Richard Matheson's fantastic I Am Legend (I am Legend - Richard Matheson)

Member Name: house3000

Product:	I am Legend - Richard Matheson
Date:	08/08/08 (40 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastically enthralling with twists and turns and a beautifully simplistic writing style.

Disadvantages: It is only 160 pages and may be short for some however the length complimented the story well.

This 1957 sci-fi classic is possibly one of the best books i have ever had the pleasure of reading. The book begins in 1976 and Robert Neville is the last living man on earth. Everybody else in his home city of Los Angeles have turned to vampires and come at night to hunt down Neville and is constantly hounded by his former colleague turned arch nemesis Ben Cortman. In the day Robert travels round the city hunting for vampires, especially Cortman, who are asleep so that he can kill them and put them on the fire that has been created to burn those effected by this disease.

The book follows Neville as he trudges through life hoping against hope that someday he will find somebody or somebody will find him. Robert Neville is constantly searching for answers to his torturous fate, reading all night. Matheson portrays Nevilles elations and numerous breakdowns as he struggles to come to terms with his hopeless fate. Neville forms friendships that are soon lost and the reader is brought in to feel great emotion for this man. In the end you feel a satisfaction and relief at how his life turns out and it is finished of nicely with a host of twists and turns that are sure to keep the reader guessing.

Mathesons writing style is fantastic. He brings the reader in to Nevilles mind and enables them to engage with his emotions and struggles. The book progresses well with events perfectly timed and the simplistic descriptive nature of Matheson is fantastic and the reader is constantly hooked.

This book is fantastic and the plot differs enough from the film that i read this after I had seen the film and it feels almost completely different. the situation feels more and more real and the charcters are exquisite.

Summary: A fantastic book by a fantastic author.