I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I Am Legend
Book Review: A true original
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are not, as I was/am, a lover of this Vampire genre you should be pleasantly surprised with this book as it is really nothing like you'd imagine a vampire book to be. In fact, the "bad guys" could be any bad guys, for example I could see this as the end of "The Road" or any other apocaplyse book. I was not one to be drawn to the Vampire stories, other than the old Ann Rice "Lestat." I actually notice that some of the 'tags' are for zombies.
For all the reasons others have given and the ringing endorsement by Stephen King I finally read the book. It had been sitting in my library for years and I was very satisfied with the story except that it ended quickly and without warning - maybe that was even better because you didn't have the expectation that the end was near.
It's quite obvious that those readers who, to put it mildly, express their disappointment in the length of the I Am Legend story are doing so because of the price they paid for the book. Otherwise, the story is the story and that's what they paid to read. These short story books are all priced as if a one story full novel. I too was disappointed in the length because only because the story ended. Actually, I shy away from these little novellas. I really shouldn't as the "I am Legend" experience proves. Just think of it as the price you pay to read the story. Would you rather pay full price and get a different book with a crap story? I think not. In fact, at least the publisher gave us the other stories; it didn't have to.
Book Review: An Excellent Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw the movie with my friends and liked it a lot, but one them told me it had changed things (specifically the ending) quite a bit from the book. But he wouldn't be specific. "Read the book," he said. Well, I mumbled and grumbled, but finally I got the book. It has been totally worth it.
I'm not going to bother doing a comparison between film and novel--it's best to appreciate them on their individual merits. I will tell that I Am Legend was an intriguing reimagining of the vampire genre. It looks to science not magic for an explanation for vampiric phenomena, while following an individual who is trying to survive a world that appears to be in its death throes.
This book contains other short stories by Matheson. I have not read all of them, but the ones I read were pretty good. Clearly I Am Legend is his best work, but his others stuff isn't bad either.
This certainly is a book I would recommend on its own merits, but would caution movie groupies to be prepared for the differences.
Book Review: Awesome Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this Book it just doesnt Have I am Legend it has other stories by this Author and i was very happy with this storiesBook Review: Awesome but annoyingly deceiving.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am Legend is really really good. But nowhere on the outside of the book, or the inside even, does it state "Collection of short stories." I liked the ending, but it would've been a lot more satisfiying if I knew the end was coming. Instead I was getting to the end of I am Legend wondering "Wow, how is he going to get out ot this situation... theres a little less then half a book left!" I skimmed ahead and looked for his name. Never seeing it I went online and found out what this book really was.
I am Legend is a really good short novel... but in future reprintings they need to be more clear that this is a collection of short stories.
Book Review: Be warned, this is a novella, at best.
Summary: 3 Stars
The original book is only 122 pages. Don't be fooled into thinking you are purchasing a full length novel here, it has been puffed up to fill 300+ pages using the same text.