Image: Damien McFerran / Time Extension

Update []: Publisher Golden Slumbers Ltd. has opened its Kickstarter for "The Rubber-Keyed Wonder", a new book celebrating the history of the ZX Spectrum home computer and a companion piece to the similarly titled 2024 documentary.

Already, the crowdfunding campaign has smashed its initial goal of £30,000, sitting at just under £49,000 at the time of writing. Pledge goals remain open, with hardback, signed, and special Collector's Edition copies available at various pledge levels.

The Kickstarter campaign will close Monday, November 2.

Original Story []: Publisher Golden Slumbers Ltd. has announced an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for a new book celebrating 45 years of the home computing icon: the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. The crowdfunding campaign launches next month, on October 1.

Titled "The Rubber-Keyed Wonder", the new book is a companion piece to the 2024 documentary of the same name, produced by Gracious Films and directed by Anthony and Nicola Caulfield. The book, which will launch in time to celebrate the ZX Spectrum's 45th anniversary, is written by author and gaming historian Kim Justice, who previously penned Arcade Decades - '80s Edition for Numskull Publishing.

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Image: Golden Slumbers

Much like the documentary, The Rubber-Keyed Wonder will look at the storied history of Sir Clive Sinclair's affordable home computer, with over 200 pages of written and visual history pulled from the Spectrum's archives - and comments and contributions from some of the platform's key figures. According to the Kickstarter campaign page, the book will also single out 48 ZX Spectrum games that 'helped define a generation.'

Calling it right now: Eastenders: The Game.

When it launches, The Rubber-Keyed Wonder will be available in digital, paperback, hardback, and Collector's Edition formats. Additionally, a limited run of 480 individually numbered editions will be released, complete with an exclusive dust cover and bookmarks, along with a 42-minute documentary produced by Gracious Films. These limited editions are expected to be snapped up at speed, so if you want one, be sure to be on deck as soon as the Kickstarter campaign launches on October 1.

[source kickstarter.com]