Over the Spectrum was first published in 1982 and at the time was considered one of the best introductions to programming on Sir Clive Sinclair's incredible new home computer. Many who went on to have long careers in the computer industry started with the programs in this excellent book. As such it is not only a great re-print for purposes of nostalgia, but also a practical and helpful guide to anyone interested in the programming of retro games.
As Personal Computer World stated at the time:
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"Final entrant in the Spectrum stakes is Melbourne House's OVER THE SPECTRUM, and for me it runs out the clear winner.
Not a teach-yourself-programming guide, it is a collection of programs: each program has a detailed breakdown of exactly what happens when and how it's all achieved.
The listings are not trivial, and the result is well worth the effort. The book is liberally illustrated showing screen displays for almost all the programs so you know what you are trying to achieve at the outset.
As a demonstration of what can be achieved using the Spectrum's User Defined Characters this book cannot be faulted, and although it contains no programming hints as such, a diligent reader is going to learn a lot about the Spectrum by working his or her way through it.
Take a bow gents, and give us more."
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Acorn Books is proud to present its Retro Reproductions series, a collection of classic computing works from the 1980s and 90s, lovingly reproduced in the 21st century. From standards of programming reference no self-respecting microcomputer programmer would be without, to obscure works not found in print anywhere else, these modern reprints are perfect for any connoisseur of retro computing.
