Simon has revised the BBC version of Quality Programs For.. (Reviewed, Issue 42), with apparently few surface differences - the cover design is based on a CND logo and the chapter headings are very similar (though it's 45p more and 12 pages less than the BBC book!)

However, this fine book makes the most of the Electron's strongest asset - BBC Basic - to provide good programs and easy-to-follow text. The quality of the games is high. The snake game, although graphically unimaginative, is stimulating and addictive, and wins over other version sby having a time limit to stop idle meandering.

The programs come with explanations of the more complex code and suggestions of how to modify them.

Eighteen of these in four sections (applications, education, graphics, games) make the book good value for money, and more so since the method of programming is more interesting than the results of the programs. The education section is perhaps mispresentative, being academic rather than educational.

Unfortunately, though a cassette was offered with the BBC book, there's no such enhancement advertised with this one.

Piers Letcher