I Am Legend

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Summary: Companion to THE SCARLET PLAGUE
Review: It was one of the few books I read during 1954 while in Korea, wrote my brother about it and he also thoroughly enjoyed it. Movie OMEGA MAN was a very decent rendition of the book, particularly since the outstanding (always) actor, Charlton Heston played the lead. The book & actor are among my top, all time favorites. It was, I believe, Jack London who wrote the somewhat similar SCARLET PLAGUE short story years earlier and will always regard it top notch, another most memorable story that I'll always compare on a par with "I AM LEGEND".

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Summary: One of the essential books from the 20th century.
Review: This is not only one of the best modern horror novels, but one of the essential books of this century. It captures well the alienation and horror of conformity that characterizes much modern literature. I think this book would appeal to readers of Kafka and Camus as well as to readers of Stephen King. When it comes to good books, genres are irrelevant. This is one of my favorite books.

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Summary: Fantastic stuff!
Review: I Am Legend turned out to be as creepy today as it must have been when the book was released in the 1950s. The book manufactures an extreme amount of isolation surrounding its main character and that isolation translates to the reader. As others have written, the book is short, but that may be the only negative thing I can say about it. It's very easy to see why this book was so influential for today's writers of the horror genre.

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Summary: I loved it
Review: it was great i thought that the way he wrote the book was wonderful and he is a wonderful and talented writer i give this book 10+*

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Summary: Good read...
Review: This book read like a long episode of the Twilight Zone. The character was pretty well developed; so much so that I felt his pain at being the only human --that wasn't a vampire-- left alive. The story is short, which I liked in one way -- because I was anxious to see what happened; but I didn't like in another -- because I wouldn't have minded if it had gone on and had a different ending. But all in all, this is a good read.

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Summary: Didn't live up to the hype
Review: Unfortunately, I read all of the great reviews of Richard Matheson's book on Amazon.com and had certain expectations upon reading it. Needless to say, I found the book neither as scary nor as interesting a read as most reviewers thought. I believe the book must have been on the vanguard of horror back in the 50's when individuals were a little less sophisticated about manifestations of gore and vampires, but in today's society, it's little more than social commentary.

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Summary: A great story with one flaw
Review: It is too short. I loved this book but felt it could have gone so many different places other than the rather abrupt ending. It would have be intresting to see the character try and survive in the outside world for a time.However, this is a brilliant novel which I highly recommend.

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Summary: Richard Matheson is my Idol
Review: I am Legend is one of the best horror novels I have read in a very long time. It has the perfect blend of thrills, chills, suspense, and even hints of romance. Richard Matheson's writing style is awesome in my opinion and I hope that Rob Bowman, the director the The X-Files movie, doesn't ruin I am Legend when he directs the third film version of it.

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Summary: Super, Wonderful Book!
Review: I Am Legend is, of course, the "basis" for the motion picture "The Omega Man." I read the book first, took my young daughters to the movie years later, and while watching it "realized" I knew the story from somewhere. I watched the credits to find out where.

While certainly not a "classic" vampire yarn, it is one of the two best vampire books out there ('Salem's Lot by King is the other). It is said that King was influenced by Matheson, and, looking at King's earlier works, you can see why.

I Am Legend -- while horrific -- provides much food for thought and a great deal of depth for a "horror" yarn. Matheson's discussion of whether a, say, Jewish vampire could be warded off by a cross is worth the price of the book itself.

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Summary: Interesting and believable, but too short
Review: After reading the stellar reviews from Amazon.com, I knew that I couldn't go wrong with this one. Robert Neville could represent almost any one of us in the way he thinks, but I don't know how many of us would actually take the actions he did in the story. How many of us could really survive in such a hostile environment day after day, absolutely and dishearteningly alone? If I were Robert Neville, I probably would have cowered in a corner and prayed for a quick and painless end. Richard Matheson's writing was excellent and easy to read, making the story go very quickly. The fact that it did go by so quickly was the book's only fault. Anyone know where I can find a copy of Hell House?