I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I Am Legend
Book Review: Absolutely Stunning!
Summary: 5 Stars
I AM LEGEND is probably one of the finest books on vampires, those undead and oft nightmarish bloodsuckers of our own creations. However, Matheson presents his vampires as the ultimate human terror, that of a replacement species for our race. The story follows Robert Neville, the sole survivor of a biological holocaust that created night stalkers who has turned his home into a fortress in suburban Los Angeles. During the day he hunts sleeping vampires, staking them through the heart and barricades himself in his home at night while they mill about his yard like cadaverous door to door salesmen, calling his name while the females raise their dresses to tease and taunt him.Neville is a beautiful study into the deterioration of the human mind, aside from the loss of his wife and daughter that haunts him constantly, he begins to lose his own grip on humanity. For three years he has lived this life of solitude, but surrounded by human monsters who, incidentally, do not wear 18th century regalia, top hats nor do they moan about how much their unlife makes them do such terrible things. Matheson's vampires are a paradox of life, do not turn into bats, wolves or mists and haven't an ounce of pretense or angst found in the likes of Anne Rice's Eurotrash vampires or the found in Vampire: the Masquerade. Neville has forgotten the sound of his own voice and much of the common etiquette that we as humans all share.
Matheson's masterful descriptions of the monotony of daily life mingled with the nagging question of why he just doesn't give himself up to them permeate the book. He constructs arguments for both sides, and deconstructs the myth of vampires by producing a wonderful scientific explanation that Neville learns over a period of a few years, literally by educating himself at the UCLA libraries. The reader is so aware of the protagonist's torment and the surging desire for companionship, human or otherwise, that when he finds the stray dog, we are captivated and pulled along as Neville spends weeks trying to coax the terrified animal into his home. And, without giving it away, the ending will knock the reader off of whatever he or she is sitting on.
Some might see similarities to this and the Chuck Heston flick, the Omega Man, which was a pale adaptation of the novel into a typical 1970's dystopian film. For myself I churned through the pages with a certain eagerness that I never possessed while reading Rice's morose and trite endeavors in the world of undead. This book soars and packs emotion into fluid verse that never stalls or loses direction. I Am Legend fits beautifully with movies such as Blade and John Carpenter's Vampires.
Book Review: Almost Legendary
Summary: 3 Stars
Not quite all it could be...just settling down to enjoy a good novel that would hopefully last a week or so, and finished it in one night. Felt it had a lot more to offer, even though it did have a relatively satisfying ending. Brief, shocking and to the point, the story is luridly entwined around one man's stance against loneliness, and how he responds to unexpected development. Excellent scientific and biological descriptions of vampire anatomy, good characterisation and solid emotional descriptions, but once again, the tale winds down prematurely. Saddened that the second half of the book is filled with four-page long short stories that, although well written, would better serve as furthered chapters of the headline title. Still waiting for more.....
Book Review: Alright
Summary: 3 Stars
The only reason I read this book was because of the movie. I liked the movie, not so much the book. It was interesting, but when I finished it I felt a little cheated. Also there's some other wierd short stories at the end of the book that I glanced through and found to be boring. Save your money and watch the movie.Book Review: Am I normal?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the greatest Sci-Fi/Horror novels ever written. Richard Matheson wrote TV & film screenplays (such as Duel) as well as writing his own novels. He wrote The Shrinking Man that The Incredible Shrinking Man was based on.
The story has already had two filmed versions of it made (Last Man on Earth and The Omega Man) and another is to be realeased shortly. George Romero's zombie movies were surely influenced by the novel as well. As can be gathered from the above one man remains alive and 'normal' and fights to survive against the ever increasing numbers pitted against him.
What is pitted against him, and how the story resolves (I can't tell you...) at the end is very cleverly done and in my admittedly limited litary experience quite unique. This is very well written and easy to read. If you don't believe me ask Stephen King who rates this highly.
Book Review: Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book/short story, what ever you want to call it... is absolutely amazing! An instant classic. If you dont buy it, you are seriously missing out. It's a little short -- but VERY sweet! If there are any bad reviews of this book it's one of the two reasons... They didn't understand it. Or they didn't read it!!!!
But trust me, it's not complicated. It's just a great story with an amazing ending. What ever you do, DO NOT READ the last page until you actually get to it... Trust me... it's a mind job. This is the only book i've ever read where the last line has so much impact on the entire story.... When you read this you will see what I mean!!!