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Summary: Thou shalt not sleep!
Review: Well-written, easy to comprehend, it is no wonder that both the best-selling authors of Horror, Dean Koontz and Stephen King, had nothing but the positive to say about it. A story about vampirism that makes it nothing but a plague, not something one would like to catch either, unlike the Anne Rice books. The plot involves the last man on earth and his violent struggle to keep his sanity and stake in the day and fend off at night, the vampire menace.
This is the first Richard Matheson book I ever picked up, which I did due to the recommendation of a friend. The book came as a large paperback, with a wonderful cover, and the added bonus of short stories by Matheson to complete to book. I had no idea the novella would be as good as possible. The character, Robert Neville, was entertaining and it was obvious that he was the form that Stephen King often used for his own novels. The book is well-paced, it is impossible to put it down at certain points, though not many, it is a quick read. Which is even moreso a reason to read it, for the sheer simplicity that most classics lack and the plot involving the much revered vampires.
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Summary: Science and Mythology combined
Review: Beautifully (and sorrowfully) written, this stands as my favorite novel by Richard Matheson. The tragic tale of Robert Neville, the last human in a world of vampires is chillingly real, bringing in a new concept into the world of vampirism. Not based heavily on the legend of vampires like Dracula, but rather on a mysterious condition that leads to vampiric behavior and the results of such.The survival of the last human in the world, former soldier Robert Neville is the sole focus of the novel. An incident in his past has made him immune to the disease that has overthrown the human population, leaving him to do the dirty word of getting rid of it. During the night, he barricades himself in his home, hoping the sun would come sooner. Throughout the day, he lays waste to the afflicted he finds. For you see, living alone in the world where everyone wants a chunk of you leads to some rather necessary changes to your lifestyle. The world that Matheson builds is exceptional, to the point that it becomes frighteningly real and you feel the joy and remorse of Robert as he struggles in a world out to get him. A surprising mix of horror and tragedy, one has plenty of time and reason to feel for our poor Robert and his failing crusade. A lusciously-written novel that is, indeed, legend.
Rating: 
Summary: oh, these "classics"
Review: a good book. no, nothing more. perhaps even a bit worse. a plague makes everyone either dead or vampires. except one. who tries to survive. who tries to kill vampires. he locks himself up safe and sound in his house. this is actually the great thing in the book. the descriptions of the way the guy stands there watching the vampires trying to lure him out or attack the house. very W.H.Hodgson- like. but except for that. i mean, why bother killing the vampires if you're the only one left? and how important are we supposed to feel his survival is, when he's the only human left. he lives, he dies. mankind's done for either way. survival isn't even important for him, since he feels lonely, scared, etc. let him die, i say. who cares when it doesn't make a difference? this is actually more a story about loneliness than a horror novel to me.
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Summary: always a joy to read
Review: Matheson's I Am Legend is one of my favorite books--one I've read over and over, and always find something new to cherish about it. This is a book I highly recommend. Not just becuase it is entertaining and well written, but I Am Legend is a staple of both the horror and science fiction genres. But it is more than that. It is also one of the finer Apocalyptic novels (or novellas) written. And I believe might even deserve a place (no matter how small) in the sub-genrea of Utopian fiction. Matheson does a wonderful job of helping us understand the horrors of the end of the world, being alone, and even the sympathetic side of being a vampire (all with almost no dialogue). It's a beautifully written book.
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Summary: A new twist on the vampire trope
Review: One of the best horror books I have ever read. A book that really lived up to the critical acclaim given to it by a generation of writers. I have few books that I like so much that I keep a copy always a re read sections of them that live on in my mind. This is one such book. I don't normally like vampire stories, but this is fresh and original twist on a theme that has been so done to death.
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Summary: Why I adore Matheson
Review: Richard Matheson is without a doubt one of the greates horror writers of all time. I am Legend is the most brillant piece of vampire fiction that I have ever read- and trust me I have read almost all of it out there. I am a Master's student in Literature and I took a vampire literature course as an undergrad, where I read I am Legend for the first time. Matheson is brillant, and many of the stories that were in the book in addition to the title story were made into Twilight Zone Episodes, which I realized after watching 48 hours of Twilight Zone over New Years break- the stories seemed uncanny, so I check the writer of the episodes- and sure enough- Richard Matheson. Not to mention, years ago as a teenager I watched the movie Trilogy of Terror which scared the pants off of me, the scariest part was one which I found out in college was inspired by Prey, a short story in I Am Legend. Matheson is truly a great horror writer, who will scare your pants off.
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Summary: a reader from Madison, Wisconsin
Review: I first read this book in the 1950s, as a child. My dad, an avid SciFi reader, gave it to me. We both loved it. All this time I've kept the original paperback on my shelf. I grew up to be a professional writer myself, and just decided to re-read this for pleasure---and also to study his craft. Wow! He IS a master. The story, the pacing, the premise, the character (Robert Neville has to carry the entire narrative himself---it ain't easy to write a novel with one character in every scene, who can't talk to anyone but himself) are truly impressive. And the acid test: you can't stop reading it---even when you KNOW what happens. I think it was T.S. Eliot (or maybe not?) who said, "The most heinous crime a writer can commit is to be boring." Knowing all the vocabulary, the plot point tricks, etc etc are useless unless you can compel readers to keep with your story. This is a great achievement of Matheson's, and it's a sort of magic. I didn't find it dated as some did---in fact it seemed eerily current, what with the terrorist/biological warfare threat back .
Matheson, I'm in awe of your talent! Thanks for a great classic vampire tale...one that ....will live forever!
Rating: 
Summary: Best Vampire Story Ever
Review: "I Am Legend" is not to be thought of as anything other than a masterpiece. Unfortunately, I had to give the book 4 stars instead of 5 because the accompanying short stories that fill out the other half of the book aren't remotely as good. It doesn't matter though, because "I Am Legend" is just too powerful a story to pass up.
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Summary: Vampires and Zombies combine in this classic
Review: Our protagonist has a problem; everyone is a flesh-eating vampire but him. Sound familiar? It ought to if you watch horror films: Vincent Price acted in a film based on this book, called 'The Last Man On Earth', and George Romero gives this film credit for an inspiration for 'Night of the Living Dead'. later, Charlton Heston starred in 'Omega Man' based on the same book. In fact, many later zombie, end of the world, and vampire films owe homage to this book.
Richard Matheson provides a delightful and sometimes terrifying read as he weaves his dark world where death and decay is the rule of the day, and the man-of-the-hour doesn't enjoy the role in which he's been placed. Plague has spread everywhere, affecting everyone aside from Robert Neville. His neighbor from hell, Ben Cortman, leads the neighborhood vampires, always trying at night to eat Bob. His days are filled with shopping from a degrading food supply, building weapons, and killing sleeping vampires. His nights are filled with an incessant and nightmarish attack on his abode by said vampires, who are after his blood.
This book deserves to rest on your shelf next to Dracula, Frankenstein, Poe and Lovecraft.
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Summary: I Am Legend
Review: I Am Legend is considered by many to be one of the most influential vampire stories of all time. It's a reputation well deserved, written in the 50s it was one of the first stories to remove vampires from gothic castles and place them in familiar urban settings. Although the vampires are rightly so, a important part of the story, a more important part is the main character "Robert Neville". I Am Legend is the story of a regular man, not a hero, just a regular man forced into a life of solitary wandering in a world that constantly reminds him of how wonderful the world truly is and how that world will never exist again. It is a story of how humanity copes with life in a dead world with no meaning. To some it may seem that neville wastes his time as the last man on earth, but what would any of us really be able to do? Looking for a cure is vaccine is hopeless, there is no-one left to use a vaccine on. Ridding the world of these vampires? Why? There's no one left to take the world back over once they're all gone. I am legend is a story of how humanity copes, and goes on in a world with nothing left.
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