Photo Credit: austinlibrary.com
Summary:
Robert Neville is a survivor of a plague with vampiric/zombie-like symptoms. He mourns his family, but determines to stay alive through maintaining a daily routine and researching the cause and effects of the disease. He studies, he protects his house from hordes, and he survives despite his own depression and his increasingly slimming odds. He meets a woman, Ruth, who seems trustworthy enough but doesn’t quell Neville’s suspicions. Is he right to be wary? What he finds out will lead him down a dark road and then, at the end of it all, he’ll realize just how much his circumstances have reversed themselves.
Comments:
This is a very good story— obviously a popular opinion, because there have been several film adaptations. I saw the 2007 movie, “I Am Legend,” and thought it was okay. The movie stars Will Smith, who resembles Robert Neville in the novel about as much as a fish resembles an elephant. The ending of the movie is completely different, too, and makes less sense. The book is much, much, much better. And the ending in the book is fantastic.
The Point:
Even if you’ve seen the movies, read the book. Chances are you’ll still be surprised.
Related articles
- 1950′s Books (horroraddicts.wordpress.com)
- I Am Legend – Science Fiction Journal – Question #2 (englishemporium.wordpress.com)
Tags: Books, Fiction, Horror, I Am Legend, Post Apocalyptic Fiction, Richard Matheson, Science Fiction
Have you seen the other two film adaptations? (The Omega Man with Charlton Heston and The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price). If so, I’m curious which of the film adaptations you thought was most like the novel — if that is at all possible considering the nature of “adaptations” to gauge
Great review!
I have not seen them, so actually, they could be very much like the novel and I wouldn’t know. But “I Am Legend” was different enough that I consider them (that version and the book) two separate stories.
If you’ve seen any of them, I still recommend the novel. It’s a short read, too. Then maybe you can let me know if they’re accurate.
I read I Am Legend a while ago — I don’t remember that much. I don’t think any of the three adaptations are that similar. For example, the vampires in the book run very quickly while the “vampires” in The Last Man on Earth move slowly (like what we’d think of as zombies).
That’s an intriguing aspect of the disease in the book. It seems part vampiric and part zombie-like but it fits neither definition traditionally. Ultimately, they are some dark, scary, nocturnal creatures that will kill you and possibly eat you. And that’s good enough for me!
I’ve read the book, but I’m a little afraid to watch the movie, for fear it will be utterly disappointing. Still, Will Smith is adorable, and he generally takes on projects that turn out to be wonderful. What’s your advice? See the movie or no?
Hey, please consider adding my educational blog to your list of book blogs, please. You can link to my blog by clicking on my username. Thanks. My blog is under construction for summer, but during the school year, it offers book reviews by teens, librarian lesson plans, and literary journal questions for teachers.
I prefer the older movie adaptations… I stay away from Will Smith vehicles.
They certainly are a different breed.
If you enjoy Will Smith, I recommend the movie. Just consider it a different story from the novel; a separate experience. Then you won’t be disappointed.
I will certainly add your blog to my blogroll!
Okay, wait. My gravatar link took you to my OLD blog. Crap. How do I fix that? So although it’s considered bad manners, I’ll just offer up my URL: http://englishemporium.wordpress.com
Sorry. I’d like to have you add me to your links though. Thanks for considering it.
You’ll have to designate your new blog as your primary blog. You can do that somewhere in the dashboard, but I can’t remember exactly where. You can also add your new blog’s address to your “verified links” at your gravatar page— that will also help direct people to it.