What’s Inside Our Upcoming Book on Soviet Computers of the 1980s?
Following the release of our first two books — Soviet Arcade Machines and Game Consoles in the USSR — we are continuing work on the next volumes in our series dedicated to the history of gaming in the Soviet Union.
We are currently preparing three new books:
- Soviet Personal Computers of the 1980s
- IBM PC-Compatible Computers
- ZX Spectrum Clones
Today we’d like to share the preliminary table of contents for Computers of the 1980s.
1. Programmable Calculators
2. 8-bit Computers Based on the KR580 (Intel 8080)
- Micro-80
- Radio-86RK and its derivatives (Mikrosha, etc.)
- UT-88
- Home-built hobbyist computers
- Specialist
- PK-01 Lviv
- Korvet
- Vector-06C
- PK8000
- Orion-128
Additional topics:
- Svema cassette tapes and Soviet cassette recorders
- UMK and Microlab educational systems
3. Computers Based on the MOS 6502 (SM630R)
- Agat-7 and Agat-9 (Shown in the AI-photo)
Additional topics:
- Apple IIe
- Izot floppy drives and floppy disks
- Dot-matrix printers
4. 16-bit Computers Based on the K1801VM (PDP-11 Architecture)
- DVK
- BK-0010 and BK-0011
- UKNC (Elektronika MS 0515 and 0511)
- Soyuz-Neon PK-11/16
Additional topics:
- Computer education in Soviet schools
- MK-85 and MK-90 pocket computers
- The PDP-11 architecture
5. Z80-Based Computers (ZX Spectrum Clones)
- Home-built computers
- Cooperative and factory-produced models
- Pentagon, Scorpion, ATM Turbo
Additional topics:
- Sinclair Research
- The demoscene
- Software distribution and computer cooperatives
6. Foreign Home Computers in the USSR
- Commodore 64
- Yamaha MSX
- Atari ST
- Commodore Amiga
7. Chess Computers
As with the previous books in the series, this volume will be based primarily on interviews with developers, users’ recollections, archival materials, and original studio photography of the hardware.
We hope to complete the book in 2026. Stay tuned for more updates on our website!