Preface.- What is nuclear fusion?.- Stellar processes and quantum mechanics.- Nuclear fusion of light elements.- Plasma.- Plasma in nuclear fusion devices.- Early history and declassification.- Birth of the tokamak.- The tokamak stampede and further developments.- The Big Tokamaks: TFTR, JET, JT-60.- The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.- Problems, problems, problems..- Post-ITER: Demo and fusion power plants.- Spherical tokamaks.- Stellarators and other alternative approaches.- Privately funded research.- Criticism of the fusion enterprise.- Economics and sustainability.- Environment and safety.- Summary and final conclusion.