are banished. With a helpful teacher and example-hungry student, the trio soon finds that conics reveal much of their beauty when viewed over the complex numbers. It is profusely illustrated with pictures, worked-out examples, and a CD containing 36 applets. Conics is written in an easy, conversational style, and many historical tidbits and other points of interest are scattered throughout the text. Many students can self-study the book without outside help. This book is ideal for anyone having a little exposure to linear algebra and complex numbers.