The book version of "I am Legend" was much better than the recent movie version. Also, be aware that the story "I am Legend" only takes up the first half of this book. After that is a collection of short stories.

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The short story I Am Legend was wonderful. The recent movie starring Will Smith has VERY LITTLE in common with this story, except for the basic premise, that there are a lot of vampires and one man left in the world, and the main characters name, Robert Neville. Aside from that, nothing. This is a story about the gradual mental breakdown that occurs in the mind of the last man on Earth and his fight against both the external threat of vampires and the more serious internal threat of insanity. This is not the touching Hollywood story that brought in hundreds of millions of dollars, but the sad story of the life and death of the last human on Earth. But if you want a novelization of the movie, you are going to be disappointed.

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The book is nothing at all like the movie that was supposedly based on it; it is a completely different story, and a very good one. You can't go in expecting to see any of the character portrayed by Will Smith in the protagonist at all--I was pleasantly surprised that i hadn't gone in knowing what to expect. It is VERY brief; the title story was 160 pages in my copy, but the short stories that follow carry the same dark-but-to-the-point feel. The main character is clearly tortured by his situation, but there is none of the "emo" drama that has become so popular in modern horror stories. Just a man that does what he must to survive another day. I enjoyed this book as a whole, and may have just found my new favorite author.

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This book contains serval of Richard Matheson's horror stories, and the best one in my opinion is "I am Legend". This story is reason enough to get this book; the vampire legend is turned on its head and the protagonist is someone to feel for and root for, all the way to the bitter end. WOW!

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This book is a collection of short stories. Most readers will be familiar with the 'I Am Legend' movie with Will Smith and 'The Omega Man' with Charleton Heston. The first story in the book is 'I Am Legend' which has the feel of both movies but the story is different. Another story was adapted to horror film 'Trilogy of Terror'. Most of the stories are about human survival and what it can cost the soul. If you want a quick read with out alot of detail, this is it. Richard Matheson's writing style is simple and to the point which may put some readers off or it could be the truth of circumstance.

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Essential reading for all fans of the horror genre.

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Even though I found that I liked the clean style of writing this author used, I found myself bored to tears by the side stories that were after the main one in this book. I felt that the author was simply trying to fill space and really should have inserted those chapters in-between the primary ones just to keep a reader interested. By the time I got to those parts, I felt myself doing some heavy duty skimming because of all the redundant content.

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Several short stories by science fiction writer Matheson, the title story being the one that the movies "The Omega Man" and the more recent "I am Legend" with Will Smith were LOOSELY based on. While the Will Smith movie was enjoyable, it couldn't touch the original story, about a virus that turns the majority of humanity into vampires, leaving one man alone to defend himself in an eerie, creepy, empty landscape, and of course to ponder the loneliness of being the last man on the face of the earth.

Another great story in this book, "Prey", will ring a bell with those of us who grew up in the 70's and remember the tv show "Trilogy of Terror"....the best episode being the one about the woman who buys her boyfriend a little native warrior doll with BIG SHARP TEETH and the name "He Who Kills". He Who Kills wears a thin gold chain around his waist, and the deal is, if the chain falls off, the spirit in the doll comes to life and ....well, good things DO NOT happen. The heroine goes off to take a bath, leaving the doll on the coffee table. The chain falls off and...yikes! May sound a little silly, but this is a terrifying story.

The above are the two best stories in the book, IMO, but there are several other good ones as well. Matheson was/is a great writer, and this book is highly recommended!

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A classic horror story. Richard Neville is possibly the last man alive in a world overrun by the undead, after a strange plague transforms people (and even dogs) into vampires. Taut storytelling.

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Way better than the Will Smith movie version.

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"I Am Legend" was an excellent short story. So excellent that it inspired two movies that I am aware of: "Omega Man" with Charlton Heston and the more recent movie with Will Smith. Unfortunately, this is a collection of eleven short stories and "I Am Legend" was the first and best one that I read. I stopped reading after the fourth story. I'm not saying that the other stories weren't good. They just didn't surprise me like this one.

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Good book but the movie was better in my opinion. The end of the book had several horror stories which were pretty creepy.

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After watching the Will Smith blockbuster THEN reading the book, I was very surprised at how very different they were; feeling theyre almost two seperate stories. I was also surprised that the book was actually a collection of short stories by Matheson; all of which were good. However, this review focus on the title of the book and story, I Am Legend.

This story follows Robert Neville, the last man on Earth, as he struggles to survive in a world taken over by a vampiric plague, which he appears to be immune to. Youre immediately thrown into the current existence of Neville. Its in his flashbacks that we learn of his past where you cant help but feel his pain and root him on as we follow his attempts at survival and destruction of the undead. By day, he scours the city for food and supplies but spends most of his time repairing his house and carving stakes. By night, as the vampires call out to him and try to break into his house, he struggles with lonliness and sexual frustration. Even with his drink of choice and classical music he blares every night to drown out the vampires isnt enough to keep the depression at bay. However, along the way, he begins to conduct his own investigation to understand and maybe even cure the plague. Neville is by no means a scientist but with the library as his aid, he is able to perform scientific experiments which sheds light on logical causes of the worldwide epidemic.

Although, different from the movie, I still enjoyed the book just as much. Going back to old school vampires straight from vampire myths: garlic, stakes, mirrors, sunlight etc sets this story apart from modern day vampire novels. I was immediately drawn in, so engrossed in the story; anxious to find out what happens next! Wrapping it up and tieing it with a bow, it has an ending you wont see coming. I definately recommend this book especially to those who enjoy science fiction, horror and classic vampires. Do you dare join him on this journey?

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The book is very different from the movie but very enjoyable. Definitely a quick fascinating read especially when you realize it was written in the 1950's. The short stories after it are twilight zone-y and good but not great.

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Ths was a decent read although I did not realize it ended after 159 pages. I felt dissapointed with the ending as it abruptly ended and then there were several short stories that proceeded. Oh well. It was also nothing like the movie.

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Enjoyed very much...just heard i's being made into a movie!

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