ZX Spectrum Books
The following is a list of ZX Spectrum Books in the Centre for Computing History collection. It is not an exhaustive list of and other books may have been published. If you have a book that you would like to donate to our collection, please view our donations page.There are 62 ZX Spectrum Books in our collection :
Order By : Title - Release Date - Publisher |

Publisher: Cambridge Colour Collection
Author: Richard Francis Altwasser

Multi-user Games for the Spectrum
Publisher: Pan / Personal Computer News
Author: Paul Stanley

Publisher: National Extension College
Author: Clive Prigmore

From back cover:
This book teaches the beginner by example in a simple, easy to learn form and it is an invaluable reference work for the expert too.
Second Edition June 1983
Publisher: Hewson Consultants
Author: John Hardman, Andrew Hewson

"... an exciting collection of games and utility programs for the ZX Spectrum, all presented in ready-to-run form."
Publisher: Interface Publications
Author: David Harwood

Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Author: John Dewhirst Rosemary Tennison

This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale
Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd
Author: Peter Gerrard, Danny Doyle

Advanced Spectrum Machine Language
This book is a collection of ready-made machine language routines that show how to archieve spectacular effects on the Spectrum. Most of the routines are aimed at creating visual displays that are at the frontiers of Spectrum's capabilities. The routines include features that have never been published before, such as: Full Screen Horizon ! Lets you change the colour of the border and screen at any point, and move this horizon at will ! Interrupts Driven Sprite Animation ! Animate objects with perfectly flicker-free movement by pixels ! High Resolution Colour ! Create an area on the Spectrum with eight times the normal Spectrum's Colour Resolution! Create images over all of the screen area, including all regions of the border !
This book is for programmers with some experience in machine language programming. All the routines are listed in labelled assembly language and the techniques and principles involved are fully explained. Other routines included in this book are PRINT, PLOTTING, DRAWNING and KEYBOARD SCAN. The routines are all of professional quality and do no involve any calls to the ROM. This means that the speed of your machine language programs can be dramatically increased using these routines.
Publisher: Melbourne House
Author: David Webb

When you've mastered introductory programming on the spectrum, you need this outstanding guide to enhanced programming techniques and concepts.
Publisher: Interface Publications
Author: Dilwyn Jones

Author: Ian Murray
SBN-13: 9780712602600
ISBN-10: 0712602607
Pages: 184
Publisher: Century Communications 1984

by Peter Shaw.
Published 1983 by Virgin in London .
Series The Virgin computer games series
Classifications
Dewey Decimal Class 794.8/028/5425
Library of Congress GV1469.2
Number of pages 126
ID Numbers
Open Library OL20032712M
ISBN 10 0907080847
OCLC/WorldCat 12505121
Kindly donated by Thomas Lescoffit
Publisher: Virgin

Contents
- Arcade Action
- Adventure
- Space Games
- Board Games
- Card Games
- Just For Fun
- Games for Thinkers
- Simulation
Appendices
- Utility & Demonstration Programs
- Games to Convert
- Error Trapping
- Glossary
Publisher: Fountain Books
Author: Tim Hartnell

Publisher: Granada Publishing Ltd
Author: Ian Sinclair

by Tony Woods
Publisher McGraw-Hill
ISBN-10 070847053
Published 1983
Edition First Edition
Binding Soft Cover 160 pages
Machine code for action. Machine-code programs run very quickly, literally hundreds of times faster than the equivalent BASIC. And they are very powerful, enabling your computer to do things undreamed of by its manufacturer!
The ZX Spectrum uses a Z80 processor, and machine-code programs are written in Z80 assembly language. This book is a complete course in Z80 assembly language, right from the beginning. Written by an experienced teacher and programmer, it is ideal for anyone with a knowledge of BASIC and contains many complete-and useful- programs.
Assembly software. The assembly-language listings in this book can of course be hand assembled into machine code, but for speed and accuracy you should use the McGraw-Hill ZX Spectrum Machine Code Assembler program, available on cassette for the 16K or 48K Spectrum. All the program listings have been specially written to match this software
Publisher: McGraw Hill

The programs in this book have been designed to help the younger members of your family to handle the spectrum and to increase their general knowledge- whilst enjoying themselves.
Publisher: Granda Publishing
Author: Vince Apps

Expert machine code techniques
Publisher: Sunshine
Author: David Laine

An introduction to machine and assembly language programming for the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81.
Publisher: Melbourne House Publishers
Author: Beam Software

Publisher: Beaver Books
Author: William Clark

Author: David Webb

ISBN 0333345436
Publisher: The Macmillan Press
Author: Randle Hurley

Not a teach yourself programming guide, it is a collection of programs: each program has a detailed breakdown of exactly what happens when and how its all achieved.
The listings are not trivial, and the result is well worth the effort. The book is liberally illustrated in colour showing screen displays for almost all the programs so you know what you are trying to achieve at the outset.
Publisher: Melbourne House Publishers
Author: Philip Williams

"Programs for the ZX Spectrum and the ZX Spectrum +"
Publisher: Granada
Author: Jonathan Inglis

Sinclair ZX SPECTRUM - Introduction
Steven Vickers - Robin Bradbeer
First Edition 1982
Chapter 1 - The computer and setting it up
Chapter 2 - The keyboard
Chapter 3 - Numbers, letters and the computer as a calculator
Chapter 4 - Some simple commands
Chapter 5 - Simple programming
Chapter 6 - Using the cassette recorder
Chapter 7 - Colours
Chapter 8 - Sound
Chapter 9 - Inside the case
Signed by Ruth Bramley, Company Secretary of Sinclair Research and secretary to Sir Clive Sinclair, who was responsible for editing it.
Author: David Webb

by Ellen Sparer
Published by Sinclair Research 1984
84 illustrated pages
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

Back Cover:
Logo 2 builds upon information in Logo 1 and should not be attempted by newcomers to LOGO until Logo 1 has been read and understood.
Publisher: Sinclair Research Ltd
Author: Ellen Sparer

by K L Clark, F G McCabe and J R Ennals 1983
302 pages small format paperback
Micro-PROLOG is the name of a variant or dialect of Prolog , initially created to microcomputer of 8 bits, popularized in the early of 1980 . Fue usado en la enseñanza pública, normalmente como introducción a la programación lógica ya la Inteligencia Artificial . Was used in public education, usually as an introduction to logic programming and Artificial Intelligence .
Sinclair Research launched a package that includes a 'primer' on the language, Micro Prolog, together with a cassette containing the interpreter and a few example programs. Prolog is the language that the Japanese have selected as a major component in their ambitious project for a new breed of computers called the Fifth Generation - planned for the next decade. And considering the Japanese designers are hoping to build computers that can emulate human reasoning powers, it's hardly surprising that the programming language they have chosen is a few light years away from homely old Basic.The name Prolog is derived from the phrase 'programming in logic'. The language was originally developed at the University of Marseilles about ten years ago,
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

Sinclair ZX Spectrum Micro-PROLOG Reference Manual
Year of release 1983
Publisher Sinclair Research Ltd (UK)
Author(s) F.G. McCabe, K.L. Clark, D.R. Brough
Type Book: Spiral bound
ISBN 1-85016-017-1
132 pages
Micro-PROLOG is the name of a variant or dialect of Prolog , initially created to microcomputer of 8 bits, popularized in the early of 1980.
Sinclair Research launched a package that includes a 'primer' on the language, Micro Prolog, together with a cassette containing the interpreter and a few example programs. Prolog is the language that the Japanese have selected as a major component in their ambitious project for a new breed of computers called the Fifth Generation - planned for the next decade. And considering the Japanese designers are hoping to build computers that can emulate human reasoning powers, it's hardly surprising that the programming language they have chosen is a few light years away from homely old Basic.The name Prolog is derived from the phrase 'programming in logic'. The language was originally developed at the University of Marseilles about ten years ago,
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ User Guide
Author Name: Neil Ardley
Binding: paperback
Publisher: Dorling Kindesley/Sinclair Research 1984
ISBN Number: 863180809
Illustrated
82 pages
Author: David Webb

Publisher: Pan Books LTD
Author: Robert Erskine, Humphrey Walwyn, Paul Stanley, Michael Bews

Spectrum Plus Logo
by Tim Hartnell
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Interface (April 1985)
ISBN-10: 0907563651
ISBN-13: 978-0907563655
Publisher: Interface

by Nick Hampshire
ISBN 0715617001 / 9780715617007 / 0-7156-1700-1
Publisher Duckworth & Company, Limited, Gerald
Language English
Edition Softcover
Second Impression 1983
Topics covered include:-Using color- Two dimensional shape plotting- Shape plotting- Shape scaling and stretching- Shape movement- Shape rotation- Plotting using matrix manipulation- Three dimensional shape plotting.
Spectrum Graphics is a must for every Spectrum user who wishes to use the machine to its maximum graphics display potential.
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

If you are frustrated by the limitations of BASIC and want to write faster, more powerful, space-saving programs or subroutines, the Spectrum Machine Language For The Absolute Beginner is the book for you.
Even with no previous experience of computer languages, you will be able to discover the ease and power of the Spectrum's own language. Each chapter includes specific examples of machine language applications which can be demonstrated and used on your Spectrum as well as a self-test questionnaire.
At the end of the book, all this is brought together in an entire machine language program - from design right through to the complete listing of an existing, original arcade game.
Publisher: Melbourne House
Author: William Tang

In this book, Dr. Ian Logan, The leading authority on Sinclair computers, gives a detailed explanation for this high speed memory storage system.
Publisher: Melbourne House Publishers
Author: Dr. Ian Logan

Publisher Duckworth
Author Nick Hampshire
ISBN-10 0715617044
Published 1983
182 pages + Index
This book provides the reader with a range of useful and interesting programmes for the Spectrum. Edited by Nick Hampshire, publisher for Commodore Computing International, the programme topics include:-Music-Games-Utilities-Graphics-Functional programmes, etc. Spectrum Programmes 1 is a basic book for every user of the Spectrum.
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

"Now without any additional effort, you can overcome the limitations of BASIC and give your Spectrum real power-faster programs, more powerful graphic commands, realistic explosions, fast screen scrolling, great sounds and much more! This book will help you to develop programs of professional quality- not only will your programs look better, run faster, and be more spectacular- but you will also be able to develop them in a fraction of the time you would expect it to take. One of the most spectacular examples of extending the Spectrum is a routine that allows you to reproduce your voice and play it back from within your own programs! No knowledge of machine language is required, as all the routines have been fully written and can be directly entered into your Spectrum. The routines in this book will also allow you to renumber your BASIC programs (including all GOTOs and GOSUBs!), deletes lines, and trace BASIC programs by showing the line number of each line as it executes. David Webb also includes the most discussion of all the Spectrum's system variables yet published. If you are already familair with machine language, then this book will be an invaluable aid to writing your own programs- here are over 50 ready-made and debugged routines, with clear and detailed comment, that use the full power of the Spectrum Z80A and its special features. So whether you are a beginner Spectrum user or an experienced programmer, Supercharge your Spectrum is a book you cannot be without."
Publisher: Melbourne House
Author: David Webb

The Century computer programming course for the Spectrum - a complete guide to programming in BASIC
by Peter Morse and Brian Hancock
Publisher: London Century Communications 1985
ISBN: 0712603808
First Edition
Soft Cover 544 Pages

Publisher: Century Pub
ISBN: 0712600736 Edition: Paperback; 1983
Book Details:
Physical Description: 525 pages
Edition Info: Paperback; 1983
Publisher: Century Pub
Author: BY Peter Morse, Ian Adamson, Ben Anrep and Brian Hacock

Back cover:
The advent of the ZX Microdrive, Interface 1 and Interface 2 has turned a toy into a tool, making the Spectrum the core of a powerful and flexible computer system. With the mass storage capacity and fast access of the Microdrive, and the control and communications facilities of Interface 1 and Interface 2, the potential is astonishing.
The Companion sets out to explain the function of all parts of the system, how they intereact with eachother, with peripherals, and via the networking facility....
Publisher: Pan Books
Author: Stuart Cooke

Publisher: Century Communications
Author: Christopher Bidmead & Benjamin Woodley

by Sue Beasley and Ruth Clark
The ZX Spectrum
Published 1983 by Century in London .
Written in English.
Classifications
Dewey Decimal Class 001.64/04
Library of Congress QA76.8.S625
Number of pages 219
ID Numbers
Open Library OL16514775M
ISBN 10 0712603336, 0712603328

Here is a selection of twenty-one exciting, high quality games written specially for the ZX Spectrum. These games make full use of the Spectrum's facilities, and are fully tested and crash proof.
Publisher: Granda Publishing
Author: M. James, S. M. Gee and K. Ewbank

ISBN: 071260152X / 0-7126-0152-X
by Tim Langdell
Publisher: Century,
Publication Date: 1982.
Publication Place: London :
216 pages
ISBN: 071260152X (pbk)
Subject: Sinclair ZX Spectrum (Computer)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum microcomputer systems
This book was kindly donated by Rodney Dale

From the introduction:
'This book contains a full disassembly listing of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16K ROM and a machine code programmer's guide ot the Microdrive & Interface 1 unit. Enough detail is included to help you, as amachine code programmer, to understand the operation of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and its Interface 1 and to design machine code routines for your own purposes.'
Publisher: Interface Publications
Author: Richard Ross-Langley

Publisher: Pan Books Ltd
Author: Ian Scales

This book takes the Spectrum user in esy stages from his first step in programming to a good level of competence.
Publisher: Granda Publishing
Author: S. M. Gee

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K
Publisher Sidgwick & Jackson
Author Harold Gale & Robin Bradbeer
English-UK
ISBN-10 028399164X
Published 1984
Binding Soft Cover 160 pages

by Ian Robertson Sinclair
ISBN 0246120185 / 9780246120182 / 0-246-12018-5
Publisher Granada Publishing, Limited 1984
Soft-cover 138 pages
Publisher: Granada

Publisher: Granda Publishing
Author: Ian Sinclair

Dr. Ian Logan is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on Sinclair computers. In this book, he gives you a complete overview of the way the Spectrum operates, both for BASIC and machine language programming, including numerous demonstration programs. In Dr. Logan's word Understanding Your Spectrum has three main aims: to explain, in simple terms, how the Spectrum works; to teach Z80 machine code from the first principles; and to give details of monitor entry points, so that efficient programs can be written. A special section of the ROM operating system will give you insight into the Spectrum and provide you with information on how to use many of the routines present in the ROM in your own programming/ This book is a must if you are serious about programming the Spectrum.
Publisher: Melbourne House
Author: Ian Logan

A full guide to using the Spectrum for Educational purposes, starting from describing the machine to teaching programming.
Publisher: Hartnell

A full guide to using the Spectrum for Educational purposes, starting from describing the machine to teaching programming.
Publisher: Hartnell

ZX SPECTRUM BASIC Programming
By Steven Vickers
Edited by Robin Bradbeer
by Sinclair Research Limited
Cover illustration by John Harris of Young Artists
CONTENTS
Chapter1 Introduction
A guide to the ZX Spectrum keyboard and a description of the display.
Chapter 2 Basic programming concepts
Programs, line numbers, editing programs using , and EDIT, RUN, LIST, GO TO, CONTINUE, INPUT, NEW, REM, PRINT, STOP in INPUT data, BREAK
Chapter 3 Decisions
IF, STOP, =, <, >, <=, >=, <>
Chapter 4 Looping
FOR, NEXT, TO, STEP. Introducing FOR-NEXT loops
Chapter 5 Subroutines
GO SUB, RETURN
Chapter 6 READ, DATA, RESTORE
Chapter 7 Expressions
Mathematical expressions using +, -, *, /, scientific notation and variable names.
Chapter 8 Strings
Handling strings and slicing.
Chapter 9 Functions
User-definable functions and others readily available on the ZX Spectrum using DEF, LEN, STR$, VAL, SGN, ABS, INT, SQR, FN
Chapter 10 Mathematical functions
Including simple trigonometry: , PI, EXP, LN, SIN, COS, TAN, ASN, ACS, ATN
Chapter 11 Random numbers
Using RANDOMIZE and RND.
Chapter 12 Arrays
Strings and numeric arrays - DIM.
Chapter 13 Conditions
Logical expressions: AND, OR, NOT.
Chapter 14 The character set
A look at the ZX character set including graphics and how to construct your own graphic characters: CODE, CHR$, POKE, PEEK, USR, BIN
Chapter 15 More about PRINT and INPUT
Some more complicated uses of these commands using separators: ,;' , TAB, AT, LINE and CLS.
Chapter 16 Colours
INK, PAPER, FLASH, BRIGHT, INVERSE, OVER, BORDER
Chapter 17 Graphics
PLOT, DRAW, CIRCLE, POINT
Chapter 18 Motion
Animated graphics using PAUSE, INKEY$ and PEEK.
Chapter 19 BEEP
The sound capabilities of the ZX Spectrum using BEEP.
Chapter 20 Tape Storage
How to store your programs on cassette tape: SAVE, LOAD, VERIFY, MERGE.
Chapter 21 The ZX Printer
LLIST, LPRINT, COPY
Chapter 22 Other equipment
Connecting the ZX Spectrum to other machines and devices.
Chapter 23 IN and OUT
Input/Output ports and their uses: IN, OUT
Chapter 24 The memory
A look at the internal workings of the ZX Spectrum: CLEAR
Chapter 25 The system variables
Chapter 26 Using machine code
Introducing USR with a numeric argument
APPENDIX A The character set
APPENDIX B Reports
APPENDIX C A description of the ZX Spectrum for reference
APPENDIX D Example programs
APPENDIX E Binary and hexadecimal
Author: David Webb

First edition 1982
Publisher: Sinclair Research
Author: Steven Vickers

This 127-page book contains instructions for coding games on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. It was published in 2015, 32 years after the Spectrum's release, demonstrating the machine's continuing appeal in the retro computing world. The games in the book include variants on classics like Breakout and Space Invaders, as well as versions of simple modern games like Flappy Bird.
Publisher: Gazzapper Press
Author: Gary Plowman