I Am Legend

By: Richard Matheson

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The basis for the film starring Academy Award nominee Will Smith, I Am Legend is a classic of horror and suspense.

In I Am Legend, a terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into bloodthirsty creatures of the night. Robert Neville is the last living man on earth. Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville’s blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?

Richard Matheson’s chilling tale is a white-knuckle ride into a world of darkness and terror.

©1954, 1982 by Richard Matheson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the ten all-time best novels of vampirism." ( Fangoria)
"The most clever and riveting vampire novel since Dracula." (Dean Koontz)
"I think the author who influenced me most as a writer was Richard Matheson. Books like I Am Legend were an inspiration to me." (Stephen King)

excellent writing.

Loved the story, though the ending felt a little rushed. Very skilled writer. Narrator was good, tnough his female voice wasn't the most convincing. Nothing like the movie.

wonderful, quick read

short, to the point with a tight ending that really links all the loose ends.

Loved It

This was an amazing experience for me. The writing and narration was excellent and the story very thought provoking. As realistic as a zombie/vampire apocalypse would be in real life.

Enjoyable

If you could sum up I Am Legend in three words, what would they be?

Thrilling Lonely Existence

What did you like best about this story?

The ending, its fantastic

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really, but after the ending i sat quiet for ten minutes thinking about how great it was

surprisingly different from the movie

i wouldnt say i like the book better or the mlvie better, both are good.
this is actua£y a great example of a movie can be inspired by a book without ruining the story, and being different enough to stand on.its own legs.

This is not the movie. Almost completely different

... and better. Or if you haven't seen the movie, enjoy this classic and GREAT novel. Written more than 60 years ago it was WAY ahead of today's seemingly unending vampire fad.

OK, I liked the movie but I loved this audiobook. Comparisons shouldn't really be made between a CGI heavy blockbuster movie from 2007 and a low key novel from 1954. Especially since the stories are WAY different. I would probably have liked the book even more if i hadn't seen the movie. It took an hour or so to shed the movie from my thoughts.

Robertson Dean did a great job narrating. Most of the book is a mix of straight story retelling and voicing Robert Neville's inner thoughts. Dean makes Neville come alive. Great job.

Better than the movie

Vampires in the book. They shouldn't have changed them to zombies for the movie, book made way more sense

I've liked the movie, but the book is just awesome

Even though Will Smith's movie adaptation was good, now that i've finished the book i can understand the criticism. Even with all it's depths of claustrophobic desperation, or perhaps because of it, this is the way to tell this story.

Underwhelming

Somewhat repetitive, which is frustrating given its modest length. Should have either trimmed it down more or added to it in order to make it more impactful.

Come out Neville...

I read Stephen kings book on writing and one of his biggest influences was this book. After finding out that Richard Matheson was responsible for my favorite twilight zone episodes, i headed straight away to my audible app and ohh boy this book just became my metaphorical catcher in the rye.

We meet Robert Neville in the depths of his worst nightmare with only his coping mechanisms to keep him company, a splash of whiskey and a few hundred cartons of Marlboros on reserve. He spends his days making improvements to his house/fortified compound and carving wooden stakes. Because for Robert Neville the only hope he has is to try to reduce the size of the unholy horde of blood suckers that rule the night.

Its read with a real passion also. You can hear the shift in tone around every corner of Mr. Neville's unpredictable life.

The fact that most of the book is only through the eyes of Mr. Neville and his fight for existence makes you feel like you are right there with him. You can almost smell the faint scent of garlic coming from the pages.

Are you all dressed up and nowhere to go? why don't you grab yourself a glass of whisky and take a seat, and let us experience the madness of
I Am Legend.