"A personal voyage into your home computer," claims the front cover. Data Log is a workbook to 'teach yourself' to program in simple Basic. Its spaceship and starliner theme are clearly aimed at the younger enthusiast. As well as explanations and programs to type in, there are squared grids on which to design and write your own ideas. All very clearly laid out.

After a short, but adequate, introduction to PRINT statements, the 'voyager' is launched into colours, the FOR...NEXT command, and graphics. Immediately after that, equipment for the Starship Questar must be designed and drawn out. The quick change variety arouses and then holds interest and enthusiasm. A welcome feature is then detailed and regularly repeated, information on colour codes and screen locations - saves all that looking back.

By the time you've finished the book, most of the Basic commands: PEEK, POKE, keyboard graphics, strings, arithmetic, INT, RND, music, time and sprites have been covered - a comprehensive introduction to the C64. There are separate sections on editing and on error messages - but these are not as detailed as they might be.

There is one important grouse through. I spotted a few simple printing errors: for example, wrong line numbers and FORT=1TO750:NEXT N. With experience, that's easy enough to sort out, but it's very confusing for the beginner - just who the book is meant for. Otherwise, an excellent, imaginative and fast moving introduction to Basic programming.

Teachers will find Data Log a useful starter book for classroom studies, with plenty of scope to suggest variations and improvements - especially in screen editing. Good value for money too at £2.95. A sound, but fun, introduction to Basic - despite the silly mistakes.