[This letter, from the Bob Fabris Collection, was paper-clipped to a 
"Softalk" article.  Paul Thacker says, "I believe this must be a draft of a 
letter that Bob wrote to Phil Morton (who is mentioned in the [Softtalk] 
article)."  Paul retyped the letter and it has been rearranged (the arrows
connecting various pieces of the letter have been organized and removed to
make it easier to follow.)


Phil Morton     (Dan Sandin, Jane Veeder]

Dear Phil,

Finally plowed though my stash of computer magazines and came to p. 227 of 
the Feb. SOFTALK ["Chicago Computer Artist Accelerates to Warp Speed" 
Published in "Softtalk" (February 1983): 227,229.].  [Fantastic] news!!! 
Congrats on your collective efforts!

Been meaning to write and this just tripped my trigger - I suppose you are 
aware that Dr. Tom has licensed ZGRASS to "Alternative Engineering" and they 
are rapidly bringing the project to fruition.  One thing that can help us all 
to finally enjoy the benefits of the long-awaited "Add On" is to have a 
selection of software ready to go when the unit becomes available.  Can you 
and your [c...?] help?  We will have the ZGRASS language, 64K of RAM, disc 
drive controller (4!) plus other I/O available.  What software is now viable 
and available / what could be made available?  Two routes can be taken:

a) some good display-type programs to show off various features of Zgrass 
plus tutorial-type material (text + program) to explain Zgrass operation, 
such items to be published in the ARC, and 

b) programs of a commercial nature, both game and "practical," to be provided 
on tape and eventually disc as users purchase disc drive equipment.  CP/M 
programming would fall in this latter category, for the most part.


The "Third Party" is developing a distribution system (stores, etc.) and I am 
handling some mail order to keep the market alive during the Astrocade 
bankruptcy hiatus.  This [method] can be used to market your "group's" 
outputs.  I would like to open a dialogue on this subject area.

Is there anything that could be used on this upcoming "Zgrass Viper" machine 
directly, immediately, soon, etc. etc?

[Bob Fabris]