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| Reviewing Literature
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The Books of Richard Matheson
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Born in 1926, Richard Matheson's first novel was published in 1954. He has written screenplays (occasionally adaptions
of his novels and short stories) and episodes of The Twilight Zone.
Average Review Score: 5 out of 5
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I Am Legend
Set in a post-apocalyptic 1970s, this book is the story of Robert Neville. War has given rise to a mysterious disease
that turns it's victims into vampires and, as the only person immune to the disease, Neville soon becomes the last man on
Earth. He is reduced to an endless cycle in which he spends his days killing the sleeping monsters or fortifying his
house and spends his nights trying to block out the murderous voices of his former neighbours. This book is one of the
best I have ever read and, in terms of vampire stories, is second only to 'Dracula'. We become immersed in Neville's
character as Matheson's evocative prose conveys the loneliness, paranoia and frustration of living in a world where the only
human contact to be had is the endless taunts of those who want you dead. This book is also the only one to genuinely
make me cry. There is an incredibly moving plotline in which Neville befriends a stray dog. When the dog eventually
dies, it is truly heart rending as the last remnant of companionship is stripped away from Neville. However, Matheson
saves his greatest concept for last. Neville discovers that a less primal breed of vampires has established a new society,
a society which hates and fears him. As this new society prepares to execute him, Neville has a revelation; by killing
them whilst they sleep during the day, he has become a creature of nightmare, a monster like those he sought to destroy.
With his dying breaths Neville laughs at the irony as he observes 'I am legend'.
5 out of 5
'On those cloudy days, Robert Neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before
he could get back'
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If you liked Matheson:
You should read Bram Stoker's immortal 'Dracula'. In fact, you should read 'Dracula' even if you didn't like Matheson. You should read 'Dracula'
even if you're illiterate!
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