I am legend

the last man on earth

by

science fiction, 312 pages

English language

Published Jan. 29, 2007 by tor.

ISBN:
978-0-7653-5715-1
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OCLC Number:
179929267

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4 stars (6 reviews)

Neville is essentially the last man on earth, and the loneliness of his situation is the central part of the story. Matheson is able to communicate Neville's emotional feelings vividly, making him very real. We gradually acquire the story of the deaths of Neville's wife and daughter, essentially experiencing the pain he goes through when these memories overcome him. We watch him drink himself into a stupor as each night finds him besieged in his fortified house, surrounded by vampires, including his old friend and neighbor, calling for him to come out. We watch him slowly lose his grip on sanity and come very close to giving up.

16 editions

reviewed I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

You've seen the movie(s), read the original story, and some other stories...

4 stars

I read this for the novella-length story I Am Legend, after having watched the Will Smith and Charlton Heston movies. It was interesting, and I'd like to see a film adaptation that hews more closely to that original plot, but I really enjoyed the book more for the other assorted included stories. The shorter ones pack more punch, but there are no stinkers (the one involving anger management, or lack thereof, seems to drag but you know what's coming, and it feels relevant in this rage-scrolling day). The overall tone reminds me a bit of Ray Bradbury (who he's been compared to) with a mixin of Stephen King (who's acknowledged him as an influence).

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5 stars
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5 stars
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3 stars
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rated it

4 stars
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4 stars

Subjects

  • Vampires
  • Fiction