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Book Review of I Am Legend

I Am Legend
I Am Legend
Author: Richard Matheson
Genre: Horror
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 9 more book reviews


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!