I Am Legend

This haunting and original 1955 science fiction novel started the modern post-apocalyptic vampire genre. It is called the first modern vampire novel and influenced the zombie genre as well. However, the movie with Will Smith is at best loosely inspired by it. I fear many people will not read the book because they have seen this or one of the other movies inspired by the novel. That would be a shame. The novel has roots in science fiction and has spawned dozens of other books and movies. Three movie adaptations were directly inspired by it,

After Dracula, I Am Legend is my favorite vampire novel. I first read it when I was twelve, and Ive reread it many times and enjoyed it every time. Yes, some of this enjoyment is nostalgia, but it is true sci-fi horror and very well done. The vampires are the result of a plague, and there is nothing romantic about them. They want Robert Nevilles blood. He manages to keep them at bay, tries to adapt to a new existence without going bonkers, and suffers from loneliness and angst because he believes he is the last original human alive, at least in his corner of the world. It has a real twist for an ending. Its a quick read, but well worth your time, and truer to the spirit of what vampires are really all about: day sleeping blood-suckers! Come on! Theyve tried to turn I Am Legend into a movie three times, with the first, the Vincent Price version, coming closest to the original. Dont get me wrong. You can enjoy the second, the Charlton Heston version, and even the third, the Will Smith version--I found this one less satisfying because of the CGI vampires--but if its such a classic, and it is, why cant they just make a faithful adaption of the original novel without turning it into something hardly recognizable? Read the book!!

This is SO different from the movie but I loved them both, because of their differences and despite them the same. Do yourself a favor and read this short masterpiece, then do the author one and review!!

This is a fantastic novella from a brilliant writer. It was way ahead of its time and Matheson inspired so many giants in the horror field, including Stephen King. This book in particular is one of the main contributing forces that gave rise to the zombie genre. I wouldnt say this is a literary masterpiece so much as an amazing story that is solidly written. The premise is dazzling and it kept me turning the pages. I will refrain from giving it the fifth star because some of Nevilles thinking got a touch repetitive for me and I was actually a little confused about what constituted a (WARNING, mild spoiler) vampire or another kind of undead type of vampire being that isnt quite a vampire. I honestly cant spoil it too bad because I dont clearly understand that part. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that I have seen two film versions of I Am Legend and this still felt original. I think its because the main character is a truly human character. We get a front row seat to those flaws in the book and we get to do it as he battles vampires from a last man on earth perspective. It was a fun read. I will try more of Mathesons written work. (He also wrote many screenplays.)

I’ve been feeling the need to read a few classics lately. I saw the movie with Will Smith. A lone survivor of a vampire plague who can’t venture anywhere further than a day’s round trip drive from his home. He’s driven mad with loneliness. He’s also intent on wiping out as many of these vampires as he finds. This is the only point on which the movie and the book agree upon. I was pleasantly surprised to read the book and discover a new ending, new characters, and a new storyline. Had it been exactly the same as the movie I might not have enjoyed it so much. The book contains subtle humour as Robert Neville is constantly harassed by his neighbour, Ben Cortman in the book. By the end you begin to feel sorry for poor old Cortman. Especially his tragic ending. There’s something about these classics that makes for compelling reading. They’re certainly not abundant in flowery prose or clever writing. It’s as if the ‘show don’t tell’ principle we hear so much about didn’t apply back then, or perhaps ‘show don’t tell’ came a direct result of this style of writing. But I’ve enjoyed reading these classic sci-fi story ‘telling’ books. Which version did I like better? I liked the movie but I LOVED the book. I’m looking forward to reading a few more classic sci-fi stories.

Here is the story of Mr. Robert Neville, the sole witness and only survivor of the end of the world. One good day, people started to rise from the grave and turn into vampires. Our main character isolates himself in his house with everything he needs to survive. By night he stays in, tormented by the screams and memories of his past life, by day he hunts the devils. Kill them in their sleep. Richard Matheson left his mark in the vampire genre with I Am Legend, its one of the best vampires novels ever. It leaves you with a hollow feeling in the chest (the same feeling I got when I saw almost 25 years ago the original Planet of the Apes). The way he describes the solitude of Robert Neville, his desperation its just incredible. The fact that a new species (vampires) had organized and now rules the earth its just the final touch of desperation to the trama. Robert Neville is the last man on earth, the outcast, the intruder. He is the new and last monster to be destroyed. I Am Legend its a must in your book collection.

*SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING* Wow, just wow. I dont know what else to say. Its an incredible book, dealing with a very dark but thought provoking subject. Ive always hated book like these, the whole post apocalyptic zombie land always seemed so childish and cliche to me, but I genuinely enjoyed this. The entire story just makes you think over and over, what would I do if I were him? Bare with me those readers that are like me that absolutely hate it when people (*cough cough* English teachers and librarians *cough*) say stuff like that but for once its actually true. The author makes Neville seem so real and so painfully human that its almost impossible not to relate him to yourself. That being said I did have a few problems with the book. For one thing the beginning was kind of a drag but it got better as it went on. For another, two words: The. Dog. That scene was the worst and was only put in to further inflict pain onto its readers. If I had been forced to read this in school I would have hated it but since I read it of my own volition, it actually was really interesting and I really liked the ending.

The movie certainly falls short of such a great novel. I enjoyed the details provided by Richard, the science involved to try to explain the myth. Completely recommended!

Let me start by being completely transparent: the main reason I bought I Am Legend was, essentially, to kill time until The Twelve by Justin Cronin is released. I wanted a fairly short, quick read for my Kindle, that was also inexpensive. Having heard and read many good things about Richard Mathesons work, I decided this would be the perfect appetizer to set me up for Cronins main course. Perhaps the aforementioned good reviews set my expectations too high, but I found this novella to be good, but not great. Im certain Matheson was ahead of his time when this was published in 1954, but the language and concepts just seem dated today. I realize its probably not fair to judge a book based on the work thats followed, and no doubt built upon, the concepts Matheson introduced here. But it is what it is, I just have a hard time putting more modern, sometimes fresher, work out of my head when reading an older novel. All of that being said, I Am Legend is definitely worth your time, and the paltry $1.99 the Kindle version costs. Its a quick read, and the idea of just dropping you into the infected world, with barely any backstory, gives the novella a heightened sense of suspense and realism. In short, if youre a fan of the vampire or post-apocalyptic genres, then you should read this, as its a seminal story in the evolution of both genres.

I liked the story I Am Legend well enough, but its only the first 170 pages of this book. There are ten short stories after I Am Legend, half of which I gave one or two stars to. I gave the other short stories four or five stars. I Am Legend has been made into at least three movies that I know of. The Omega Man (1971) is my favorite version. The first movie, The Last Man on Earth (1964) had zombies that were too weak and slow moving to be believable and I Am Legend (2007) had zombies that were too strong and fast to be believable. They could crawl on ceilings like bugs, which was so unbelievable I laughed. Im always reading some good fantasy or science fiction. This month Im rereading my favorite five military sci-fi classics: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein (1959), The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1974), Armor by John Steakley (1984), Enders Game by Orson Scott Card (1985), and Old Mans War by John Scalzi (2005). If you like reading try some of my favorite fantasy and sci-fi authors: Richard Adams, Palo Bacigulupi, Suzanne Collins, Abe Evergreen, Diana Gabaldon, Hugh Howey, George Martin, Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, and Andy Weir. If you’re looking for good stuff to watch consider miniseries like The Astronauts Wives Club (2015), Band of Brothers (2001), Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000), Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (2003), Into the West (2005), Lonesome Dove (1989), Manhattan (2014-2015), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), Pride and Prejudice (1995), Taken (2002) and The 10th Kingdom (2000), which are all terrific because they have clear beginnings that establish an objective, then strong middles and conclusive endings where the goal is achieved, like a good novel. Other shows I’ve really enjoyed include Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Cowboy Bebop (1998), Firefly (2002), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), Granite Flats (2013-2015), The IT Crowd (2006-2013), Jericho (2006-2008), Merlin (2008-2012), The Prisoner (1967-1968), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010), Stargate: SG-1 (1997-2007), Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2009), Star Trek (1966-1969), Star Trek Voyager (1995-2001), and The Tudors (2007-2010). I didn’t list any contemporary series I’m following that don’t have an end date yet, not conducive to binge watching from beginning to finish.