This volume assesses research on black holes and gravitational radiation and their implications in understanding this mysterious universe. Thirty-two articles by experts of international standing weave separate threads into the majestic black hole tapestry and bring together a broad view of past achievements, current progress and future prospects. Pedagogic in nature, the volume is a tribute to C.V. Vishveshwara, whose pioneering contribution to studies of black holes is universally recognized. It leads the reader along the seemingly innocuous trail that began in the sixties, through today, to the future, and attempts to offer a grand panoramic view of black hole physics before the new millennium. This book should be of interest to research physicists and to mathematicians whose work involves relativity and gravitation, theoretical astrophysics, mathematical physics, active galactic nuclei, cosmology and data analysis.