Only one man appears to have survived a plague that turns humans into vampirelike creatures, only coming out at night, seeking him out. Film critics noted that the british film 28 days later 2002 and its sequel. All the knowledge in those books couldnt put out the fires in him. As a vampire novel, the touchstone for am legend is, without a doubt, bram stokers dracula a novel which matheson mentions more than once over the course of the book. Since reading the book, i have collected all of richard mathesons other novels and short story collections, but i am legend remains my personal favorites. I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by richard matheeson. Masterworks by matheson, richard from amazons fiction books. I am legend is a 1954 science fictionhorror novel by american writer richard matheson.
People who love the book like being in nevilles head. The story is set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of. The first says, man, its just a badass vampire book. Richard mathesons classic novel of fear and vampirism the tale of the last human on an earth overrun by the undead returns to graphic novel format in a single volume collection of four long outofprint books.
If youve seen the movie, you can still read the book and be very enthralled. Attributing minds to vampires in richard mathesons i am legend. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville. If you create a free account and sign in, you will be able to customize what is displayed.
So i just finished i am legend by richard matheson. In 1954 richard matheson published a groundbreaking story i am legend. To which another chimed in i am legend has vampires. Pdf i am legend book by richard matheson free download. Free download or read online i am legend pdf epub book. The main characters of this horror, science fiction story are robert neville. I am meant to be writing a blog about how i am legend, by the late, immensely great, richard matheson, is the king of vampire novels. I am legend isnt particularly long either, hardly even novel length. Its a short book story this one, but a great read, from the 1950s. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on i am legend by richard matheson. I am legend author richard matheson was himself a real legend. The novel was adapted to film in 1964 as the last man on earth, in 1971 as omega man, and in 2007 as i am legend, starring will smith. Essays for i am legend novel i am legend novel essays are academic essays for citation. The basis for the film starring academy award nominee will smith, i am legend is a classic of horror and suspense.
If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival. It was influential in the development of the vampire genre as well as the zombie genre, in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease, and in exploring the notion of vampirism as a disease. I am legend is named vampire novel of the century books. At one time, the vampires were normal people who were infected by a bacteria later dubbed vampiris, by matheson. Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend, originated the zombie genre in both fiction and movies. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic action thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel. I am legend is the horror classic that tells the tale of robert neville, the last human living on a postapocalyptic earth plagued by vampires. I am legend written by richard matheson 1557 words cram. In i am legend, a terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into bloodthirsty creatures of the night. The story is about the last man on earth, robert neville. The novel has been made into three movies, including omega man 1971 and i am legend 2007.
Whether is it has something to do with aliens or the world ending. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. I nearly didnt buy this book until i realised that the 2007 film starring will smith was only loosely based on richard mathesons novel, which is all together a much. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Richard matheson 192620 was the new york times bestselling author of i am legend, hell house, somewhere in time, the incredible shrinking man, now you see it, and what dreams may come, among others. All these books, he thought, the residue of a planets intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing. I am legend and other stories audiobook by richard. I am legend j2744 by matheson, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. To this day it is a breath of fresh air in the vampirehorror world.
Now for a topic thats neither divisive nor prone to eliciting irrational anger and awkward discomfort. Stephen king said, books like i am legend were an inspiration to me. In my edition of i am legend, brian lumley is quoted saying a long time ago i read the book, and i started writing horror at about the same. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of i am legend novel by richard matheson. Richard mathesons i am legend has been made into several movies, including the recent will smith movie, and the last man on. Wo shi chuan qi in traditional chinese version, traditional chinese edition of i am legend by richard matheson by richard matheson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I am legend, richard matheson 9780575094161 boeken. We have an intriguing problem with comparing the book and film. I am legend author richard matheson was himself a real. He was named a grand master of horror by the world horror convention, and received the bram stoker award for lifetime achievement. Richard mathersons i am legend is a classic from the 1950s that reads almost as well today as it did when originally released. Richard mathesons i am legend has been a major influence on horror literature.
I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of. In his book, i am legend, richard matheson depicts a dystopian world in which robert neville is the last man on earth surrounded by vampires. Published in 1954, acclaimed author richard mathesons novel i am legend is one of the most highly regarded works of apocalyptic fiction to date. I think its just a collection of short stories with the headliner being the most famous. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading i am legend. There are two camps when it comes to discussing the issue of race in mathesons book. The fine press limited edition of i am legend by richard matheson is presented in three states.
I am legend dystopian movies always have a big change in the society. The year is 1975, a virus starts to spread after the latest war is finally over. Thus it stands to reason that i never would have read richard mathesons i am legend had not the wildcard of my book club chosen it as this months selection. It inspired the films the last man on earth with vincent price, the omega man with charleton heston, and the most recent eponymously titled i am legend with will smith. This book was fun, but certainly not classic literature. I am legend is a post apocalyptic vision by richard matheson, created in 1954 it tells the story of robert neville, the last surviving human in the world, surrounded by bloodthirsty vampires both living and undead. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that. Richard matheson, i am legend he stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly.
January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. I am legend is a better, tighter, sharper book than dracula which makes it the best vampire novel ever written. These are not stokers vampires, nor are they meyers or wards vampires. As such, its no surprise that the book has been adapted for the big screen, in this case three. Stokers 1897 gothic horror novel tells the story of the evil count dracula, a vampire who sucks the blood of his victims. I am certainly honoured and delighted that you have chosen i am legend as the vampire novel of the century, which is a rather dubious but interesting distinction. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and. There is something more tangible and real to these monsters. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english the complete novel, plus several more unforgettable tales by richard mathesonpage 4 of cover buried talents near departed prey witch war dance of the dead dress of white silk mad house. I had no idea that the movie what dreams may come starring robin williams was originally a book and i had no idea it was written by richard matheson.
I am legend read online free from your pc or mobile. The 1956 i am legend book is a vampire story inspired by dracula. Vampires have inherited the earth in richard mathesons i am legend. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. I am legend by richard matheson 2007, paperback for sale. A good story, audio book performance or audible app had some strange pauses this audio book has i am legend and also number of other short stories. In 2012, it was named the best vampire novel of the century by the horror writers association and the bram stoker estate. Much like the walking dead, i am legend is not so much a tale of the undead as it is a tale of humanity and loneliness. I am legend was nothing like the charlton heston movie, but it was the best damn vampire novel i had ever read. Unlike neville, they had no immunity to the virus and subsequently became creatures previously known only in. Richard mathesons novel i am legend 20011954 portrays a world in which a. The first edition of the novel was published in 1954, and was written by richard matheson. Will smiths 2007 box office hit i am legend had an ending that divided audiences, but an alternate ending exists that does more justice to the book.
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