Sinclair ZX Spectrum: a visual compendium
In stock
Description
Invented by Sir Clive Sinclair, the ZX Spectrum, successor to the ZX80 and ZX81 home computers, would come to define an age of video gaming, with a range of games as quirky and eccentric as the computer that inspired them.
Re-live the glory days of the Spectrum with this award-winning collection of over a hundred classic games. Starting with early titles such as The Hobbit, Hungry Horace and Psion’s Flight Simulation, you will trace the lineage of Spectrum games through iconic titles including Manic Miner, Harrier Attack, Elite, Jetpac, Deus Ex Machina, The Lords of Midnight, Knight Lore and Head Over Heels.
Each game is represented by its loading page or an archetypal screenshot, printed without margins on high-quality paper and using special fluorescent inks to capture the vibrant look of the ZX Spectrum’s palette.
Accompanying this iconic imagery is a wealth of anecdotes and reminiscences from the artists and developers who made the games, with contributions from the Stamper Brothers, Dave Perry, Bo Jangeborg, the Oliver Twins, Matthew Smith, Dawn Drake, Andrew Hewson and many more. The book also features interviews with key artists and profiles of the major games publishers, plus a look at the Russian and Eastern Bloc clone market and homebrew scene, which still produces new ZX Spectrum games to this day!
This stylish 304-page hardback, with a spot-varnished dust cover, was awarded Gold, for the best publication design, in the Roses Creative Awards 2016. So, if you cut your gaming teeth on this quintessentially British computer, grab a copy of this visual compendium and take a glorious, garish, character-clashing step back in time…
Includes contributions from:
Neil Adamson, Jas Austin, Jim Bagley, Gregg Barnett, Brian Beuken, Matt Bielby, Steve Brown, Nick Bruty, Simon Butler, Robin Candy, Tim Closs, Andy Craven, Mel Croucher, Jonathan Davies, Rick Dickinson, Tony Dillon, Mevlut Dinc, Dawn Drake, Mark Eyles, Jason Falcus, Oliver Frey, Alberto J. González, Chris Graham, Bill Harbison, Peter Harrap, John Heap, Andrew Hewson, Chris Hinsley, Robin Hogg, Teoman Irmak, Bo Jangeborg, Steve Jarratt, Chris Jenkins, Colin Jones, David Jones, Mark R. Jones, Roger Kean, James Leach, Richard Leinfellner, Adrian Ludley, Steinar Lund, Veronika Megler, Shaun G. McClure, the Oliver Twins, Ray Owen, Bob Pape, David Perry, Ste Pickford, Mike Richardson, Andy Roberts, Nick Roberts, David Rowe, Bill Scolding, Phil South, Matthew Smith, the Stamper Brothers, Craig Stevenson, Kevin Toms, Steve Turner, Clive Townsend, Keith Warrington, Steve Wetherill, Robert White and Pete Williamson.
Book Specifications
Games featured
Shipping
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Reprint Updates
- MCMike C.Verified Buyer1 month agoRated 5 out of 5 starsWonderful trip down memory lane !
As always amazing book, wonderfully put together with amazing pictures, artwork and writing. Brings back so many great memories.
- CPChristopher P.Verified Buyer11 months agoRated 5 out of 5 starsExcellent book, excellent shipment, excellent experience
As someone who never got to use a Spectrum growing up, this book has allowed me to vicariously experience it in a really satisfying way. Reading the book is a joy- beautiful images, layouts, and just the right amount of interviews and commentaries to provide a guided tour of the Spectrum. As an aside, I'm also astounded by the quality of the shipment of the book- in a dedicated cardboard mailer with foam corner inserts and indivually-wrapped in nice holiday paper. I'm ecstatic with my purchase and look forward to obtaining more titles from Bitmap Books in the future.
- ISIngrid Sánchez M.Verified Buyer2 years agoRated 5 out of 5 starsAmazing edition
It was a gift for a retro fan and she loved it!
- SMSergey M.Verified Buyer2 years agoRated 5 out of 5 starsExcellent gift for retro fans
The book was purchased as a gift for a friend who had a ZX Spectrum in the past. The present was well received.
A packaging worth of separate mentioning. It was fantastic!
- NCNathan C.Verified Buyer2 years agoRated 5 out of 5 starsGorgeous Spectrum retrospective
Initial impressions were fantastic - it came immaculately packaged in Bitmap's custom shipper bedecked with 8-bit pixel art, and foam bumpers protecting every corner of the book itself.
As for the actual book, it's simply a treat for all those kids now in their forties and fifties who grew up with a Speccy in their bedroom. The writing is first-rate - obviously a passion project for the authors - and is a great mix of interviews and history. I am especially taken by the art and screenshots however - whatever printing process was used here really makes the Speccy colour palate pop.
Highly recommended.
