Based on the BBC version, this book is a solid introduction to BBC Basic. It combines a clear explanation of what BBC (erroneously called "Electron") Basic statements and Electron Operating System commands do with demonstration programs. These are also available on cassette if you are feeling very lazy - none of the listings are too long to type in though.

There are many nice features which allow the learner to get involved in the book and to get to grips with programming techniques which don't always come across in the text of any computer book. These include screen illustrations, word bubbles with comment, tables and diagrams. There are also some humorous cartoons to head the chapters along with a list of topics looked at in each. All chapters end with some points to ponder and discuss plus some 'activities'.

The book is well designed to act as a work of reference, with a full index and detailed page straps. This improves greatly upon the Acorn manual. Nor will you get bored if you have already taken on the manual and the Start Programming book. There are some interesting ideas on sound, colour stippling and animation. The pie chart and histogram programs are excellent examples and you may well be able to put them to good use as procedures in your own programs.

The authors emphasise structured programming (the final chapter is dedicated to the subject) so this book should prove a useful follow up to the Electron package. There are some hangovers from the BBC version, like the INKEY value table listing TAB, a key which does not exist on the Electron, but nothing serious. Basic Programming sensibly confines itself to fundamental aspects of programming and gives itself a chance to fully explain them.