Casimir: “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson stands as a profound exploration of the human condition within a dystopian landscape. Matheson’s narrative prowess shines through his meticulous structuring and exquisite choice of words. This is a tale that plunges the reader into the depths of despair, a dark abyss of human existence.
The bleak and pessimistic atmosphere that permeates the novel is nothing short of masterful. Matheson skillfully crafts an atmosphere that is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing entity. It wraps itself around the reader, drawing them deeper into a world devoid of hope and teeming with dread. Without divulging too much, it suffices to say that the pervasive gloom that blankets the narrative is its own character, looming larger than life.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of “I Am Legend” is the aversion one may develop toward the protagonists. This visceral reaction is a testament to Matheson’s ability to ground his characters in a stark, unvarnished reality. In the face of unimaginable circumstances, the characters’ actions and choices mirror what one might expect in a world stripped of societal norms and confronted...
Germany on Sep 14, 2023
luis: I’m Spanish speaker but I wanted to read the book in English in order to improve my level. Even that was dificultades to me understand everything, the book is so great so I enjoyed it a lot!!
Spain on Sep 03, 2023
Andrew Sheerin: Richard Matheson is an amazing author, this book was first published in 1954 and to this day in 2023 so 69 years later I must say it’s an absolute treat. I read this about 20 years ago and long before the film came out in 2007 and it’s a class act. It’s a cracking vampire post apocalyptic thrilling roller coaster and keeps you engaged throughout and for about 160 pages it’s soon over. It’s a must buy for new and old fantasy lovers!
United Kingdom on Aug 15, 2023
Rae Ann McCardell: This is a good book, you just have to put Will Smith golfing off of a battleship completely out of your mind. The book and The movie are nearly completely different.
So put the movie out of your mind and enjoy.
United States on Aug 04, 2023
Antonio: This is a very morbid story. I wouldn’t recommend reading it if you are feeling depressed. But it’s also well written with some excellent clips of prose that have been heavily highlighted by readers. However it’s full of sadness and tragedy, and it takes the protagonist about three drawn-out chapters to finally die even though he’s not a vampire. It was as though he died three or four times.
The story’s also convoluted in places and the author leaves some unexplained loose ends. The reason I didn’t award five stars is because the protagonist got sentimental about the vampires towards the end - why should he do that? Aren’t vampires supposed to be villains?
On the positive side Matheson is very adept at building up suspension. My favorite book of his is The Invisible Man. Another tragic book with a sad ending, but what a wonderful imaginative idea. There’s also a great deal of anger in I Am Legend which was a little grating at times. I know it’s a horror story but a bit of humor now and then, would have alleviated the morbid subject content.
United Kingdom on Mar 12, 2023
Ryan Sean O'Reilly: Despite its vampire origins, this book originated many medical, zombie, dystopian thrillers. Robert Neville is alone. Very alone. Well, not completely alone. His family, friends, and neighbors have all come down with a bad case of vampirism. However, this sickness more closely resembles zombism (without the brain eating). The vampires have an intelligence much closer to (but slightly above) your typical walking dead.
The story opens with the protagonist literally boarded up in his home, living off a generator and the food he manages to pilfer during daylight hours. Over time, he has managed to find a way to survive in a world where people (and sometimes animals) are dying of this strange disease that very closely resembles vampirism. Despite the best efforts of the world’s scientists, everyone had gone to rot except Neville (or so we think). So he has shored up his existence with a greenhouse full of garlic, strategically placed mirrors and the occasional Christian cross. All this helps to keep the relentless vampire apocalypse at bay during the wearisome nights. During the day, Neville makes repairs to his fortifications, hunts downed weaken vampires and dispatches them...
United States on Sep 01, 2014
7hir7een: When the modern film adaptation I Am Legend came out in 2007, many people were annoyed or angered by the movie. I heard things like, "it's nothing like the book", "the ending sucks" and "it misses the point". Now I know why. Let me just tell you, the movie does miss the point, particularly with the theatrical ending. That version of the film misses the point like the missing the broad side of a barn with a tactical nuke at point-blank range. That's not to say I dislike the movie. I thought that, with the alternate ending, it was pretty good. I still think that. However, reading the original story has changed my feelings about it a bit, namely that I like certain things about it less than the novel. Now, I don't remember if the credits say "based on I Am Legend by Richard Matheson", but if they do, I believe they definitely commit the crime of false advertising. The most it should say is "inspired by..." The only similarities I can think of between the book and what I remember of the movie are:
The main character is named Robert Neville
There is a plague of vampires that led to the collapse of civilization
The main character is a human man, ostensibly the last on...
United States on Jun 26, 2012
| Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" - A Classic Story of Survival | Rafael: Vampire Hunter from the Anita Blake Series | Rafael: A Novel from the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series | |
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| B2B Rating |
94
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97
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97
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| Sale off | $2 OFF | ||
| Total Reviews | 203 reviews | 666 reviews | 666 reviews |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4/5 stars of 16,165 ratings | 4.7/5 stars of 7,551 ratings | 4.7/5 stars of 7,551 ratings |
| Lexile measure | 760L | ||
| Item Weight | 5.6 ounces | 4.8 ounces | 6.9 ounces |
| Occult Fiction | Occult Fiction | ||
| Ghost Fiction | Ghost Fiction | ||
| Mass Market Paperback | 320 pages | 272 pages | |
| Language | English | English | English |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0765357151 | 978-0593332917 | 978-1472285317 |
| Dimensions | 4.15 x 0.85 x 6.75 inches | 4.13 x 0.66 x 6.75 inches | 5.04 x 0.94 x 7.8 inches |
| ASIN | 0765357151 | ||
| Contemporary Literature & Fiction | Contemporary Literature & Fiction | ||
| ISBN-10 | 9780765357151 | 0593332911 | 147228531X |
| Publisher | Tor Books; Media tie-in edition | Berkley; Reprint edition | Headline |
| Best Sellers Rank | #216 in Ghost Fiction#528 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction#536 in Occult Fiction | #1,407 in Vampire Romances#2,131 in Romantic Fantasy #3,576 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy | #325 in Vampire Mysteries#7,855 in Romantic Fantasy #14,184 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy |
Die Geschichte von Robert Neville, dem scheinbar letzten Überlebenden einer apokalyptischen Seuche, die Menschen in Monster verwandelt, ist fesselnd und einzigartig. Dieses Buch hebt sich deutlich von den Verfilmungen ab. Während die Filme ihre eigenen Vorzüge haben, vermittelt das Buch eine tiefere Ebene der Einsamkeit und Verzweiflung, die Neville durchlebt.
Wir erfahren, wie Neville seinen Alltag in dieser postapokalyptischen Welt gestaltet, wie er versucht, die Wahrheit hinter der Seuche aufzudecken und ein Gegenmittel zu finden. Seine Gedanken, Ängste und Hoffnungen sind meisterhaft dargestellt, und der Leser kann sich leicht in seine Lage hineinversetzen.
Was dieses Buch so besonders macht, ist die Art und Weise, wie es die menschliche Natur und die Frage nach dem, was es bedeutet, "normal" zu sein, erkundet. Es regt zum Nachdenken an und lässt einen über die Grundlagen der Zivilisation und des Menschseins...
Germany on Sep 16, 2023