I Am LegendRichard Matheson
I Am Legend has been described as a pioneering novel for both science-fiction and horror fans alike. In it, Matheson describes a post-apocalyptic world with detachment and objectivity.
Robert Neville, the star of the novel, doesn't have an easy life. Unlike those who struggle to make ends meet, pay the bills, and raise the kids, Neville is just trying to stay alive. He's the last human alive on earth, and the rest of the world is either dead or transformed into the living dead, after a plague has changed humanity into vampire-like creatures that obey some, but not all, of the rules of folk-lore. Now Neville must make good use of his daylight hours, stockpiling all he needs so that he can hole up at night and pray for morning.
I am Legend is not so much action-based as it is character-driven. Neville's psychological battle is the real star of this book. Those looking for a "scary" read will probably be disappointed. Instead of creepy spooks clamoring for blood (and, to be fair, there are some of those), the reader will find a lot of internal conflict as Neville struggles to continue living in a hopeless world.
Of course, the reader must wonder why Neville even bothers. With everyone dead, with no hope left for humanity, why carry on? It's a question that Neville asks himself often. Curiously, in a world devoid of hope, Neville does not succumb to despair. He continues to fight, day after day, night after night. I probably would have thrown in the towel long before.In a nutshell: A fast read that is appropriate for the time of year when vampires and ghouls roam the wild. There are scarier reads out there, although I Am Legend has been described as an extremely influential work.
Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars
2 comments:
Very soon after finishing this I read the somewhat beautiful Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. Another 50's era SF story about the last man, although in this case the story is about the conquest of nature as it overcomes the relics of humanity.
Really worth a read and a great counterpoint to this story, although I do think it fell off in the second half - where it begins to address human communities more than natural processes.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll add it to my ever-growing list.
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