Name: | Dean Valent |
Recommended book: | The Apprentice |
Comments: | I have to say, I picked up the Apprentice because of pressure from my significant other, and was surprised to see the name "Gordon Houghton" as the author. I knew the name from somewhere... So I did a quick search, and low and behold, it was one of the staff on Zzap64. I was only a kid when I read that, but it was a good surprise. A very good site, and I'm planning on picking up The Dinner Party now. Keep up the good work. |
Name: | Russell Smith |
Recommended book: | Cloud Atlas |
Comments: | Hi Gordon...weren't you the... er... large one? Anyway, have to say great site and I still have about 20 or more copies of Zzap! in my loft! Sad but remarkably true. Zapp! Was always my favourite commodore mag. |
Name: | Andrew Walsh |
Recommended book: | Perfume Patrick Suskind |
Comments: | This is my comment. |
Name: | Kelvin Clegg |
Recommended book: | Ronnie Barker BBC Biography |
Comments: | It was good to pay a trip down memory lane and find out what happened to you post Zzap Gordon and all the other staff too. (Great site!) |
Name: | Ginnt |
Recommended book: | any book by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes |
Comments: | It was really weird, I found you by searching for a picture of a pomagranate. But I am glad that I did. I really wish "The Dinner Party" was still in print because I, too used to be a self-mutilator and it sounds very interesting. You sound like a really nice and interesting person and I am happy that I found your website. I am about to purchase your book "Damned if you do" (since I live in the states) and am looking forward to reading it. Dont dissapoint me! haha. Thanks! (your new biggest fan) Ginny |
Name: | Andrew Fisher |
Comments: | Hi Gordon, it's Andrew Fisher here, former Commodore Force writer. Good to see your piece in the new issue of Retro Gamer, which I also write for. |
Name: | Dan Rosen |
Comments: | Dear Gordon, Hi. I hope you remember me. I'm the writer-director guy who contacted you a few years ago about the film rights to The Apprentice. I wrote the Last Supper and wrote/directed Dead Mans Curve. Did you ever option the book to anyone? Are the rights still available? Hope to hear from you soon. Dan danrosen@sbcglobal.net |
Name: | Scott Houghton |
Comments: | Have'nt read the book yet but will. i was researching our name and came upon your site. |
Name: | flookster |
Recommended book: | Damned If You Do |
Comments: | Damned If You Do is currently making my morning commute the highlight of my working day. Great novel Gordon. |
Name: | Nicola Robe |
Comments: | Thank you for this wonderful website. My husband and I are very lucky to have a beautiful baby girl, Betty Boo, from our 1st successful IVF attempt. We are now on our 2 week waiting period having had two Frozen embryo's transferred on 27/9/04. Fingers crossed! |
Name: | koi |
Comments: | your pregancy symptoms table was helpful for me. thank you |
Name: | Anne Cecil |
Comments: | Read The Apprentice while working in the UK.-LOVED IT! It made my commute on the tube endurable. I've just downloaded The Journeyman and found a used copy of The Dinner Party which is costing me a small fortune, but I am willing to bet that both will give me great pleasure;) |
Name: | Sam |
Comments: | Great website, gave me some fond memories of the good old Zzap64 days... |
Name: | Henrik Erlandsson |
Recommended book: | The Best of Byte |
Comments: | Stumbled upon your page after reading a comment you added on www.old-computers.com. Who am I? An avid Swedish reader who still has old copies of Zzap 64 somewhere, typically read til the covers fell off :P Was active in the Amiga demo scene til I got work at Argonaut Software during the development of Birds of Prey. I'm still a game programmer, currently in school. In August I'll start my second year at the university, to become a shockwave programmer. It's always nice to see someone making the effort of hosting a nice site about the good (?) old day which will never come back :'( Wish me luck in getting the energy to do the same :) |
Name: | dean shepherd |
Comments: | 64 4 ever |
Name: | Sandro |
Recommended book: | Il deserto dei tartari (Dino Buzzati) |
Comments: | Remembering is alwais pine. But zzap have been granted some memory taht never will be alone. Those time will nerver coma again and I feel lucky for my presence in those neverendin years Sandro |
Name: | grant adams |
Recommended book: | wiseguys by mitch pillegi |
Comments: | I got my name in zzap64 once but then again so did my mum. |
Name: | Steinar Bergstøl |
Recommended book: | Anything by Terry Pratchett will do for someone with a sense of humour |
Comments: | Dear God... These pages certainly took me down memory lane. :) What can I say? Zzap has always been, and I suspect always will be the best gaming magazine I've ever laid my eyes on in my opinion. It was the first and only mag I ever bothered to subscribe to, and next to Commodore User had practically no competition among the C64 gamers here in Kristiansand, Norway. Sure, there were some American mags available too, but they were bloody boring, they were! Zzap had what practically no other gaming mag has managed to have before or after: Personality. So, thank you to you and all your colleagues from back then for producing the best damn gaming magazine in the history of... well... gaming magazines I suppose. :) Oh, and yes I _was_ green with envy at the thought that you people got paid to do that job, just like everyone else who bought the mag and wished we were in your seats, you lucky gits! :) -Steinar Bergstøl |
Name: | Fin Jenkins |
Recommended book: | All of arthur C clarks well almost |
Comments: | The C64 days were the best years ZZap was a great mag to bad theres nothing like it left |
Name: | robert lunn |
Recommended book: | lullaby - chuck palahniuck |
Comments: | i recently threw all my old zzap64 collection, and now i realise what a pratt i've been |
Name: | max |
Recommended book: | alsous huxley " brave new world |
Comments: | hi gordon, very nice site. i´m really addicted to the good old c64. especially to the 8-bit sounds... beep beep beep chrrrrckkkkkk.... but i can´t find any sound schemes. can you help me where i can find them ?????? you can respond via mail through my site. www.paradroid.org. cheers, max |
Name: | Vladimir Itkin |
Comments: | Dear Mr. Houghton! I'm editor-in-chief of russian book-review paper "Book Showcase", that belongs to the biggest russian booktrade corporation "Top-kniga" (our e-adress www.opt-kniga.ru/kv) . Would you kindly agree to give e-mail interview connected with the russian translation of "The Apprentice"? Sincerely yours, Vladimir Itkin |
Name: | Pete |
Comments: | cool |
Name: | koworld |
Recommended book: | master and margharita (bulgakov) |
Comments: | The Llamasoft Lleague told me to do it. Cheers, Rich |
Name: | elfst0ne |
Recommended book: | LOTR |
Comments: | Well Zzap had the be the best magazine of all time. Of course we all shared a passion for commodore gaming then but we had a magazine that could keep us enthralled to boot. Im into PC gaming now, yet I find the standard of todays magazines PC gamer/Zone to be of a less inspirational and must buy. |
Name: | Lenny |
Recommended book: | Trainspotting |
Comments: | Man, i found this looking for sids (and i'm listening to Last Ninja 2 right now). What a flashback. Good to see you are still with Kati and writing. Weird too seeing contemporary stuff included in those familiar "fave" lists. I too write for a living (tv and film). I read Zzap page to page without missing an issue from about '86 to '93. Thanks for giving me so much to read as a kid. It surely helped spark something. Sometimes when i dream i see Zzap still on a newsagent shelf. Memories... |
Name: | mark newbery |
Comments: | The Zzap 64 days were ones of magic. I would thumb enthusiastically through its pages in preparation for my weeked software purchases (mostly the 1.99/2.99 games though!) I recently bought a batch of issues on Ebay and having been reading them nostalgically as well as visiting the C64 webites (Boy there are tons of them!) I guess the C64 lives on what with new games still being programmed for the CCS64 and some of the PC remakes of classic C64 titles. I like Julian Rignall have crossed the pond to the good ol'USA and before I even moved I mad sure I bought a C64 from Ebay that would work in the states (some things never die - and C64 is one of them) To all the Zzap crew I salute you. It warms my heart to know that many Zzap references can be found on the internet too. God bless the C64! Mark N |
Name: | Kieran Doherty |
Comments: | C64....80's what else needs to be said.....? Oh yeah, Dropzone, Elite, Thrust, I was the King!!!(well Dropzone and Thrust) New to this, what are the best available versions of the above, any ideas? I advertised in C&VG in 1985-6, used to redistribute games all over the planet.. anybody remember? Kiers.. |
Name: | Marcello Bosio |
Recommended book: | Il contrario di uno by Erri De Luca |
Comments: | Hey, congratulations, Kati and Gordo, I really mean it!!! I'm very happy for you! Erm... as I'm here, I can't stop the compulsive thrust to write down my updated top20 (please forgive me!) 1.Space Rogue, 2.Katakis, 3.Bubble Bobble, 4.Creatures 2, 5.Zak McKracken, 6.Armalyte, 7.Hawkeye, 8.Rainbow Islands, 9.Wizball, 10.The Last Ninja, 11.Champions of Krynn, 12.Archon, 13.Bionic Commando, 14.Dropzone, 15.Ikari Warriors, 16.Salamander, 17.Batman-The Caped Crusader, 18.Star Paws, 19.Buggy Boy, 20.Barbarian-The Ultimate Warrior. |
Name: | Walter |
Recommended book: | Ulysses |
Comments: | It was so funny remembering old times when I was 11-12 years old. One of the my Zzap "heroes" which I used to read in the italian version of the magazine. Thank you for what you have done. Grazie. Walter Fierli walterf@katamail.com |
Name: | Phil Zadarnowski |
Recommended book: | Tolkien - LOTR - The Return of the King |
Comments: | Possibly the two most memorable things in my life to date. The C64, and ZZap! magazine. Ahh, the early 80's. Much playing of Jumpman and Loderunner... Dino Eggs... Ahh, memories. |
Name: | Justin Calvert |
Recommended book: | Planet of the Apes |
Comments: | Hey Gordo, I want to thank you for contributing to Zzap back in the day - it was the first magazine I ever subscribed to (with a little help from my dad) and although I never got that staff writer job I applied for when I was about 12, I forgive you. Also, thanks for printing my letter when I complained about the mag covering too much Amiga stuff, for the copy of Zak McKracken and the Alien Mind Benders I won in one of your compos, and especially for the signed Zzap 64 t-shirt (which I still have) that I won in a phone-in 'The editor of Zzap is so fat...' limerick compo. All the best Justin Calvert, Associate Editor - GameSpot.com |
Name: | connie davidson |
Comments: | great site. |
Name: | Michael Vickery |
Recommended book: | The Stand & Lord of the Rings |
Comments: | It takes real courage to admit to mental illness. I'm very careful because most people look at you like your some kind of bug. Also, your website writing is so peaceful. :-) |
Name: | Luca "MADrigal" Antignano |
Recommended book: | A day of my Life |
Comments: | Great job Gord! I discovered your site recently and I say I love it for real! Tons of useful infos about the English Zzap!64 I missed (I'm Italian). I especially love the "where are they now?" and "gallery" sections :-)) Keep up da superb work! |
Name: | Anthony Stiller |
Recommended book: | The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien |
Comments: | Excellent update, Gordo! ;-) And they said I was mad when they found out I was still visiting The Burrow. Mad, I tell you! Ant ps Hope all is going well with the shelf building. Ha! Shelf building! That gag never gets old! Comedy gold, sirrah! |
Name: | Mike T |
Recommended book: | Faust Among Equals (Tom Holt) |
Comments: | Great read, its a nice feeling to be able to catch up on something that was a major influence for me when I was kid. I dont think the ZZap guys could ever have been paid enough for the joy they brought. Consider yourself bookmarked;) |
Name: | Jill |
Comments: | I liked my stop on your site. It is great and useful. Keep up the good work |
Name: | Paul Yeates |
Recommended book: | Meaning Of Liff |
Comments: | Nice job. I used to adore ZZap, read it a year before i got my 64. Had every issue till i got the Amiga. Anyway it was you guys that got me into games. And now im finally working in Video games. Thanks p |
Name: | Marcello Bosio |
Recommended book: | The year of Ricardo Reis' death, by J.Saramago |
Comments: | Hi Gordo, I've just realized I never signed your guestbook before, so here I am. I was a Zzap!64 enthousistic reader from issue 27 (july 1987) to issue 75 (july 1991)and a big fan of your age: the zany days of the Gordo-Paul Glancey-Maff-Kati team... This site is totally fab, as it's Zzap! #107. It's great to see the ScoreLord back, also 'cause I'm a much better player today than back then... I'll leave you with my alltime top 20 (I'm a chart-o-maniac) 1. Katakis 2. Bubble Bobble 3. Creatures 2 (new entry) 4. Zak McKracken 5. Space Rogue (n.e.) 6. Rainbow Islands 7. Wizball 8. The Last Ninja 9. Hawkeye (!) 10. Armalyte 11. Bionic Commando 12. Archon 13. Dropzone (n.e.) 14. Citadel 15. Star Paws 16. Delta 17. Salamander 18. Buggy Boy 19. Nebulus 20. Turbo Charge (n.e.) |
Name: | Will |
Recommended book: | The Seven mysteries of life |
Comments: | Very nice! Keep writing. |
Name: | Kathy |
Comments: | nice website. its different. great |
Name: | Rich Sykes |
Recommended book: | Moab is my Washpot - Stephen Fry |
Comments: | Nice to see Zzap64 clinging to life. It's tremendous fun revisiting the commodore's former glory (favourite emulator - Power64 on Apple Mac) and with it my favourite computer magazine. I still have issues 1-82 neatly filed in my attic. A literate and ever-friendly reminder of great days. Suffused by the warm glow - I'm signing off... Much love, Rich |
Name: | Mike |
Comments: | thanx for this cewl website, i really like it! cu, a. <i>!</i> |
Name: | akeller@pgatourhq.com |
Comments: | It's a shame that you like no women authors. Particularly shameful if you have a daughter. Tsk Tsk |
Name: | Basil |
Comments: | I liked very much your web site. |
Name: | Eustacia |
Comments: | I enjoyed reading the Zzap! 64 pages. I only started reading the magazine towards the end, during the Miss Whiplash days. I wish I'd been reading it earlier, but I was terribly young at the time. The C64 days are a source of great nostalgia to me. I still look at the magazines, still play the covertpes sometimes, and wish we could go back to those days. |
Name: | Rick |
Recommended book: | Northern Lights-Phillip Pullman. |
Comments: | Hi Gordo I know that you sent me a letter the last time I visited the site but I need to know your e-mail adress, I will send you mine in a letter (i'm not going to give it to you over the net except if I did in an e-mail). Oh, and on the previous letter that you sent me, well you asked me about those books by Livingstone, well my friend Joel doesn't want it any more and I am fine with Northern Lights and The voyager of the dawn treader (the ones that you bought me). Anyway I hope Sam is well and I have just remembered I will see you at the wedding, so you may rather give it to me there and I will definately give you mine there. Can't wait to see Sam forget you and Kati what about Sam he rules. Only joking Sam, Kati and You. By us all. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
Name: | Stefano Ferrari aka Zaxxon1 |
Comments: | Only a word: Zzap! |
Name: | Ricky Houghton |
Recommended book: | The Time machine that you bought me again. |
Comments: | Hi gord I had a bit of extra time so I thought i'd pop on to your website. I have been reading time machine but I have been busy lately so I couldn't. It's going to so long until I see you again. I hope you, Kati and Sam are fine and well. Also i wish Sam isn't raising too much mayhem nowadays. Love you loads Rick xxxx For you xxxx For Kati xxxxxxxx For Sam (no offence to you and Kati) |
Name: | Lloyd |
Recommended book: | Razzle |
Comments: | Nice. I've still got a right load of issues of Zzap! 64, and my favourite games included Bubble Bobble, Armalyte, Skool Daze, Paradroid. I've noticed that I was either very stupid or games were pretty much impossible to complete then. (What was Frankie Goes To Hollywood about?) Well, it's been emotional. |
Name: | Darren Gower |
Recommended book: | The Wasp Factory (I. Banks) |
Comments: | Sob! Stumbled across this site whilst messing around in Google... rose-memories of multiloads, creaking 'Cruiser' joysticks and tunes by Hubbard are flooding back to me... Fave games? Delta, Giana Sisters, Matchday II, Buggy Boy, Wizball... |
Name: | Philip |
Recommended book: | Any by Isaac Asimov |
Comments: | Your site reminds me of the day I threw all my Zzap!64 magazines away because we were moving and I needed the space... Then the sale fell through. I still have 4 C64s though and three floppy disc drives, so I am not completely out of it. I also emulate the C64 on my PC. Ah... the good old days. |
Name: | Amy |
Comments: | Excellent site! |
Name: | Rob Moffat |
Comments: | What a brilliant website - brought back some great memories! Never did manage to find the cybernoid 2/ armalyte issue after we moved house, so great to see that again! |
Name: | Colin May |
Recommended book: | The holy bible |
Comments: | Hi Gordon, Your website is cool from what I have seen of it. I read your interview on the Zzap!64 history pages. Well, thanks for the website -- wish you all the best in the future. Also, you look like a friend I used to know from South Australia... Thanks Colin |
Name: | Jason Kennedy |
Recommended book: | Lanark by Alasdair Gray |
Comments: | Loved the book Damned if You Do. |
Name: | ragdoll |
Recommended book: | The Scarred Soul - Tracy Alderman |
Comments: | I really liked your self injury page. I haven't read your novel but I think it's great that you're offering some information & help here. I also really liked your Guardian article and your review of 'Cutting'. I have a page on my site with book reviews & I'll add your link there. Take care. |
Name: | Andrew Fisher |
Recommended book: | Anything by Matt Groening |
Comments: | Although you may not know me, I was technical editor (under the alias Professor Brian Strain) for Commodore Force for 16 issues. My ambition is to be a full-time writer, and support my all-consuming hobby - the Commodore 64. Let me also say how much I enjoyed looking at your site, and the new issue of Zzap! |
Name: | the_real_skorbo(@yahoo.com) |
Recommended book: | In Cold Blood (Truman Capote) |
Comments: | In your first month as editor of Zzap!64 - way back in the halcyon days of 1988 - you reported a recent dose of chickenpox - which had itched like a horse-hair shirt for a fortnight and then got lost - and noted that the only thing you had to look forward to was shingles, great! Did you ever get the shingles? I only ask because I came down with the pox in February 1989 and have been dreading a trouncing by their big bad brother ever since. By the way, do your novels display the hyphen-infested writing that used to grace the pages of Zzap!? |
Name: | Dan Kirk |
Recommended book: | Armageddon the Musical by Robert Rankin |
Comments: | By God....memories, all alone in the moonli.... Anyway good to see you're still firmly encamped in the past Gordo. Zzap was a true part of my formative years, I started from issue 18, and stayed loyal all though your 'hatstand' editorship. The emotional scars will never heal. I still have arguments with guys at work over whether the C64 was better than the Spectrum (bleep!)-- and did I really wait all that time for the next World Games event to load?? Personal faves - Pitstop II, Bubble Bobble, Uridium. |
Name: | Paul "The Hillsman" Hills |
Recommended book: | Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire |
Comments: | OK, so everyone's read it, but it really is fantastic!! Anyway, I'm a 27 year software developer who has many a year of computer/video gaming behind me. Looking back, I would say that I seldom enjoyed playing games more than when the mighty C64 ruled the roost and its especially pleasing to find so many people keeping it alive and well here on the Web. I was a massive ZZap64 fan too...always waiting VERY impatiently for the next release; still have plenty of issues and demo tapes stashed away at home (never to be destroyed), not to mention the C64 itself and all those fabulous games. Of course, nowadays all you need is your emulator and SIDPlay to relive all those memories! Bliss!! Good to know you're alive and well Gordy. Look forward to reading through your site (and most of the links) when I get the chance. Best of Luck! HM |
Name: | Holger |
Comments: | Great site |
Name: | Davealfbates |
Comments: | Nice to zzap again... I still have the complete set in 3 binders... |
Name: | Stephen Robertson |
Comments: | Hi, I had some of my C64 art printed on the letter pages of Zzap, and met Julian Rignall and Gary Penn a couple of times. Later I was one of the poor souls satirised in partyline section of the Compunet article. I also had a screenshot my chicken song demo (pecking order) printed in the mag, so thanks for keeping the ZZap! 64 memories alive. |
Name: | It's Jamie and John |
Recommended book: | My uncle's |
Comments: | It's me, Jamie, and my Dad. We are in work waiting for a plane to come so we can fix it. Give Sam 5. See you soon, love Jay and Dad !!!!!! |
Name: | Darwin Meredith |
Recommended book: | Gateway |
Comments: | I really enjoyed Zzap!107. It was excellent. I read every page. I could not tell any difference between the old Zzap!s and 107. I hope 108 will come out. I have been doing nothing but playing around with my C64 the last week. |
Name: | Martin Kelsey |
Recommended book: | Rosey the Baby Killer: Bill shields |
Comments: | Hi Gordo - i've been here before...but that was a while ago. Well done to Blackburn the other week by the way. Division 1 & European football. Not a bad combination! Just downloading Zzap! 107, so i'll let you know how it goes. Marvellous site by the way... |
Name: | Kat |
Recommended book: | Bored of the Rings |
Comments: | Struggling my way through a degree at Queen's College Oxford at the mo and stumbled across this while looking for stuff on SI. Great site, cheers. |
Name: | Enea |
Recommended book: | Tokyo Blues, Norwegian Wood / Murakami Haruke |
Comments: | Alessandro Pulpito! I'm Enea!! We met 2 years ago in a videogame development team (if we can call it like this)... I HAVE to meet you! Please contact me at evolution_e@hotmail.com! thank you!! |
Name: | Jimbo |
Recommended book: | On The Road : Jack Kerouac |
Comments: | Came by this site via Lemon64. Good to see there is life after Zzap! |
Name: | edoardo scaramuzzino |
Recommended book: | vigdis and vigaljot (Sigrid Undset) |
Comments: | Hello Mr Houghton, just wanted to say how happy I am that you brought Zzap! back to us again. Thank you! Ed |
Name: | Ivan Durneen |
Recommended book: | In Dubious Battle |
Comments: | Thanks for the memories Gordon. I'm off to play Fort Apocalypse...... oh yeah |
Name: | Mark Longden |
Recommended book: | "Infinite Jest"- David Foster Wallace |
Comments: | Wow! I remember Zzap! in all its glory, it fair takes me back to my schooldays and the thrill of getting some great new C64 game (a thrill that gets less and less with the years). I also remember you (I think) winning the C+VG competition for the shortest ever letter, it was one of those things that just stuck in my mind. Great page, Mr. Houghton, I might just look up one of your books now. |
Name: | Kim Lemon |
Recommended book: | The I-am-so-angry-that-I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing book |
Comments: | Hey Gordon! I'm kind of surprised I didn't sign this thing before. I'd just like to say that The Burrow is definately one of the most intresting personal websites I've ever seen. |
Name: | nick whittle |
Recommended book: | interesting to see what you've been up to in the intervening years since QEGS |
Name: | Bugs |
Recommended book: | Lord of the Rings |
Comments: | Great site you have running here, very well done :) |
Name: | Alan Fagon |
Recommended book: | The Foundation Trilogy... Isaac Asimov |
Name: | Mike Sutcliffe |
Recommended book: | Lord of the rings |
Comments: | Hi Gordo this is Ricky Houghton's best mate. Ricky told me about your site and of all the links for emulators, he told me that it was top (it is.) Rick is stopping over at my house tommorow. |
Name: | Lasse |
Recommended book: | Hello Sailor by Kierkegaard |
Comments: | Zzap was the best *sob*. I miss it. When I got an Amiga the magazines were slightly worse. When I got a pc they just turned to racp (anagram of course). Rushing on my little bike to the little danish kiosk handing over my hard begged money and rushing home and rushreading what was on the covertape. Those were the days. And then suddenly it just disappeared. That's life for ya. |
Name: | Alistair Crichton |
Comments: | Used to love buying ZZap 64 when I was younger (now 32!!). NOw I have a PC at home I like top do nother better than download old c64 games/music and play them at high volume - much to the disgust of my darling girlfriend!!! |
Name: | Ricky Houghton |
Recommended book: | Cosmic Toaster that you bought me |
Comments: | Hi Gordo I just decided to go on to your website last night and thought I would sign your guest book today. Can't wait to see ya at christmas. Bye Bye |
Name: | Mark Forbes |
Recommended book: | Armageddon - The Musical |
Comments: | Love the site... brought back many fond memories of when C64 was the thing to own and all the Apple II owners were green with envy... Thanx Gordo for the memories! |
Name: | chris |
Name: | Rob Cox |
Recommended book: | 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell |
Name: | John Allen |
Recommended book: | Angela's Ashes |
Comments: | I've been here before, but I don't remember signing. Heck, I haven't had any coffee yet and I've been up since 2am. Anyway, if I signed before or not... good place you've got here. |
Name: | diane |
Recommended book: | Being Dead - jim Crace |
Comments: | Gordon - I am currently reading The Apprentice and wanted to say BIG THANKS for making me laugh out loud on the tube and thinking about death (sheesh!) I am trying hard NOT to finish it - I dont want it to end - but it is a book I cant stop reading. I am even avoiding the pub and friends to read it. Why is your first book out of print - have tried long and hard to get it. Do you have secret ways of ordering it (or am i going to have to resort to a library?)The interent was no help! Sorry this guest book sign in isnt about computers but 'The Apprentice' is fantastic and hurry up with the next one - what should i read next - how to follow that? Diane -x- |
Name: | Owen Drummond |
Comments: | ZZAP64--fuck yeah.... memories of my 1st computer come flooding back to me now.. After my 64died i left computers for years only recently getting a PC.. Im sure I enjoyed my 64 more than I enjoy my PC, so Im gonna get me an emulator and some games and enjoy the nostalgia, and I think I'll download some zzap64s while im at it... Awesome Magazine, I luved it. |
Name: | Simon Hadlington |
Recommended book: | ZZap!64 (naah) |
Comments: | Gordon. I met you a couple of times when I came to Ludlow for the ZZap challenge (and beat Randy and PG at the time I do believe). One was definitely in issue 50 (Speedball 2) but I cant remember the other. I played wizball tonight, finished it with no cheats on 570,000 ish and tried to do a screengrab and CCS64 crashed. Bugger. Still, shows how much I still love the C64. Good to see youre still writing, even if Jaz is probably a lot more loaded than either of us. Well anyway, thanks for the trip down amnesia lane (as Robin Williams did state) - perhaps online head to head IK will be upon us some day - or even the sentinel - first to the top wins? |
Name: | Robin Hogg |
Comments: | Hi Gordo, Just passing through. The where are they now? bit made for interesting reading. Everyone still seems to be in publishing or computers apart from muggins here. Was it really that bad that I had to get as far away as possible? Naaaah, I just love aircraft!!!! Say hello to Kati and Sam. Robin Hogg and family. |
Name: | Jan Sutton |
Recommended book: | Self-Injury: Psychotherapy with People who Engage in Self-Inflicted Violence |
Comments: | I am glad I navigated my way to The Burrow! I have found your site very useful and informative. Thank you for including details of SIARI [Self-injury and Related Issues] and my self-harm book [Healing The Hurt Within] on your site. Jan |
Name: | buzznull |
Recommended book: | Ti-Yu-fuan escapism |
Comments: | great site |
Name: | Ademir |
Recommended book: | Mr Lazy's Guide to Fitness |
Comments: | All I wanted was to submit a high score for Io, but then Gordon threatened me with Julian Rignall's mullet (which is kept under lock & key at Zzap! Towers) if I didn't sign his guestbook, and so I had to oblige. Great main site and an even better Zzap! section -it's good to see the C64 legacy being kept alive by someone lots of C64 users are familiar with. Scorelord forever! |
Name: | Christian |
Recommended book: | The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook |
Comments: | Lord Almighty! This brings it all back. I have a sudden urge to dig through that old chest I have thats filled with Zapp!64s,Commodore Force's and Formats and then play some games ( if the thing still works!). I'd better go, I have to order two books by someone or other. Best wishes and good luck to you all, ( Sam is soooo cute :-) Christian |
Name: | Andy Startin |
Recommended book: | Knight of Dark Renown by David Gemmel |
Comments: | Thanks for the memorys Gordon, best of luck with everything you do and anything you might. |
Name: | Jason Campbell |
Comments: | Luverly site. Luverly, luverly. Grimy |
Name: | Holger Lagerfeldt |
Recommended book: | The Neverending Story (by Michael Ende) |
Comments: | Far out trip down memory lane! Kinda seems sooo long ago, though. *Snif* a bit nostalgic even... *sob* |
Name: | Mark13 |
Recommended book: | No Code - Naomi Klein |
Comments: | We were talking about Ollie Frey artwork in the pub tonight, resulting in extensive Zzap/Crash reminiscences, and it just made me realise how much of my mis-spent youth was mis-spent reading Zzap and wondering at the height of Rignall's hair... Respect for all of that... N.B. I was working for a publisher some years ago, and read a MS by a Gordon Houghton (a suburban Brit horror that had something to do with cannibalism AFAIR). Never guessed it was the same one at the time, but I figure it is... The Dinner Party, that's the one I was thinking of - cool book... (working firmly backwards in an inebriated state, hoping no one notices) |
Name: | Paul E. Morrison |
Recommended book: | Mr. Greedy by Roger Hargreaves |
Comments: | Wow....I grew up with you lot at Zzap!, and it's great to see how the team are doing now. Congrats to you (Gordon) and Kati on your career and personal successes....having become a father myself in December it's one hell of a thing, and something you are justifiably proud of. Very nice website, by the way....glad I stumbled across it at Lemon64 (my second favourite website....)....keep up the good work!! |
Name: | Dimitris Gourlis |
Comments: | I wish to thank you for all the excellent reviews during the Zzap 64 days! I was very happy to find out your website and to realize you are still writing!! Excellent! |
Name: | Bob Wade |
Recommended book: | Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen |
Comments: | Blimey! Nice to be remembered on your Zzap! pages - and up to date too. You're doing a great job with the site, although I do now feel very, very... VERY old, because all this was 16 years ago! I don't play a lot of games these days, but I did discover M.U.L.E. on an emulator recently - I always was the old man who favoured strategy games. :-) |
Name: | Dave Nicholson |
Comments: | Wonderful...wondered in here after spending the afternoon trying to get a C64 emulator working on my new iPaq - and have now spent ages remembering the old days and wallowing in past times! Bleurgh. Anyway - from a long time fan of Zzap - thanks for bringing back some long lost memories! |
Name: | Tyronne Mann |
Recommended book: | Anything by Robert Rankin |
Comments: | Well...what memories of my youth ZZap brings back..the hours spent loading tapes that now in emulators take a matter of mere moments...well keep up the good work and good luck now and in the past...oh and the future. |
Name: | Alessandro Pulpito |
Comments: | ZZap64 forever... |
Name: | Mark "FunkScientist" Ross |
Recommended book: | The Caxton Atlas of the Universe |
Comments: | Ah! The heady days of Zzap! eh? When I was but a teenager and cans of coke were 15p! Wait a minute, I think I've signed this guestbook before! In fact I did, cos I found "The Burrow" shortly after reading The Trial by Franz Kafka, only to find out you liked Kafka! Spooky, huh? :) Anyway, sorry for signing the guestbook twice Gordo, but you are worth it, you big-fat-astral-legend-good-bloke! Thanx for all the memories! And thanx for a great site! |
Name: | Colin Redfern |
Comments: | Thank you Mr Gordon Houghton for keeping the Zzap!64 and Commodore 64 memories alive. I was and still am the best at games and challenge anyone anywhere to a 64 challenge. Colin Redfern ZZAP! Challenge Champion October 1986 |
Name: | Spikey |
Recommended book: | "The Door Into Summer" |
Comments: | Wow... i feel like curling up into a ball and weeping. It's true what they say, you can never go home, I had no idea how much I missed it until I started finding resources on here... But you've got a fine website jammed full of stuff I didn't know and stuff I wished I had been involved in at the time. Fine days and a fine magazine. And you all did a fine job. Here's to the days when we were kings! |
Name: | Jason Potter |
Comments: | nice site, brings back memories of the good old days :-) wow zzap64 now there is a blast from the past :) keep up the good work |
Name: | Robert de Voogd (from Holland) |
Recommended book: | perfume by patrick suskind |
Comments: | Very nice site, Gordo! It's a pleaure to have you around on the net,with such a profi semi-retro-webpage, although I wasn't a HUGE fan of the ERA you ruled zzap! 64, my old time favourite mag, taa! Anyway, keep it up! Cheers and all that, Rob de V. |
Name: | Warren |
Comments: | What a very self-promoting website you have, Gordon! And *so* much stuff on Zzap! I read "The Dinner Party", which was interesting... tho parts of the flashback stuff seemed like padding, and I hope it wasn't supposed to be a shock ending. Warren Lapworth |
Name: | Brian Davies |
Recommended book: | anything by Raymond Chandler |
Comments: | Cool! My favourite author has a website. OK I'll stop being a creep and say... nice site. And write another book. And why can't I get hold of The Dinner Party? Sheesh. All the best -Brian |
Name: | Richard Bayliss/The New Dimension |
Comments: | Hello Gordon, It is Richard of The New Dimension here. Your web site looks good and interesting, please feel free to visit my web site and sign my guest book! Keep up the good work! |
Name: | Lee Theasby |
Recommended book: | The Dice Man |
Comments: | Brilliant site Gordon - You seem to be the only ex-Newsfield staffer who still admits to liking the C64 and the '80s scene'. I am contemplating writing a book about the rise and fall of Newsfield, so would you mind if I contacted you with some questions, at a later point? Lee |
Name: | jeewee |
Comments: | Cool! |
Name: | ZZAP!ed 4 Life |
Comments: | Just a quick Hey & Thank You to all those involved in ZZAP!, particularly the GH Years (: -- There REALLY should be an online ZZAP!, involving all of the gang I loved; Gordo, Maff, Kati, Glancy, Ken & Rockford. May The Powers that Be, bless the Emulation Scene. |
Name: | trevor storey |
Comments: | the c64 was top, zzap was top, jaz's hair was mad, this site is top, newcastle could do better. |
Name: | Brett A. Savory |
Recommended book: | GHOUL by Michael Slade |
Comments: | Cool site, Gordon. You da man. No, wait. Fuck that. Herman's the man. What a stylin' cat that pterodactyl is. Damn. |
Name: | Jay |
Recommended book: | Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk |
Comments: | Right. I seem to be one of the few (or maybe the only one) here who hasn't read a single issue of Zzap! *ducking for cover*. Anyway, just wanna say how much I enjoyed DIYD. And how I'm still running around, trying to find 'The Dinner Party'. Hope you finish 'The Journeyman' soon and NEVER STOP WRITING!!! |
Name: | Torben Grønbæk |
Recommended book: | 'Transparent Things' by Vladimir Nabokov |
Comments: | I've finally found a sensible use for the Internet: It lets me pester my idols from a safe distance :) Seriously, Gordon, I just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU. Without your zany writings back in the day, I might not have turned out the way I did. I might have become a brilliant doctor or a magnificent architect, but now all I want to do is write, and I'm poor, cold and hungry. All the best to you and your beautiful family, though. Torben, Denmark |
Name: | Andrew Vaisey |
Recommended book: | The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton |
Comments: | Let's all keep the C64 memory alive!!!! |
Name: | Jamie |
Recommended book: | The Brentford Triangle - Robert Rankin |
Comments: | Great site, and it is good to see that ex-Zzap! genii are kept busy with real life stuff! Very happy for you and Kati about Sam, a very sweet looking little boy he is. I will be checking on the diary, so make sure there's something new in it when I do, or I'll cry. Well, OK, I won't, but still, keep it up anyway! Regards, Jamie |
Name: | Andy Roberts |
Recommended book: | Dependence Day / Robert Newman |
Comments: | Hi Gordon, I was in the neighbourhood and decided to drop in and sign your book. The site's coming along a treat, keep up the good work... {;o) Damn. Glad that's over. I get so self-conscious on these things. I never know what to say. Is this thing still on? |
Name: | Tim Janssen |
Recommended book: | 1984, by George Orwell |
Comments: | Hi Gordon, As a regular visitor of “The Burrow” I was shocked that I had not signed your Guestbook yet. Your homepage oozes the same atmosphere as Zzap! in its printed form back in the eighties. It is also nice to know that Rockford, Thing and the almighty Scorelord are still alive. The first issue of Zzap! I have ever bought was #51, July 1989. Pity it was the first issue after the legendary Gordon/ Kati/ Maff period. Nevertheless I quite enjoyed Zzap! throughout the next 2 years. That’s until they went C64 only, completely ignoring the popular Amiga. P.S. Thanks for putting a link to my Zzap! Bible :-) |
Name: | Andy Haywood |
Recommended book: | Small Gods |
Comments: | Great site. It's cool to see a semi-legendary ex- reviewer (can't fltter you TOO much) from the God of all games mags is still alive and well. And I so rarely get the chance to visit a site run by fish these days. And in case you're interested, I've got a superb miniture plastic castle going spare (it's got a portculus, turrets...the lot), if you're interested in buying it, drop me a line. |
Name: | Iain |
Comments: | Just been having another poke around your pages, especially the infertility section, Sam looks like a happy baby! Has he taken to writing yet? ;-) |
Name: | David Dearden |
Recommended book: | Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift |
Comments: | I can hardly put into words what an amazing feeling it is to come across the evidence that this happy segment of my existence actually occured, as my own recollections are rather dim and hazy. I do remember however that I read most of the issues of Zzap from Christmas '88 to sometime in '90, I forget why I ceased to purchase the magazine, I think it might have something to do with myself getting an Amiga and Zero Magazine turning up. My favourite all time Game on the C=64 was Bombuzal, the gold medal from Christmas '88 and an absolute stonker! |
Name: | Peter Machell |
Recommended book: | Perfect Skin by Nick Earles - Penquin ISBN 0-14-029098-2 |
Comments: | Started buying Zzap at issue 2 and kept going until the bitter end. I remember stopping at the post office everyday during the time the next issue was due. We got ours about two months after the cover date, and often were already playing the better games before we saw the reviews - but that didn't stop me walking my bike home while reading the thing from cover to cover - nearly getting hit by cars I'd finish the page then ride home to go over the rest - then read it again and again until the next month. I managed to get an early back print of issue one while it was still available, and ended up with the whole collection. Then came the Amiga then the PC - and here I am - still playing Dropzone et al after all these years. Thanks to Zzap and the CBM64, my interest grew and eventually turned from basic programmes and cracking games into a business and a career. Cheers Gordon, I'll be ordering your novels - keep up the good work. Josie and Peter (AKA "Dr Dropzone" once upon a time). |
Name: | Andy Riley |
Comments: | Love the Zzap pages. I was a fanatical c64 fan during the PG/ME/KH/GH days of Zzap and looked forward to every issue. I still have most from that era buried in my wardrobe. Nice to know that yourself and Katie are happy, and reading about the others from the links was cool too. In days gone by you brought many a smile to my face. If I met you I would buy you a beer. Ri |
Name: | Louis Maistros |
Recommended book: | "Being Dead" by Jim Crace |
Comments: | Hey Gordon! Greetings from New Orleans! Glad to have met you (even the cypber space version) and even gladder to have discovered your fine book, Damned if You Do. Now, perhaps we can look into some US distribution for The Dinner Party... I look forward to the next one (and the next and the next). Now, get busy making those entries for your "diary of a novel" so I can figure out how to write a decent one myself. Your diary is my cheatsheet : ) Best, Louie |
Name: | Adam Wade |
Comments: | Great site, love the ZZAP! pages. I still have all my copies of Zzap! (1989 - end of Commodore Force) and still am looking out for the odd copy of ones I don't have. I still have SEVEN C64's, a C128D and an SX64 - all working! Zzap! was the first ever C64 mag I bought (first issue boguht was #45) and it's general design is still better that most of today's computer console magazines. Well done on helping me relive those heady Zzap! days. Well done. |
Name: | Maff Rignall |
Recommended book: | The Unconscious Civilisation - John Ralston Saul |
Comments: | Great site, Gordon. What else is there to say? Thanks for making my 8/16 bit days that little bit more enjoyable. Good luck with the new novel - I'll be keeping my eye on the diary - and best wishes to both you and Kati. Oh yeah, and the little tyke, too :) By the way, did you know that the Kalashnikov AK-47 can fire 600 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 710 m/s (2380 ft/s)? Might be useful, that. |
Name: | Otaku |
Recommended book: | "De Ja Vu" - by John Larkin |
Comments: | GREAT!!!! Good to see you after so many years (the almighty Zzap64, C64 and generally 8-bit days)! Very nicely designed site with lots to visit! Keep up the great job Gordon! Big Hi's to Kati and baby, and to all the rest of the Zzap crew! and to all those "good ol' times" Zzapsters out there!! |
Name: | roope seppälä |
Recommended book: | Lem: Solaris |
Comments: | Great pages... Good that there is still people who notice how empty and boring these new 1- person shooters are and still play good old c64 classics. Well gotta go playing ghostsngoblins with my gameboy color. |
Name: | buffalo |
Comments: | How can one fellow do so much in so little time? You have a very nice site. |
Name: | Martin Kelsey |
Recommended book: | Perfume - by Patrick Suskind |
Comments: | Gordon... ...Very cool website indeed. This was one of the first sites I stumbled accross whilst wondering whether the net catered for sad old C64 loving nostalgic gits like me...Great to see a diversity of topics covered in an honest way (self harm/infertility). Both these pages have been of help to people close to me. Then of course, there's the Zzap! stuff. What can one Say? Too much I suppose, so i'll stop there & just say thanks for the nostalgia & a reminder of times that were better. Cheers, Martin K... ps: All the best with the family & the novels. You must be a busy boy... |
Name: | DrFuss |
Recommended book: | The new Dune Prequels |
Comments: | Big Zzap fan from waaaaaayy back. I helped pay your wages you bastard and look at you now, bloody ungrateful you are! (ohh...sorry, I thought I was your mother!?!) Seriously, Thanks for the great site and all the good Zzap memories! Cheers Mate |
Name: | Neil Crump (PyramidHead) |
Recommended book: | Anything by Dean R. Koontz |
Comments: | Well, I was 12 years old when I used to read "Gordon's" Zzap! every month. Who'd have thought that 12 years later, I'd be sitting here reading about Zzap! at Gordon's web site- How times have changed (not). Seriously though it's a great website. Who else could offer such a unique view behind the scenes at every C64 owner's favourite magazine? Moving quickly on to the more up-to-date (and profitable :) ) site content, I'd recommend a copy of 'The Dinner Party' to anyone, but especially to those who find it hard to stick to a vegetarian diet... *Anyway*, I've wasted enough space already. I look forward to reading the diary of a novel, and wish Gordon, Kati Sam all the best for the future! |
Name: | Timo |
Comments: | I love your Zzap! pages. Thanks for all the info! Hmm, but the design does look a little familiar... =o) |
Name: | Colin Woodward |
Recommended book: | The Colour of Magic |
Comments: | Gordon's site is a brilliant dose of nostalgia for those who remember when life was just a little bit easier. The articles on Zzap are great to read, and remind me how much fun the C64 was / is. Good luck with the latest novel, and I look forward to the updates in the diary. |
Name: | Ant |
Recommended book: | The Lord of the Rings |
Comments: | Hi Gordon, At the risk of repeating myself: A brilliant site that just keeps getting better. Needs more gents in armour, though. ;) All the best on the novel and to the family. And if you're reading this Kim, please put www.lemon64.com up there in the fave URL bit! *grins sheepishly* |
Name: | Lee |
Recommended book: | How to score a million at Pacman |
Comments: | G, As ever a great read all about my fav mag, ZZAP!. Hope you and Kati (plus Babe) are fine and still playing Dropzone :) Glad you are still keeping the c64 alive All the best Lee |
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