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I Am Legend

I Am Legend

List Price: $4.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Novel About Vampires!
Review: I have to say that this book was a pleasant surprise. A nice vacation from reading about the romatic vampire, or the postmodern vampire who is a rockstar and is far too effeminate to take seriously. Matheson's vampire is a filthy corspe who is not quick footed or witted and is basically a zombie only the passion is for blood and not brains. The struggle of the protagonist Neville is both heartfelt and realistic. A great book from beginning to end!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Don't understand what all the hype was about......
Review: All I heard about was what a great vampire book this was, and while it wasn't terrible and was certainly well written, it lacked the oomph that todays vampire novels have. If you want to read about vampires I recommend the the truely poetic and literary writings of Anne Rice her Vampire Chronicals series, it leaves this one in the dust. All the Lestat book are great, but skip, Pandora, Blood and Gold and Armand and pick up again with Merrick and Blackwood Farms the latter is in my opinion her best novel yet! Also, Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Baker Vampire hunter is a great series, although not as literary.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WHITE ZOMBIE!!!... no wait Richard Matheson
Review: This book was very interesting. Right from the get-go R. Neville explained his situation, and through the book he dropped details as to how the vampire "plague" came about. Eventually discovering for himself all possible methods of killing them (trial & error), and facts about their orgin. The weirdest part of the book is how it skips ahead months or even years at a time. I'm surprised the guy wasn't completely psychotic... being the last of his kind and all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best books ever written
Review: I finished the book in two nights, its fairly short, but it is simply amazing, and then i found out it was written in the 50's, and that made it pure genius. I cannot believe Matheson could write something like this that long ago, it is one of the, if not the best books ever written, i suggest everyone reading this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Legendary Horror
Review: Richard Matheson's "I am Legend" takes the traditional vampire novel (in this case, they've taken over the Earth) and combines it with the killer plague theme and tops it all off with a last-man-on-Earth scenario that is as compelling as it is frightening. Unlike many other 1950s sci-fi and horror novels, it has lost little of its impact.

Protagonist Robert Neville lives in his barricaded house near Los Angeles. During the day he can move around, but at night the vampires surround his house and try to break in. He keeps them at bay, but at a terrible cost to his mental well being. In an effort to stave off madness, he begins to research was caused the vampire plague. He eventually discovers the truth, which then leads to a climax that is both electrifying and haunting.

The novel itself is only 170 pages in length, and the length of this trade paperback edition has been doubled by the inclusion of a number of Matheson short stories. The shorts of of varying quality, but they do not detract from what is one of the best vampire novels ever written.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Genius
Review: This book was one of the most amazing novels I have ever encountered. It was truly captivating from the first page to the last - I read the whole book in one sitting. The monologue is thought provoking, profound, yet realistic. Rather than taking the conventional route of fantasy vampire novels, Matheson takes a more scientific approach, as he explains the true vampire through an analytical approach. The plot is very believable, and the main character is very well developed. If you haven't already done so, BUY THIS BOOK NOW!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good book - yes. Scary - Not at all
Review: If you're looking for a book that will make you jump at odd noises you hear while reading it or make your mind wander to the shadows at night (is something there?)...this book will not do that (try reading Hell House by Masterson instead).

However, it is an interesting read. The story kind of reminds me of the story premise of the comic book 'Blade', except that the main character is not half-vampire, but a vampire killer nonetheless.

It's a short read and the ending is worth the hour or so read.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Are these people crazy?!
Review: I'm not kidding, I truly think these people are crazy. I've just seen review after review describing how scary and suspenseful this book is. What a joke! It reads like a documentary that doesn't really go anywhere. I thought the book was very interesting. And if you want to someday write a horror book, maybe this book can give you some ideas. But it's not suspenseful and, now don't all start screaming at once, it's kinda boring. Sorry. But you start it, you read it, and it's over. No real ups or downs. And the ending: I guess it was supposed to be a big deal, but all I could think was, "Who cares?"

Rating: 5 stars
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.

Rating: 5 stars
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.


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