This classic 1953 book edited by B. V. Bowden was probably the
first in-depth presentation of the then new world of computing
intended for a wide readership. It was actually originally
inspired by Nimrod; Bowden remarks in his preface:
“Ferranti Ltd., who had built a large digital computer for the
University of Manchester, made a simple demonstration computer
called “Nimrod” for the Science Exhibition at the Festival of
Britain. It was very limited in its abilities ; ail it could do was to
play a rather elementary game, but it attracted a great deal of
interest, and many of the people who saw it asked for more information
than the demonstrators could give. This book originated in an
attempt to answer some of these questions and it is, in retrospect, a
startling commentary on my inexperience as an author that I originally
hoped to finish it in time for the end of the Festival.”
The list of contributors is fairly stellar, including Alan Turing,
Andrew D. Booth, Maurice V. Wilkes, and the progenitors of Nimrod —
John Bennett and Raymond Stuart-Williams.
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Faster than Thought:
