I have often in the past raved on these pages about the quality of books published by Babini Publishing. The books are economical and although small filled with advice and instruction of good quality that it logically laid out and written with the reader in mind. 20 Programs For The ZX Spectrum And 16K ZX81 certainly does not suggest a novel approach to computer books: How then does this Babini Publication, written by S. Daly, stand up against the many similar titles available?

Often such books aimed at more than one machine appear to consider only one and look at others as an afterthought. I was grateful to find that here this was not so. All the programs contained could be readily loaded onto other systems, precluding the use of PEEK/POKE, machine code routines and various graphic symbols that are peculiar to particular machines.

As the author points out, most of the programs are accomanpied by flow charts detailing the logic of each program and enabling conversion to coding forms for other machines. Flow charts too are helpful to less experienced programmers, giving guidance on program development and structure while more experienced users can clearly follow the logic in order and can modify or improve the program as desired - rather like clearing away the trees to expose the wood. Each program is further supported by a short but precise descriptive text. Many other books lay greater emphasis on these texts, including in them an almost line-by-line description of the program offering detail of all but the kitchen sink. This is not Mr. Daly's style. I found the texts to be at times a little too brief and often wished for further description of the listings; but for the most part they were adequate.

Of the program: it may well be that the author didn't have to say too much about them anyway. Not because the flow charts were sufficient but because in most cases the program didn't require them. There were six sections of programs; two games sections e.g. 'Bragg', 'Pontoon', 'Solitaire', 'Battleships'; a section on filing systems; some mathematical programs and a section of statistics. There was also a chapter on sorting containing one 'Alpha Sort' program. Unfortunately, like the title, few of the programs were novel. 'Binary to Decimal' or 'Decimal to Binary' programs are ten a penny but to be fair, the examples included here were of a high quality and represent a good allocation of basic programs for the new user.

Throughout this book the author has taken pains to ensure that the programs are bug-free and, as is typical of Babini books, all listings were dumped from print to ensure their accuracy. Experienced users are unlikely to find too much of real benefit in this well-compiled little volume, but to the host of new users who should have recently joined us, the twenty programs included should prove to be worthwhile and act as useful guides to developing and improving their own programming ability.

20 Programs For The ZX Spectrum And 16K ZX81 is written by S. Daly, published by Babini publishing and at £1.95 for over 110 pages, represents good value. ISBN 0-85934-103-8.