Elementary BASIC: As Chronicled by John H.Watson

by Henry F. Ledgard, Andrew Singer

The “Analytical Engine,” the direct forebear of today’s computers, came into use at just about the time that Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the first Sherlock Holmes story. Suppose, as the authors of this book do, that Sherlock Holmes solved his cases by feeding clues into the machine. This notion may startle detective story aficionados, but computer buffs will find that it provides a matchless teaching tool. In the new Sherlock Holmes stories presented here, the great detective enlists the aid of the Analytical Engine. As his computer programs sift through clues and unravel puzzles, Holmes instructs Dr. Watson, and the reader, in a way that illuminates the mysteries of computer programming. The book’s detailed examples and programs enable the reader to follow each problem on his own computer and to reach for himself Holmes’s often surprising conclusions.Here is an entertaining, sure-fire, step-by-step primer on how to program your computer in Basic that proves that computer programming needn’t be a mystery.

286 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this early BASIC programming tuition book, but had some quite major issues with it. On the plus side the Sherlock Holmes content was great fun and entertaining, imagining the great detective using Babbage's Analytical Engine and trying to teach programming to Dr Watson. On the downside I found some of the programming decisions to be quite bizarre, and wonder how much anyone reading this in 1982 would have learned practically. Also it was a shame that the most impressive program for me appeared at the start, with relatively simpler programs after that. On the plus side there was a good chapter advocating top-down design. So not exactly a success, but a worthy experiment, and an interesting read.

[mirabilos]

I am relatively sure to have read this one decades ago and found it delightful. Now Sarah bought it used off a public library, so we can enjoy it again.