First learn C# using a real textbook from Deitel & Deitel [1] and --then--
learn ASP.NET but saying which book for ASP.NET has become a real challenge
as there are so many well written works to choose from. I find my
bookshelves lined with red covers and black and gold covers, red being WROX
and the black and gold covers APress (for the most part).
You also MUST learn JavaScript which is why I recommend C# as punctuation is
exactly the same, ditto for Java so you pragmatically learn 3 for the price
of one so to speak. It might mean something to note Microsoft does not
develop ANYTHING using VB.NET and actually developed VB.NET with C# and has
stated officially C# is their preferred language they developed specifically
for the web.
That said, besides JavaScript you need to know HTML and CSS with a masterful
grasp of the DOM so I recommend books from O'Reilly such as "Dynamic HTML
the Definitive Reference ." And one more final word to the wise...
Get started by adopting correct and useful habits now. Hence, do all
development using Firefox which renders as faithfully as can be expected and
then and only then only then test and respond using the various instances of
IE.
As a neophyte web developer you need to be advised and prepared for the
nightmare learning to cope with the worst piece of shit software in the
history of the Internet if not the history of computer science: Internet
Explorer. And I kid you not. It is FUBAR trash that requires so many hacks
and work-arounds you will be easily be spending 50%-75% or more of your time
trying to cope with it if you must develop web applications that face the
public.
That's why they say misery loves company.
<%= Clinton Gallagher
[1]
http://deitel.com/