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I Am Legend

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I Am Legend

By: Richard Matheson
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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About this listen

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.

This title is part of our Vampire Collection, a selection of our favourite dark listens.©1954, 1982 by Richard Matheson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc. Fantasy Fiction Horror Science Fiction Scary Paranormal Classics Dystopian Survival Thought-Provoking Zombie

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)
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This was a very good listen, in turns, thoughtful, sad, gripping and poignant. Robert Neville's isolated struggle to survive against the odds certainly held my attention to the bitter end. Much much better than the film which messes around with the brilliantly thought provoking ending and the meeting of a certain character(I can't imagine why they changed it) which stakes the tale together so well (sorry about the pun, but too tempting)

You wouldn't be dissapointed with this if you like horror, vampires, and even a small dose of science. Well read too by Robertson Dean, a shame when it ended, but it does end so well.

A classic vamp tale or is it?

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Having previously watched the film, and having enjoyed it as decent enough fare I wasn't sure what to expect from the novel that inspired it. To my pleasure this is far from the Hollywood slickness of Will Smith & co.

This is one man coping with one of the dreadful apocalyptic scenarios that have become a genre of their own. This is down and dirty mindfunk and it's grim with very little sunshine to brighten the edges. One man battles to understand a plague that has wiped out mankind, struggles to understand his own place in a world so suddenly changed while clinging desperately to sanity and with it his humanity.

Robertson Dean's narration can be a little dry during descriptive text but the sudden changes of gear as Robert Neville lurches towards insanity conveyed the parlous state of his mind in brilliantly vivid tones. The transitions from logical, methodical thinking to emotional wreck involved brutal changes of gear that brought the text to life.

So this isn't what I'd call a light read, it isn't for anyone who watched the film and wants to relive that story. It is an intense and grim piece of writing that screams of humanity.

Superbly Grim!

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A timeless classic. Superbly written highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of horror.

Better than the movie adaptation.

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Anyone hoping for a story anything like the movie be prepared.....bares very little resemblance.
Decent vampire story. Lead characters are nothing like the film.
Worth a listen but NOT like the movie story.

Don’t be lured by the title

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I had to get this book to compare to the movie. Yes I watched the movie first and I knew that this book was way before the time of it becoming a major motion picture. I was surprised at how different this was to the actual movie, sure there are moments that relate heavily to the movie. But nothing was quite the same... I actually like the book more than the movie.

In terms of narration this book had been really well adapted and I was enthralled in Robertson Deans voice. I would recommend this as a great read/listen to anybody. Especially if you want to compare the movie and the book. In my mind, book wins!

Great listen, well narrated by Robertson Dean.

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