I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I Am Legend
Book Review: "I AM LEGEND... and Other Stories" That should be this book's title!!
Summary: 4 Stars
First and foremost, anyone considering buying this book -- I speak specifically of the trade paperback edition with Will Smith on the cover -- should be advised: the first half of the book is the short novel "I AM LEGEND" and the second half is a collection of unrelated short stories by Richard Matheson. Nothing on the cover, title page, preface, etc. clues you in to that fact. In the front matter, if you look carefully, you'll see all the stories listed with different copyright dates. That's the only hint that the 300+ pages of this book are not entirely devoted to a full-length novel entitled "I AM LEGEND."
That out of the way, I enjoyed this. The novella (@ 150 pages... maybe 30,000 words) "I AM LEGEND" was interesting. It's much more about human isolation than monster-fighting, with Robert Neville as a bi-polar Robinson Crusoe rather than a cheeky tough-guy Will Smith. I'm not a big horror fan, but Matheson is one of the granddaddies of the genre, and you can see why here. His writing is taut and engaging, with human pathos and creepy scares woven together. The short stories tucked in here give you a nice overview of his work -- from the comic to the disturbing -- again making it clear why the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz worship at Matheson's altar.
One wonders why the publisher felt they needed to hide (no other word for it) the fact that this book is an anthology and not a singular novel. If you like the Will Smith movie and want to read the book, would you really be put off by seeing "...and Other Stories" on the cover? Sadly, that may well be true. Short stories simply do not sell like novels. Too bad, because if -- like me -- you don't know much about Richard Matheson, this book, with its famous short novel and lesser-known short stories, is an excellent intro.
- mattmchugh
Book Review: "I Am Legend" is a Good Story, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
... I bought thinking it was a novel. It turns out to be a collection of short stories, with the novella 'I Am Legend' in the front. I did enjoy the story, despite the main character being a blond 40ish Irishman and not African American (like Will Smith on the cover). However, I couldn't really get into the short stories. Felt like I over-paid for the content inside this book; four stars for the main story, two stars for the 'bait and switch' short story filler.Book Review: ... worth it.
Summary: 4 Stars
I read the book because I saw the movie (as surely many others did). I have to say that I actually liked the movie more, but they are so different that it's hardly worth comparing them.
The whole story is about what it would be like to be, basically, the last man alive. Although the conclusions it reaches are not entirely happy, the ending left me with a lot to think about in a way that the movie did not. It felt like it was political in some sense, but I'm not sure exactly what to think of it.
Although the story is older (1950s? I think '54...) it is written in a very modern style -- and it's horror that's neither gothic nor "splatter." I'd recommend it if only because it's not what you're expecting, and it does not end how you expect it to end.
The best thing about this book, however, is that it is followed by a collection of short stories... actually, about half of the book is short stories. Some of the stories were better than the novel, in my opinion, although not all.
Book Review: 4 1/2 Stars...Clearly a Landmark
Summary: 4 Stars
Stephen King calls it one of his influences, and critics have labeled "I Am Legend" as one of the top-ten all-time vampire novels. With the recent interest stirred by the movie, I gave in and decided to give the book a shot--with favorable, though mixed, reactions.
The story is masterfully told. Set in Los Angeles, as opposed to the film's New York City, the first-person narrative is at times claustrophobic, lucid, surreal, and achingly human in the midst of tragedy. Robert Neville is a brilliant creation, a perfect vessel for Matheson's exploration of traditional vampire myths in a world of reason and science. Even as Neville tries to survive after the loss of his wife and daughter, he finds himself committed to finding a solution, a cure if you will.
I read the entire story in one sitting, with a page count of under 170 pages. The pacing is perfect. The character development is credible and insightful. The muted comments on society are thought-provoking. Matheson's prose is tight and full of active verbs that make this stripped-down story surprisingly vivid. In conclusion, he adds a touch of bittersweet irony found more often in the tales of Ray Bradbury than vampire novelists.
While the story is masterful, it did not move me emotionally or intellectually. It seems a bit distant, supremely logical, even cold, in comparison to the newer breed of vampire novels that sometimes wink and nod while giving us chills. Nevertheless, "I Am Legend" deserves the praise and attention it has received. In its time, it was clearly a landmark in the evolution of the genre.
Book Review: A Disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
I don't typically read vampire novels, but when a friend tossed I Am Legend my way I gave it a shot. If this is 'one of the best vampire novels out there,' then I will never read another one. The premise of the story is looking at vampires from a biological perspective, and the author never substantively departs from that single idea. Even then, Matheson fails to make his vampires original in any sense. The book's action is weak, emotional appeals are less than compelling, and there is virtually no horror. Skip this one.