No one can say that this book alienates the newcomers. With the opening line 'A computer language is a language for communication with a computer', it takes a stand among the not-too-advanced users.

Garry Marshall takes you through Basic and out the other side to Prolog, Gino-F, Comal and Lisp.

There's a discussion of language development before a comparison of Basic with the other languages. There is also an explanation of how those languages can be used with databases, 3-D graphics, and simulation.

The instructions are made clear with program listings and diagrams, and techniques are explained and reviewed.

The book is written in so light and easy a way that even new users will get a broad understanding of what they can do with their micros.

Cyndy Miles