Commentary by cpressey on BASIC works
BASIC Fun
The BASIC Book
Computer Programming in BASIC for Everyone
Diggin' the 'stache, Carl!
Write your own Adventure Programs for your Microcomputer
"Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools" is usually called "The Dragon Book", but as far as I'm concerned, this is the real Dragon Book.
This one book is probably responsible for setting me off, in my youth, in the direction of programming languages - because it describes how to write a simple one-or-two word parser for an an adventure game.
Also, there are cute pictures of ghosts inside.
The link to the full-text PDF at usborne.com is endorsed by Usborne, and they have made several other of their computing books from the 80's available for download as well. Details and download links can be found on their Computer and Coding Books page.