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Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner: 2 (Retro Reproductions) Hardcover – Illustrated, 4 May 2020
byWilliam Tang(Author)
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First published in 1982, William Tang’sSpectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginneris generally considered to be the best introduction to 8-bit machine code programming ever written. With many great game writers crediting this as the book that got them started, there still is no better way to learn the language at the heart of the ZX Spectrum.
* * *
As the original publisher Melbourne House wrote:
If you are frustrated by the limitations of BASIC and want to write faster, more powerful, space-saving programs or subroutines,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 exciting, original arcade game.
* * *
Acorn Books is proud to present its Retro Reproduction Series, a collection of classic computing works from the 1980s and 90s, lovingly reproduced in the 21st century. From standards of programming reference no self-respecting microcomputer programmer would be without, to obscure works not found in print anywhere else, these modern reprints are perfect for any connoisseur of retro computing.
- ISBN-10178982236X
- ISBN-13978-1789822366
- EditionCollector's Hardback ed.
- PublisherAcorn Books
- Publication date4 May 2020
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions15.24 x 1.75 x 22.86 cm
- Print length248 pages
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Product details
- Publisher : Acorn Books
- Publication date : 4 May 2020
- Edition : Collector's Hardback ed.
- Language : English
- Print length : 248 pages
- ISBN-10 : 178982236X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1789822366
- Item weight : 535 g
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 1.75 x 22.86 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 540,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 291 inGames Programming
- 396 inIntroduction to Programming
- 657 inHistory of Engineering & Technology
- Customer reviews:
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Customer reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
127 global ratings
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Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2023The book is fanastic. Very readable style and good detail and explanation. Not far in and I can start to understand how CPU z80 is works. For example, I was too lazy to recall or understand HEX representation of binary or decimal. Now it's obvious how it relates to bits in context of an 8bit process. Nice cover and well bound even if the print quality seems a bit low budget. Would recommend even if it's a subject you are only vaguely interested in.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2025Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseIf you're after a fairly easy to follow introduction to assembly for the Spectrum then you could do worse than this.
It's a faithful reproduction of the original book and presents good value for money given that original runs of books on assembly seem to go for a premium now. - Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2020Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis version of Spectrum Machine Language for the absolute beginner is a lovely book and is perfectly sized. The pages are slightly cream in colour (nice touch) and are of good quality. It feels really nice to hold and I thoroughly recommend getting a copy, especially if you fancy learning 8-bit machine code from one of the best introduction to 8-bit machine code programming books ever written!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2020Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis is a great book if you're interested in getting started with z80 assembly coding on the original ZX Spectrum or the ZX Spectrum Next. Machine language is stated in the title but this is really about assembly language: the human readable form of the 0s and 1s that comprise machine language (also called machine code). The author does explain the difference and provides the background so that the reader can make the distinction.
It is an exact reproduction so the font, the writing style, etc. are as per the original from the 1980s. Consequently there a few typos from the original that are also authentically reproduced, but this doesn't detract from the usefulness of this book. - Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2023Treat myself to this book after getting hold of a ZX Spectrum Next and thought I'd at last delve into the black art of machine code programming, having given it a wide berth for the last 40 years!
Despite the topic, the author approaches it in manner easy to understand for the beginner. This is a nice change from books that say you don't need a prior knowledge but then find you do. The explanation of how computers count is really clear and interesting and gives a good understanding of hexadecimal and why its used.
The book isn't without issues though!! There are errors through it that really should have been picked up in proof reading. For example the first program (in BASIC) you're asked to type in simply does not work, and its clear from looking at the code that it would never have worked. This is really disappointing, but if you persevere and take the time to work out what is wrong with it then you'll actually learn a lot more than just by reading. This might not be for a lot of people though as longer code, especially when you get into the assembly detail, can be very difficult and frustrating to unpick.
In general though I think this is a good book. Even if you don't intend to follow through the examples, you'll learn a lot about the simplicity (and complexity!) of the Z80A and how it works. - Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 October 2020Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseA good reference book with some questionable grammar and spelling at times and the typeface is very 1980s. Really good retro book covering the subject of z80 machine language for those who were maybe too young to look at learning it back in the day.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2020Format: HardcoverI was not the brightest when it came to Mathematics but this Book explained the Binary system very lucidly and made it easy to understand.
This Book enabled me to understand machine code and fall in love with Programming. It also spurred me on to obtain a Degree in Computer Science in 1991 and earn a very good income.
This Book basically set me up for life and allowed me to retire at 39.
In other words, the best Book I ever read. - Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2020Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThe content of the book itself is ok I suppose but there are two faults which are quite a big deal.
Firstly the writing style might have been fine when the target audience was a bunch of kids who’d never so much as touched a computer before but now most of us have been using them for many years, a lot of us with prior coding experience, referring to registers continually throughout the book as fingers and toes is just outright confusing. You have to continually ask yourself what on earth they’re going on about. Use the analogy to start with but then drop it and use the proper terms.
So onto the lazy reprint bit. This strikes me as just a money grab. It really would not have hurt for the people that reprinted it to have actually proof read it. Good luck getting the code examples and programs to actually work should you go to the effort of typing them in!! There’s errors all over the place!
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon KundeReviewed in Germany on 4 September 2025
5.0 out of 5 starsspuner
super! - iPaulReviewed in Canada on 16 December 2024
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent intro to Machine Language coding for the Z80 processor
This is a really nice book. It is an excellent introduction to Machine Language coding for the Z80 processor that is used by the Spectrum. I bought the book to play with the new "The Spectrum" replica. - Javier SanchezReviewed in Spain on 8 April 2022
5.0 out of 5 starsExcelente libro
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseTenia ganas de adquirirlo desde hace mucho, volvi con mi Spectrum desde hace más de 30 años, y la verdad es que recordaba mucho cuando desarrollaba videojuegos, perdi la práctica y la memoria despues de tantos años ya no es lo mismo para volver al Z80 en Assembler, un gran libro, bien estructurado siguiendo el original de los años 80/90 realmente brillante y muy recomendado. - Greg E. SedbrookReviewed in the United States on 26 September 2025
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseA great tome to have in your Speccy collection - Chris TaylorReviewed in the United States on 20 September 2020
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat starting point if you do not have any Z80 Machine Code Experience
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI used this book when I was maybe 10 or 11, and it was great I was able to learn Z80 machine code and grasp the concepts of binary and hexadecimal because of the easy explanations provided in this book.
More that 30 years later I bought this book for two reasons, number one I wanted to see how it compared to what I remember and number 2 I backed the ZX Spectrum Next kickstarter, and have been playing with Spectrum emulators and thought this book would be interesting to work through again.
The book is a great resource, I have recommended it to people asking for a something consumable for an absolute beginner and this is an easy recommendation. Now, on re-reading the book and being an experienced assembly language programmer on a number of architectures I do recognize a few typos/minor errors in the book. But, it did not cause too much of a hindrance when I went through this as a child and I still think it is a great resource to get started.
Thanks Acorn Books, for reprinting this book!
