Fusion Book's new Kickstarter for Memories of Rainbird and Beyond has already doubled its initial £12,000 funding target, the publisher announced as the campaign continues to run.
The 324‑page book, assembled by Richard Hewison and written with contributions from developers and publishers who worked on the original releases, documents the histories of Rainbird Software and Beyond Software and their landmark 8‑bit and home‑computer titles.
The Kickstarter page frames Rainbird as a premium imprint created by British Telecom in 1985, notable for its distinctive blue packaging.
It credits Rainbird with publishing Argonaut’s STARGLIDER series, Magnetic Scrolls’ richly illustrated text adventures, Level 9’s science‑fiction and fantasy trilogies, Realtime Games’ Carrier Command and the MIDWINTER series among others.
The campaign also describes Beyond Software as a rival label known for yellow slipcase releases and an identifiable robot mascot, citing classic titles such as LORDS OF MIDNIGHT, SHADOWFIRE and PSYTRON.
According to the campaign, the book was collated "by the people who produced and published the games," promising behind‑the‑scenes detail on production, design and publishing decisions.
The Kickstarter notes that Richard Hewison — a former employee of British Telecom’s games division and the author of Memories of Firebird: The Unofficial and Unauthorised History — has put the project together and contributed to its narrative.
Fusion Book, which previously published a volume on Ocean Software, says the Memories of Rainbird and Beyond manuscript is complete.
Should the campaign reach further stretch goals, backers can expect extras such as a slipcase, an additional magazine, a fridge magnet and other physical incentives.
Pricing tiers listed on the campaign include a PDF for £9, a physical copy for £25, a signed copy for £35 and an early bird physical option at £20.
Retro preservation projects such as this are part of a broader trend of documenting classic developers and games from the Amiga, ZX Spectrum and Commodore eras.
Many retro titles have been reissued on modern platforms including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, underscoring ongoing interest in the era covered by Memories of Rainbird and Beyond.
For readers and collectors interested in the UK software scene of the 1980s and early 1990s, the Kickstarter provides direct access to firsthand accounts and archival material from two influential labels in British gaming history.
The 324‑page book, assembled by Richard Hewison and written with contributions from developers and publishers who worked on the original releases, documents the histories of Rainbird Software and Beyond Software and their landmark 8‑bit and home‑computer titles.
The Kickstarter page frames Rainbird as a premium imprint created by British Telecom in 1985, notable for its distinctive blue packaging.
It credits Rainbird with publishing Argonaut’s STARGLIDER series, Magnetic Scrolls’ richly illustrated text adventures, Level 9’s science‑fiction and fantasy trilogies, Realtime Games’ Carrier Command and the MIDWINTER series among others.
The campaign also describes Beyond Software as a rival label known for yellow slipcase releases and an identifiable robot mascot, citing classic titles such as LORDS OF MIDNIGHT, SHADOWFIRE and PSYTRON.
According to the campaign, the book was collated "by the people who produced and published the games," promising behind‑the‑scenes detail on production, design and publishing decisions.
The Kickstarter notes that Richard Hewison — a former employee of British Telecom’s games division and the author of Memories of Firebird: The Unofficial and Unauthorised History — has put the project together and contributed to its narrative.
Fusion Book, which previously published a volume on Ocean Software, says the Memories of Rainbird and Beyond manuscript is complete.
Should the campaign reach further stretch goals, backers can expect extras such as a slipcase, an additional magazine, a fridge magnet and other physical incentives.
Pricing tiers listed on the campaign include a PDF for £9, a physical copy for £25, a signed copy for £35 and an early bird physical option at £20.
Retro preservation projects such as this are part of a broader trend of documenting classic developers and games from the Amiga, ZX Spectrum and Commodore eras.
Many retro titles have been reissued on modern platforms including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, underscoring ongoing interest in the era covered by Memories of Rainbird and Beyond.
For readers and collectors interested in the UK software scene of the 1980s and early 1990s, the Kickstarter provides direct access to firsthand accounts and archival material from two influential labels in British gaming history.
