I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I Am Legend
Book Review: Enthralling, short read.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best short books I've read. This version has several short stories by the author in the back, which are well-written.Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
About: Robert Neville is seemingly the only survivor of a plague that has turned everyone else into vampires.
Pros: Neville is a wonderfully developed character. Perfect pacing throughout. Very engaging, hard to put down.
Cons: None noted
Grade: A
Book Review: Excellent end of the world book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a lot of end of the world books and this is one of the best. It's not a vampire novel as much as a story of a man alone in the world. The ending is rather abrupt but that may be because I couldn't put it down and read it so quickly. Many of the other short stories in this version are also good reads. However, they also have some abrupt endings.Book Review: Excellent read
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book because I had seen the movie and heard it wasn't quite the same as the book.
Being an avid reader, I know that most books don't make it to the screen without 'hollywood' adjustments (Harry Potter, etc).
I was pleasantly surprised at the main story (I Am Legend). The story/ending wasn't at all like the movie (this was a good thing). The movie should've kept to the book (rumor has it Will Smith tried to get the studios to but they wanted a more happy "hollywood" ending).
I've started reading the other mini-stories and some of them are really creepy & for the time period in which they were written; well ahead of their time.
I would recommend this to others but to be warned at times; the book can be a bit slow. But definitely worth the read.
Book Review: Fantastic Short Story Book
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me begin by stating that this is a short story compilation, something that was never mentioned to me at any point in time. True, the title story is by far the longest in the book, and would qualify as a novella, but it is in length similar to "The Mist" being the largest short story in "Skeleton Crew."
The Title story of "I Am Legend" is a brilliant story following Neville as the sole survivor of the vicious plague which has claimed the lives of most of the world, and then brought them back as terrible vampire like creatures. Neville is not a scientist, he is not a genius, and in fact he is far closer to an alcoholic slowly losing his mind. "I am Legend" is not an action packed thrill ride, it is instead a drawn out study on madness, the breakdown of civilization and what it does to the human psyche. We follow Neville as he tries to not only stay alive, but also retain his sanity after all that he has been through. He is alone and sees no hope for the future. True his behavior may not mimic what our choices would have been, but then again none of us know how we would behave.
If you bought this book because of the Will Smith movie, you will probably be disappointed, the story is very different, far less scientific, and doesn't take place in NYC, not to mention there is no action, the dog isn't a main character (though it is a very touching part of the book) and the ending is completely different. Do I think one is better than the other? I don't know, I enjoyed them both but find them to be completely different stories. If you can keep from comparing the two I think you can really enjoy both.
As for the other stories in the book, much like all short story books, they are hit and miss. You have everything from psycho dolls with warrior spirits inside terrorizing apartments, to houses that have gone mad from the negative energy. Some of the shortest were the most entertaining. Most have been turned into movies (many in those Creepshow/ Twilight Zone/ Amazing Stories type movies) so when you read through, a lot of them will seem familiar. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a quality set of short stories complimented by a wonderful 160 page or so novella.