I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Where to find this book at Reed Memorial Library:
- Adult Fiction or Adult Paperbacks or Adult Audiobooks or Hoopla
- Call number: FIC Matheson or PB Matheson or V MATH
- View it on our catalog
Anson, our IT Coordinator, is sharing his recommendation of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson this week. Keep reading to get his thoughts on this classic.
Originally published in 1954, I Am Legend is a horror novel with William Campbell Gault’s blurb “This may be the most terrifying novel you will ever read” frequently appearing on earlier editions’ covers. Anson summarizes the novel’s contents, explaining, “A scientist named Robert Neville struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world of the undead where he is believed to be the last man on earth.”
If you’re in the mood for a classic, creepy read this autumn, I Am Legend may be a good option for you, as it contains some of the earlier depictions of zombies. Anson is recommending this because “The book did an excellent job of making me feel for Robert, struggling to survive each day alone and feeling his terrible loneliness and depression over the loss of his family. Feeling his rage over what the world has become, and the living dead that he feels are responsible. Every minor success for Robert feels like a massive achievement, and every minor setback feels like it could cost him his life.” He adds, “The book is also relatively short; I managed to finish it over a slow weekend.”
Regarding the novel’s movie adaptations, Anson comments, “The book has been adapted to film several times. Despite the recent publications featuring the Will Smith movie on the cover, I recommend the 1964 Vincent Price film The Last Man on Earth, which is available to stream for free on Roku, Pluto TV and Tubi.” You can also find The Last Man on Earth on DVD at the Streetsboro library or request it for pick-up at Reed Memorial Library.
Thanks for the recommendation, Anson!
Sincerely, Cornelius 