This is a substantial addition to any Commodore 64 user's program listings.

The format follows the traditional approach for listings books. No one these days risks typesetting program listings, in case printers' errors slip by. The only portions of this work not churned out in the ghastly spotted print associated with dot-matrix printers are non-program material, such as the lighthearted introductions to each of the listings.

What separates this book from the usual run of the mill listings works is that it has nine excellent chapters setting out the rudiments needed by any beginner before they can start to write Basic programs on the C64.

The book is very much a teaching guide to programming, with the very substantial games listings providing the incentive to master the basic skills. Its whole thrust is aimed at educational establishments, but this does not mean that it needs the presence of a teacher to be used.

It is solidly in the line of self-tutoring texts and there should be no difficulty getting down to it on your own at home.

The C64 is not the easiest machine in the world to use, because both the sound and graphics facilities - though powerful - can only be used to the full by endless POKING and PEEKING. Using Peeks and Pokes when you don't know what you are doing is a bit like blundering about in a darkened room trying to catch a black cat. This book manages to clarify the concepts in under two pages.

Better, it goes into great detail in the first nine chapters on breaking down lengthy games listings to tell you exactly what is going on at each stage of the program. If you finish the book without learning how to construct your own sprites and write your own animated games, you'll know that programming is not your forte.