If Commodore doesn't kill off the Vic, the price of this book might well do the trick. It's a pity that the publisher has seen fit to charge such an extortionate price in the UK for what is really quite a useful book.

It begins rather oddly, listing sources. A glossary follows the preface, but then we get down the nitty-gritty of explaining precisely how the Vic works. The authors have divided the Memory Map (the name, in typical American fashion, is copyrighted) into two sections: beginners need only read the words set in bold type, while more advanced programmers can read the lot.

The book descends into some childish tactics with characters such as Professor Von Chip and his robot Prototype, but it is comprehensively written and clearly laid out, with plenty of cartoons.

Once you have mastered the different locations, the book takes you through interfacing the Vic, append routines, sound effects and colour graphics. For those too lazy to type in the listings given in the book, Mr. Sherer will even send you a disk or tape of the programs - for a price.

LT