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Electronic Dreams: How 1980s Britain Learned to Love the Computer Hardcover – 11 Feb. 2016

by Tom Lean (Author)

4.5 139 ratings

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How did computers invade the homes and cultural life of 1980s Britain?

Remember the ZX Spectrum? Ever have a go at programming with its stretchy rubber keys? How about the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, or Commodore 64? Did you marvel at the immense galaxies of Elite, master digital kung-fu in Way of the Exploding Fist or lose yourself in the surreal caverns of Manic Miner?

For anyone who was a kid in the 1980s, these iconic computer brands are the stuff of legend. In Electronic Dreams, Tom Lean tells the story of how computers invaded British homes for the first time, as people set aside their worries of electronic brains and Big Brother and embraced the wonder-technology of the 1980s.

This book charts the history of the rise and fall of the home computer, the family of futuristic and quirky machines that took computing from the realm of science and science fiction to being a user-friendly domestic technology. It is a tale of unexpected consequences, when the machines that parents bought to help their kids with homework ended up giving birth to the video games industry, and of unrealised ambitions, like the ahead-of-its-time Prestel network that first put the British home online but failed to change the world.

Ultimately, it's the story of the people who made the boom happen, the inventors and entrepreneurs like Clive Sinclair and Alan Sugar seeking new markets, bedroom programmers and computer hackers, and the millions of everyday folk who bought in to the electronic dream and let the computer into their lives.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bloomsbury Sigma
Publication date

11 Feb. 2016
Dimensions

14.1 x 2.62 x 22.48 cm
ISBN-10

1472918339
ISBN-13

978-1472918338
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Review

Lean has spoken to all the major players, as well as lesser-known ones, and packed his pages with nuggety info to write the first good book on the subject. ― Esquire

Tom Lean's detailed history of the 1980s revolution will be a joy to anyone who grew up in the period ... full of revealing interviews with the basement electronics-tinkerers who invented whole new computers in a week. ― Spectator

Lean's account ... takes us from the launch of the pioneering Sinclair ZX80 through Acorn's iconic BBC Micro to the later ZX81, ZX Spectrum and Acorn Electron ... and includes an amusing retrospective of various early computer games. ― Times Literary Supplement

Lean manages to convey the wonder of the technology that changed the world. ― How it Works

A welcome addition to the field. -- Brian Clegg ― Popular Science

A great read, with many wonderful details about the growth of the computer industry, and those involved in it. It gets across the amateur nature of its early stages very well especially. -- David Braben, co-creator of Elite, founder and CEO of Frontier Developments, co-founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Tom has done a very thorough job of researching and understanding the 1980s UK home computer scene. This book brought back many memories while reminding me of the great excitement and innovative spirit of that decade, which changed the world irreversibly by putting the power of computers into everyone's hands. -- Steve Furber, principal designer of the BBC Micro and Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Manchester

Book Description

How did computers invade the homes and cultural life of 1980s Britain?

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Sigma (11 Feb. 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1472918339
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472918338
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.1 x 2.62 x 22.48 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 65,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 54 in Computer Hardware (Books)
- 56 in History of Engineering & Technology
- 93 in Higher Education of Engineering

Customer reviews:
4.5 139 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

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SirChutney

A nostalgic and enjoyable book on Biritian’s pioneering relationship with computers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 19 September 2020

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Technology historian Tom Lean delivers an entertaining and affectionate account of Britain’s former computing dominance. Fuelled by a wave of cheap, futuristic microcomputers in 1983 Britain enjoyed the highest level of computer ownership in the developed world. Millions of people discovered for themselves the innocent joys of programming and gaming. In those heady early days of computing, Britannia very much ruled the digital waves.

Simultaneously, the UK had several computer manufacturers. Sir Clive Sinclair’s Sinclair Research was making more than any other company in the world. There was even a Welsh computer, the Dragon 32, not to mention the BBC Micro. The UK had an primitive version of the modern internet, Prestel, set up by the Post Office. And other firms would go onto form ARM.

This is a nostalgic and enjoyable book on the country’s pioneering relationship with computers. Heartily recommended.

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Gary K.

A great book if you grew up in this era are or interested in the home computers of this time.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 October 2016

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I was fortunate to grow up and live through this whole era. Back in 1981 when I first got my hands on a zx81 I was 13 years old. It was really what got me into programming. If you lived through it then this book is a great trip down memory lane covering all the trials and tribulations of the computers of the time, and the companies that developed them. If you didn't live in this era then this book gives a great history lesson on how things really were.

Its easy to look back at these machines and dismiss their limited capabilities. However you have to remember there was huge innovation and in a short space of time computers went from massive machines costing several thousands of pounds to a small device that is sub 200 or even sub 100 pounds.

A great book and a recommended read. My only criticism would be it seemed too much content was spent covering the (then GPO/Post Office) product called Prestel. It had very limited impact and adoption in the UK so it seemed strange that so much was devoted to a machine with limited appeal. Unlike the Sinclair and Commodore machines which had massive adoption, but are covered here in great detail.

8 people found this helpful

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Mr. Matthew G. Buckley

a really strong recommendation for anyone who grew up through the exciting technological times of the late 70's and 80's or who has a love for retro computer technology of a particularly British bent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 6 January 2018

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Apart from the odd habit of occasional repetition (for example, he tells at three different points in the first few chapters that computer valves were the size of light bulbs), this is a sparely written, yet fact filled book which also manages to engage. The author clearly likes his subject matter very much, and his enthusiasm is engaging. A little bit on the short side for my tastes, but, still, a really strong recommendation for anyone who grew up through the exciting technological times of the late 70's and 80's or who has a love for retro computer technology of a particularly British bent.

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Sean Smith

Excellent read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 10 May 2021

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Full of nostalgia and reverence. A wonderful read, thought provoking and nuanced. I enjoyed every word. It helped me relive a well spent youth.

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Gavin Griffiths

Fantastic electronic memories brought to life

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 5 October 2016

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Brilliantly written, very to the point and enormous fun in bringing back memories of school and miss spent hours on the very machine is mentioned in the book many facts brought to light, which I thought were half truths turn out to be real stories and innovations from my childhood. The writer moves the historical information forward quickly and explains much but without going to deep technically or igeekerly. A fascinating read about home computers and electronics we take for granted today, and more importantly home grown in the UK. Fantastic read for anyone who has a computer on their desk today!

2 people found this helpful

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Dean Stansfield

Well worth a read even if youre under 30

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 7 October 2016

Verified Purchase

Picked up on kindle;works with narration if you need to give your eyes a break.On my estate in 83,consisted of Dragon32,Zx81,Spectrum,appleii,acorn electron.Five computer owners in five thousand residents.This book takes you through the uk start through the fabulous times,with more than a nod to worldwide goings on.Its true back than ,we all did more than just play games.Though for me it was 50/50.The book is spot on,although a bit dry at times.Just think it was all in the USA?This proves it started here.

2 people found this helpful

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T. Allen

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 10 September 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a cracking book which I enjoyed from start to finish. It covers 'my' era perfectly and I can't think of anything that has been left out. If I have one criticism it's that from about the 50% mark there seemed to suddenly be a lack of proofreading, silly things like saying Computer and Video Games magazine was known as CV&G for example. Overall though I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 8 October 2016

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and flows nicely and I learned a few bits and bobs about computers that I didn't know. I'm 38 so I grew up using a spectrum 48k and then a cpc464 and I found myself grinning with nostalgia many times whilst reading. Simply put if you played computer games in the 80s you'll love this book.

One person found this helpful

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