...
Author - Richard Matheson
I remember watching the original film 'The Omega Man', starring Charlton Heston. It was a bit poor and massively different from this book. The latest version starring will smith is slightly different from the book but closer to the mark.
The story;
~~~~~~
Robert ... Read review
It seems strange to find a 1954 vampire novel in Millennium's "SF Masterworks" classic ... more
reprints series. I Am Legend, though, was a trailblazing and later much imitated story that reinvented the vampire myth as SF. Without losing the horror, it presents vampirism as a disease whose secrets can be unlocked by scientific tools. The hero Robert Neville, perhaps the last uninfected man on Earth, finds himself in a paranoid nightmare. By night, the bloodthirsty undead of small-town America besiege his barricaded house: their repeated cry "Come out, Neville!" is a famous SF catchphrase. By day, when they hide in shadow and become comatose, Neville gets out his wooden stakes for an orgy of slaughter. He also discovers pseudoscientific explanations, some rather strained, for vampires' fear of light, vulnerability to stakes though not bullets, loathing of garlic, and so on. What gives the story its uneasy power is the gradual perspective shift which shows that by fighting monsters Neville is himself becoming monstrous--not a vampire but something to terrify vampires and haunt their dreams as a dreadful legend from the bad old days. I Am Legend was altered out of recognition when filmed as The Omega Man (1971), starring Charlton Heston. Avoid the movie; read the book. --David Langford
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
It seems strange to find a 1954 vampire novel in Millennium's "SF Masterworks" classic ... more
reprints series. I Am Legend, though, was a trailblazing and later much imitated story that reinvented the vampire myth as SF. Without losing the horror, it presents vampirism as a disease whose secrets can be unlocked by scientific tools. The hero Robert Neville, perhaps the last uninfected man on Earth, finds himself in a paranoid nightmare. By night, the bloodthirsty undead of small-town America besiege his barricaded house: their repeated cry "Come out, Neville!" is a famous SF catchphrase. By day, when they hide in shadow and become comatose, Neville gets out his wooden stakes for an orgy of slaughter. He also discovers pseudoscientific explanations, some rather strained, for vampires' fear of light, vulnerability to stakes though not bullets, loathing of garlic, and so on. What gives the story its uneasy power is the gradual perspective shift which shows that by fighting monsters Neville is himself becoming monstrous--not a vampire but something to terrify vampires and haunt their dreams as a dreadful legend from the bad old days. I Am Legend was altered out of recognition when filmed as The Omega Man (1971), starring Charlton Heston. Avoid the movie; read the book. --David Langford
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
I remember watching the original film 'The Omega Man', starring Charlton Heston. It was a bit poor and massively different from this book. The latest version starring will smith is slightly different from the book but closer to the mark.
The story;
~~~~~~
Robert Neville is the last 'Normal' human alive in the city of Los Angeles and possibly the last in the world.
Every night ... ...whilst Vampires roam the streets.
His neighbours and friends taunt him, "Come outside, we have something to show you".
His mind is constantly prayed upon with doubts and agonies of why only he survived, if he should carry on alone and if there is a cure.
Whilst out one day he encounters a wild dog but it soon becomes his companion if only for a short while. (This made the film)
I remember watching the original film 'The Omega Man', starring Charlton Heston. It was a bit poor and massively different from this book. The latest version starring will smith is slightly different from the book but closer to the mark.
The story; ~~~~~~ Robert Neville is the last 'Normal' human alive in the city of Los Angeles and possibly the last in the world. Every night he has to barricade himself inside his home getting drunk whilst Vampires roam the streets. His neighbours and friends taunt him, "Come outside, we have something to show you". His mind is constantly prayed upon with doubts and agonies of why only he survived, if he should carry on alone and if there is a cure. Whilst out one day he encounters a wild dog but it soon becomes his companion if only for a short while. (This made the film)
In the act of slaughtering as many vampires as possible he fears he himself is becoming a monster and instead turns his keen mind to finding a cure. He discovers there are 2 distinct stages to the virus or vampirism, The infected and the un-dead.
His struggles are as much in the mind as physically against the creatures of the night.
The ending of the book is superb, no more clues, you'll have to read it.
The Writing; ~~~~~~~ The book is cleverly split into 3 parts; The first part being January 1976 The second March 1976 The third June 1978 Each dealing with Nevilles struggles and discoveries through those time periods.
The Novel is written in a simple style with short sentences which serve to keep the story motoring along. Although only a short read, this actually keeps it fresh and you don't find yourself slogging through unnecessary drivel that can be used to 'pad out' some books. This means that everything written is essential and meaningful to the overall plot. At no stage do you feel bogged down with unnecessary detailed and descriptive sidetracks. The style of his writing is crisp and refreshing.
Maximus-Qualitus 14.06.2008 (14.06.2008)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of I Am Legend (Millennium SF Masterworks S) - Richard Matheson
Product Information for "I Am Legend (Millennium SF Masterworks S) - Richard Matheson" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Horror
Title
I Am Legend (Millennium SF Masterworks S)
Author
Richard Matheson
Manufacturer
0765357151
ISBN
0765357151
EAN
9780765357151
Manufacturer's product description
It seems strange to find a 1954 vampire novel in Millennium's "SF Masterworks" classic reprints series. I Am Legend, though, was a trailblazing and later much imitated story that reinvented the vampire myth as SF. Without losing the horror, it presents vampirism as a disease whose secrets can be unlocked by scientific tools. The hero Robert Neville, perhaps the last uninfected man on Earth, finds himself in a paranoid nightmare. By night, the bloodthirsty undead of small-town America besiege his barricaded house: their repeated cry "Come out, Neville!" is a famous SF catchphrase. By day, when they hide in shadow and become comatose, Neville gets out his wooden stakes for an orgy of slaughter. He also discovers pseudoscientific explanations, some rather strained, for vampires' fear of light, vulnerability to stakes though not bullets, loathing of garlic, and so on. What gives the story its uneasy power is the gradual perspective shift which shows that by fighting monsters Neville is himself becoming monstrous--not a vampire but something to terrify vampires and haunt their dreams as a dreadful legend from the bad old days.
Compare I Am Legend (Millennium SF Masterworks S) - Richard Matheson to other similar Horror Books »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
I SF S, I Masterworks S, I Am SF S, I Am Masterworks S, I Legend SF S, I Legend Masterworks S, I Millennium SF S, I Millennium Masterworks S, I SF Masterworks S, I Am Legend SF S, I Am Legend Masterworks S, I Am Millennium SF S, I Am Millennium Masterworks S, I Am SF Masterworks S, I Legend Millennium SF S
Are you the manufacturer / provider of I Am Legend (Millennium SF Masterworks S) - Richard Matheson? Click here
