Mel Croucher | Non-Fiction

"Compared with writing fiction, being a fact-monger is dead easy. Knocking out a text book, or a computer manual, or anything that doesn't involve making stuff up is nothing more than hack work. And that's the reason I try and include as much fun and stimulation as I can. I like to keep the reader involved with humour, and I like to surprise them to and involve them to drag them through the pages with the least possible resistance. That's an enjoyable challenge. The fact they are reading my non-fiction in the first place means I have to keep it clear, keep it free from jargon, cut out all the fat, and not be a smartarse."

Book COVERS and illustrations

Mel Croucher | NON-Fiction Bibliography

DEUS EX MACHINA - THE BEST GAME YOU NEVER PLAYED IN YOUR LIFE (2014, Acorn Books)
The no-holds-barred story of the birth of the video games industry.

EMAIL DIRECT MARKETING (1999, Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)
Case studies from Mel's own projects, and pompous predictions on new media marketing.

KLIK AND CREATE (1995, Europress)
Mel's computer manual with the most numbers in it, written for the system designed by Francois Lionet and Yves Lamoureux.

KLIK AND PLAY (1994, Newsfield)
The book of the system of the world's first instant video game creator.

AMOS PROFESSIONAL (1994, Europress)
Written with Stephen Hill. This one was awarded Programming Manual Of The Year by people who should know better.

EASY AMOS (1993, Europress)
This one was awarded Educational Computer Book Of The Year by people who should know better.

THE EUROPEAN COMPUTER TRADE YEAR BOOK (1990-1993, annually, Lenhaven Ltd)
The early bible of the European video games industry, as conceived by Bruce Everiss, as written and edited by Mel Croucher.

SAM COUPE (1989, Miles Gordon)
Mel's favourite computer book, because it's got the most jokes and cartoons in it.

NAMESAKES, an etymological entertainment (1988, Sphere Books / Penguin)
Written with Jon Pertwee, illustrated by Robin Evans, remaindered by bookshops.

THE MARY ROSE MUSEUM COMPLEX (1972, Portsmouth School of Architecture)
Mel's proposal to raise Henry VIII's flagship and plonk it in a museum next to HMS Victory. This finally happened 41 years later.

ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS OF PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD (1971, Ministry Of Defence / JPT)
When Her Majesty's Government asked for a survey and future plan of the historic dockyard, Mel proposed turning it into a theme park.

THE FAILURE OF SINGLE SKIN PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES (1969, Barracuda)
A call-to-arms for architects. Universally ignored.