Back Into The Storm - Book Review

Bil Herd worked for Commodore from 1983 to 1986. During that time, he was the lead hardware engineer on the TED range to computers (that became the Plus/4 when the hardware finally saw release) and the C128, Commodore's last 8-bit micro. Alongside Margaret G. Morabito (author of the Vintage Commodore 128 Personal Computer Handbook), Herd has recorded the details of his time at Commodore in this Amazon-published tome: Back Into The Storm.

Let me start off this review by stating that even if your interest in computing does not cover the period of Herd's employment, you really should get hold of a copy of this brilliant book. Why? Because it's not just about who did what and why, nor the struggles and challenges of launching a new range of home micro's in a seriously short period of time. No, this book is also about what driven individuals achieved whilst coping with the pressures of often ludicrous goals and the dangers of middle-management (in any corporate structure). It also portrays a company that was successful at what it did, even if the "suits" never understood why (hint, it has a lot to do with the people who work for you). 

Along the way, you find out exactly how passionate people were in problem solving and how the "work hard/party hard" mentality could, in some exceptional circumstances, deliver results far beyond initial expectations. That is not to say that this atmosphere was healthy in the long run. Indeed, Herd's recollections of long periods sleeping under a desk, continuous shifts and grabbing a beer and food wherever and whenever he could sounds like a recipe for burnout and ill-health. Hell, it probably is if that becomes the standard work ethic. However, for Herd, that behaviour was almost like a drug in itself - he thrived off the adrenalin and the stress. 

Truly, the early to mid-1980's were a different time, but some things never change (a bit like war, really - that's for all you Fallout fans) and it's the common thread of middle management that binds many of Herd's tales in this book. He has an in-built cynicism of managerial positions that exist purely to benefit the holder of that position. As long as the ladder-climber gets noticed/avoids responsibility/has been seen to have had their say, then it's pretty much a "screw everyone else" mentality, and the conflicts that Herd fought against that are funny to read now, though I am not sure how much fun they were when he was actively involved thirty-five years ago. Speaking from personal experience, I have had a few choice moments throughout my working life so far, the pinnacle to date was having to explain to a middle manager in words of one syllable or less why an ISA (Individual Savings Account - a UK savings product) couldn't have joint account holders. There's a clue there somewhere... ( and yes, I did keep my job...)

Another area that Herd covers is the decline in management ability and direction in Commodore after Jack Tramiel left the company. Many words have been written about Irving Gould and the numerous Chief Exec's who together turned a profitable and successful company in to a basket case, but one thing you get from this book is that after the events of 1984, Commodore really did lose the plot. Stories of marketing that didn't sync with the efforts of the engineers (the 512k expansion possibilities of the C128) and the sheer idiocy of the top bosses (the Commodore LCD) are almost too stupid for repetition. Yet repeated they should be, and they are in this book. In the case of the LCD, perhaps that's a good thing. I don't need another excuse to spend money on old tech. :-).

This is an easy to read book, with Herd's voice front and centre throughout. He is a sympathetic narrator, making it straight forward to understand the engineering challenges (and solutions) that he and his colleagues faced and devised. There is very much a sense of camaraderie within the engineering teams and the overall impression is that there were very clever and capable people fighting against the technology of the time as well as the unintended (and sometimes deliberate) interventions of others in order to deliver successful (from an engineering, if not a market perspective) products. Relayed with humour and self-deprecation, this book is a brilliant look at the hey-day of 8-bit computing.

Back Into The Storm is well worth your time if you are into retro-computing. As noted above, even if you're not, it's an excellent window into how stuff got done at Commodore back in the mid 1980's, with lessons that remain pertinent to this day. This superb tome is available from Amazon, either as a print on demand paperback or as a Kindle purchase. The POD copy is a good quality and takes up a well-deserved place in my growing library of titles about home computing of the 1980's and 90's. Check it out here.