It is very easy to criticise the
written work of others and I acknowledge that it is much more difficult
to originate. I must therefore state that the critiques given here
are a personal assessment of my collection and are highly subjective.
Other people could easily come to a completely opposite view. I
hope that any author reading this review does not take it too much
to heart if I have given him/her a bit of 'slagging'. Because I
have 'reviewed' 63 books in this article, the comments have, necessarily,
been extremely superficial and, at times, cryptic. However, I hope
it encourages you to buy some of these excellent books rather than
'fritter' your money away on non-Atari specific periodicals.
EXPENSIVE?
The problem with non-Atari magazines
is that they are just non cost-effective. For around 95 pence you
usually get 3 to 4 pages of relevant material if you're lucky and
only one page if you're not!
At an estimated average of 36 pence
per page, this is equivalent to an Atari-specific computing book,
normally about 150 pages, being priced at over £50, so don't
faint clean away if you find that, thanks to the dollar exchange
rate, some of the paperbacks I'm about to recommend, come into your
local bookshop at around the 20 pounds sterling mark!
I have purposely left the American
books at their dollar prices so that you won't be upset by the final
sterling price which tends to be increasing even as you read this...
and given the time it takes for your bookseller to order books from
the U.S., don't be too surprised if you're being asked to part with
20-25 pounds sterling! Books with a sterling price should be easily
available in the U.K.
CLASSIFICATION
I propose to classify the books
into the following categories
ESSENTIAL - go into debt for these!
DESIRABLE - good if you can afford them.
ACCEPTABLE - alright if you like the look of them.
DISPENSABLE - hopefully, returnable!
DISPOSABLE - is there a shredder in the house?!
I must emphasise again that the
classifications are my own personal opinion.
I also intend to distinguish between
books by using combinations of the following codes
A - Atari specific
N - Non-Atari specific
G - For the general Atari user
X - For experienced Atari users
_________________
ESSENTIAL
How to maintain and service
your small computer (N/G) by Stephenson & Cahill published
by Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc. $17.95. You know you are going
to need this and it may be sooner than you think. Get it now, it
could save you a fortune in transportation costs, never mind service
charges. Very accessible, even to non-electronic types like me.
ABCs of Atari Computers
(A/G) by David E. Mentley published by Datamost $14.95. Super snippets.
Plenty to dip into. As a bonus, there is a type-in listing for AMODEM
Ver. 4.3. By an enthusiast for an enthusiast.
The Creative Atari (A/G)
by Small, Small & Blank published by Creative Computing Press
$15.95. Yes, it is as good as they claim it is. Marvellous insights.
The Analog Compendium (A/G)
by the editors of Analog $14.95. The best of their first ten issues.
Some great programs. You won't want to be without Black Rabbit 2.0.
Your Atari Computer (A/G)
by Poole, McNiff & Cook published by Osbourne/McGraw - Hill
£17.50. As another reviewer once said, "the one they
should have boxed with the Atari". That says it all!
The Master Memory Map for the
Atari (A/G) by Patchett & Sherer published by Reston $15.95.
They go on about 'Mapping the Atari' (see below). Forget it, this
is the one you want. Much more user-friendly.
DESIRABLE
The Best of Antic - Volume one
(A/G) by Capparell & DeWitt published by Antic $12.95. Some
very good programs, some of which have filtered through to PAGE
6 library disks.
The Atari User's Encyclopedia
(A/G) by Phillips & White published by The Book Company $19.95.
Another good selection of snippets.
Mapping the Atari (A/X)
by Ian Chadwick published by Compute! Books £10.95. Good stuff
but aimed more at the experienced user.
Technical Reference Notes
(A/X) published by Atari $27.00. Comprises: Operating System User's
Manual - Operating System Source Listing - Hardware Manual. A must
for the 'serious' user.
Programmer's Reference Guide
for the Atari 400/800 Computers (A/X) by David Heiserman published
by Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc. $21.95. A wealth of tabulated
information. Some annoying errata e.g. Appendix D - Atari Keyboard
Codes (in no way do these codes correspond to my 800 which is in
complete accord with page 53 of the above Technical Reference Notes).
Atari Roots (A/X) by Mark
Andrews published by Datamost $14.95. The best guide available on
Atari assembly language.
Compute's Third Boot of Atari
(A/G) published by Compute! Publications Inc. £10.95. In my
view, the best of the series so far. A word of warning, before you
dive in and spend three hours typing the now famous 'Wedge' by Charles
Brannon, be advised that an updated version by Michael Hepner was
published in the May 1983 issue of Compute! It includes a SPRINT
command that sends an entire screen to the printer.
Easy Programming for the Atari
Micros (A/G) by Eric Deeson published by Shiva Publishing Ltd.
£6.95. At last, a British book and the most cost-effective
of the lot! Very friendly and supported by Jon Dean of Atari, need
I say more!
ACCEPTABLE
De Re Atari (A/X) by the
Software Development Support Group of Atari published by A.P.X $19.95.
What do I mean acceptable? Don't I realise that Chris Crawford,
Jim Dunion and similar luminaries of the Atari firmament were members
of that Group? Yes, and I refuse to be over-awed! This book may
be very highly thought of by Lone Raiders and Mutant Camels, but,
in my opinion, it is a book which in no way lives up to its advance
publicity! It meanders all over the place, very rarely getting to
the point! For the orthodox amongst you, I would direct your attention
to Appendix B - Human Engineering and rest my case!
Atari Games & Recreations
(A/G) by Kohl, Kahn, Lindsay & Cleland published by Reston $14.95.
An often under-valued book with some excellent appendices, in particular
Appendix I - Errors and Error Messages.
Programming the 6502 (N/X)
by Rodnay Zaks published by Sybex $(?). A very clear exposition
of a fairly dry topic.
Machine Code for Beginners
(NIG) by Watts & Wharton published by Usbome £2.25. Forget the
fact that it's in children's format, it gets the point across, and
at this price!
Mastering the Atari (A/G)
by Darryl Severn published by C Interface Publications £5.95. More
of an intermediate level book. Some good explanations of the Input/Output
procedures.
Best of PCW Software for the
Atari XL (A/G) edited by Jane Bird published by Century Communications
Ltd £5.95. Some delightful programs e.g. Handel's Arrival of the
Queen of Sheba I and also some snappy tips & tricks.
I Speak Basic to my Atari
(A/G) by Aubrey Jones Jr. published by Hayden Book Company Inc.
$(?). If you're just starting out and you haven't a clue about Basic,
this is the one for you!
Some Common Basic Programs -
Atari Edition (A/G) by Poole, Borchers & Cook published
by Osborne/McGraw-Hill $14.99. Various business, mathematical &
statistical program listings. Get it if you need them.
Compute!'s Second Book of Atari
(A/G) by the editors of Compute! magazine published by Compute!
Books £10.95. A good compilation of some of the better articles
in Compute! magazine.
Microsoft Basic - Second Edition
(N/X) by Ken Knecht published by Dilithium Press $15.95. This is
the definitive third party version for those of you with Microsoft
Basic.
Atari Player-Missile Graphics
in Basic (A/G) by Philip C. Seyer published by Reston $14.95.
Slightly over-priced, but if you're into P/M graphics you'll pay
anything, won't you?
Talking to the World (N/G)
by John Newgas published by Century Communications Ltd. £5.95. A
very succinct introduction to the world of the MODEM. Although aimed
at all micro owners, it does not ignore the existence of the Atari
and even includes a type-in listing of that well-known terminal
program JTERM (Ver.3.5). Worth buying for this program alone!
The On-Line Handbook (N/G)
by Ray Hammond published by Fontana £4.95. Once that MODEM revolution
starts, you're going to need this book. Poor quality paper, but
what do you expect for this price?!
The Visicalc Book - Atari Edition
(A/X) by Donald H. Beil published by Reston $14.95. If you managed
to fork out for Visicalc, you won't wince at this price! A good,
clear explanation of how to handle this deservedly famous program,
which somehow loses some of its speed on the Atari (even with FASTCHIP:).
Atari Programming with 55 Programs
(A/G) by Linda M. Schreiber published by TAB Books Inc. $13.95.
A very earnest straightforward account. All right, but not very
exciting!
Fun Mathematics on your Microcomputer
(N/G) by Czes Kosniowski published by Cambridge University Press
£5.95. For those of you who find maths enjoyable! Yes, we even find
ourselves amongst Atari owners!
Programming your Atari Computer
(A/G) by Mark Thompson published by TAB Books Inc. $11.50. Some
good fundamental stuff here, it even gets down to Boolean algebra,
Venn and Veitch diagrams, something you don't often find in the
other books!
Compute!'s First Book of Atari
Graphics {A/G) by the Editors of Compute! Magazine published
by Compute! Books £10.95. Some very useful programs such as -Textplot
and Superfont are included.
Compute!'s Second Book of Atari
Graphics (A/G) by the Editors of Compute! Magazine published
by Compute! Books £10.95. More graphic utilities like Fontbyter
and Screenbyter make this a reasonable buy.
Making the most of your Atari
(A/G) by Paul Bunn published by Interface Publications £8.95. What
lets this book down is that it's really a 100 pager masquerading
as a 178 one! Blank spaces proliferate! A pity because Paul has
included some little gems of programming here.
Learning to use the Atari 400/800
Computer (A/G) by Susan Fry published by Gower Publishing Co.
Ltd. £4.95. A good elementary introduction to the mysteries of the
Atari.
Basic Exercises for the Atari
(A/G) by J. P. Lamoitier published by Sybex $12.95. A series of
programs for a number of financial and statistical applications.
Clear but uninspired!
Maths + Computers = Fun
(N/G) by G. T. Childs published by Sigma Technical Press £6.25.
Although in Sharp and Apple Basic, the programs are easily transferable
into our version. The level of maths range from primary to sixth
form. A very enthusiastic approach has been adopted which works
well.
Atari Adventures (A/G) by
Tony Bridge published by Sunshine Books £5.95. A good introduction
to adventuring, particularly of the D&D genre. A full length
graphic/text adventure game 'The Eye of the Star Warrior' may be
typed in. I must get around to it!
Hackerbook for your Atari Computer
(A/X) by H. C. Wagner published by Hofacker GmbH $9.95. Strictly
for the 'dyed in the wool' machine language programmer.
How to program your Atari in
6502 machine language (A/X) by Sam D. Roberts published by Hofacker
GmbH $9.95. An expensive but reasonably clear explanation of this
difficult topic.
DISPENSABLE
Atari Basic - Learning by
Using (A/G) by Thomas E. Rowley published by Hofacker GmbH $9.95.
Another book with a surfeit of blank spaces! Very bitty!
Games for the Atari (A/G)
by Sam D. Roberts published by Hofacker GmbH $7.95. Some of this
book isn't all that bad. Despite the title, there are a few sections
concerned with game programming theory which are quite useful.
Compute!'s First Book of Atari
(A/G) by the editors of Compute! Magazine published by Compute!
Books £10.95. Compute!'s first attempt at anthologising articles
from the magazine which wasn't completely successful. The inclusion
of the then Marketing V. P.'s views are a yawn, and the comparison
between Atari Basic and PET Microsoft Basic seems pointless, to
say the least. Such articles may be justifiable in the monthly magazine,
but in an anthology?!
Machine Language for Beginners
(N/G) by Richard Mansfield published by Compute! Books £11.95. Here
Atari has to share the book with Vic, C64, Apple & PET. So it
is not too surprising that there are better books of this kind available
in the U.S.
The Atari Basic Source Book
(A/X) by Bill Wilkinson et at published by Compute! Books £10.95.
Definitely for the masochists amongst us. This one gets a lot of
rave reviews elsewhere, so be warned!
Inside Atari DOS (A/X) by
Bill Wilkinson published by Compute! Books £14.95. You may blench
at this price for 108 pages. However, 10% of Atari users will find
it essential.
Advanced ATARI BASIC Tutorial
(A/G) by Robert A. Peck published by Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc.
$11.95. Tends to labour some of its points too much with consequent
loss of impact.
Getting started on your Atari
(A/G) by Hartnell & Bunn published by Futura Publications £2.95.
This approach has been done so much better elsewhere. It has all
the signs of a 'rush' job!
The Atari Assembler (A/X)
by Inman & Inman published by Reston $12.95. A straightforward
account and don't forget you'll need that Atari Assembler cartridge.
Home Applications and Games
for the ATARI Home Computers (A/G) by Timothy P. Banse published
by Little, Brown& Co. $14.50. A large format book, presumably
to justify the price! Some useful but not exceptional games and
applications programs.
Basic Computer Simulation
(A/G) by Lawrence L. McNitt published by TAB Books Inc. $15.50.
Over 300 pages of simulation programs in TR5-80 Basic which are
easily convertible to Atari Basic. This could have been a much more
interesting book considering the simulations selected.
Writing Strategy Games on your
Atari computer (A/G) by John White published by Sunshine Books
£5.95. If you're into strategy gaming, then this one is for you.
I must type in Warp Trog sometime!
Games for your Atari (A/G)
by Paul Bunn published by Virgin Books £2.95. A reasonable set of
games listings at a most competitive price.
The Atari Book of Games
(A/G) by James, Gee & Ewbank published by Granada Publishing
£5.95. 21 unsensational games despite what it says on the back cover!
Get More From The Atari
(A/G) by Ian Sinclair published by Granada Publishing £5.95. Done
so much better elsewhere.
DISPOSABLE
Computer Tutor: Atari (A/G)
by Orwig & Hodges published by Little, Brown & Co. $15.95.
Another 300 page large format book. Programs in both Basic and Microsoft,
but boring listings!
Awesome Games for your Atari
Computer (A/G) by Renko & Edwards published by Addison-Wesley
Publishing Co. £3.95. 'Awful Games...'. Need I go on?!
Sixty Programs for the Atari
400/600XL/800 (A/G) by Erskine et al. published by Pan Books
£5.95. Only one program interested me enough to type it in. It wouldn't
run, hence no support from me!
32 Basic Programs for the Atari
computer (A/G) by Rugg et al. published by Dilithium Press $19.95.
At first sight a very good book, then you type one in and the illusion
is soon shattered!
Astrology - A look into the
future (A/G) by Sam D. Roberts published by Hofacker GmbH $9.95.
I typed it in, it wouldn't run and so I complained to the publishers
who sent me a cassette which did. I had to polish it up in order
to get rid of the American and Teutonic bias, but it works ok now.
Having said that, the natal chart is screened in blue and white
with graphics 8. To deny the Atari the chance of outputting this
chart in 'glorious technicolor' seems very myopic... disappointing!
Stimulating Simulations
(Atari version) 2nd Edition (A/G) by C. W. Engel published by Hayden
Book Company Inc. $5.95. Bull! Another title that should be brought
to the attention of the Advertising Standards Authority! 12 undistinguished
listings.
Atari Sound and Graphics
(A/G) by Albrechtet al. published by John Wiley & Sons $9.95.
Avoid this one, you won't regret it. Very mediocre.
101 ATARI Computer Programming
Tips & Tricks (A/G) by Alan North published by ARCsoft Publishers
$8.95. The average length of these 'programs' is about 10 lines.
Imagine how interesting they can get...ZZZZZZ..... Sorry!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. ATARI Books Reviewed
by Cris Popenoe & Lee Pappas
ANALOG computing - No.12 JULY/AUGUST 1983
pp76 - 79
2. ATARI Book Reviews
by Lee Pappas
ANALOG computing - No.18 APRIL 1984
pp12 - 13
3. ANTIC Bookshelf (New Books for
ATARI)
by the ANTIC staff
ANTIC (the ATARI resource) - Vol 3 No 9
JANUARY 1985 pp65 - 67
4. Ample ATARI Literature
Personal Computer News - PCN Micropaedia
Vol 17 Part 2 pp412 - 413
5. Book Reviews
by Jack Schofield
Practical Computing - OCTOBER 1984 pp179 - 180
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