STP 1298 is the only publication of its kind to feature current state-of-the-art research on the important early stages of crack formation. 18 papers from leading experts in the field are presented in the following major areas: • Stress Corrosion Cracking Initiation; • Crack Initiation in Aging Aircraft; • Stress Corrosion Crack Initiation in Nuclear Environments; • Modeling; and Crack Initiation in Corrosion Fatigue.