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I Am Legend and Other Stories cover art

I Am Legend and Other Stories

By: Richard Matheson
Narrated by: Robertson Dean, Yuri Rasovsky
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Summary

In Matheson's vampire classic I Am Legend, a plague has decimated the world and transformed the unfortunate survivors 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 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?

This recording also includes a sampling of other horror stories by Richard Matheson, some comic, all scary: "Buried Talents", "The Near Departed", "Prey", "Witch War", "Dance of the Dead", "Dress of White Silk", "Mad House", "The Funeral", "From Shadowed Places", and "Person to Person".

©1954 renewed 1982 by Richard Matheson. “Buried Talents” © 1987 by Richard Matheson. “The Near Departed” © 1987 by Richard Matheson. “Prey” © 1969 by Richard Matheson. “Witch War” © 1951, renewed 1979 by Richard Matheson. “Dance of the Dead” © 1954, renewed 1982 by Richard Matheson. “Dress of White Silk” © 1951, renewed 1979 by Richard Matheson. “Mad House” © 1952, renewed 1980 by Richard Matheson. “The Funeral” © 1955, renewed 1983 by Richard Matheson. “From Shadowed Places” © 1960, renewed 1988 by Richard Matheson. “Person to Person” © 1989 by Richard Matheson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about I Am Legend and Other Stories

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great

I'm really surprised to see so many complaints in the reviews, I feel it's a case of misguided expectations. it's different to the films, and stands alone as an incredible and realistic story. Yes the character is deeply flawed, but in light of circumstances it's understandable. And most importantly, he grows. Matheson does an amazing job at putting us into the story, as always. It's immersive.

I am Legend finishes with chapter 21.

Robertson Dean's performance is incredible - he's great at covering Matheson and I was excited to see his name. The complaints against his voice I can't fathom. Yuri was also great, and I almost didn't carry on because of the reviews but I'm glad I did. The short stories are a bonus and I don't think it's fair to mark down because of them. I enjoyed them, it's nice to see how Matheson develops his skills through his short works.

I love both the films and the book, but the book has my top vote. It really captures the emotion and turmoil.

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9 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Dystopian Crusoe

Movie really messed up this one. Dystopian Robinson Crusoe tale is much darker. short stories are really nice bonus, some excellent ones like the last. Especially for a psychiatrist like myself. Yuri does wonders, sometimes like a bukowskian poetry, sometimes funny or eerie.

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Ruined by narration

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

People who like bad narration.

Would you be willing to try another book from Richard Matheson? Why or why not?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another one of Robertson Dean and Yuri Rasovsky ’s performances?

No, the narration of the stories after I am Legend was so bad I stopped listening.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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I Am Legend with a side of ham...

'I Am Legend' is a great book. I own a physical copy and the narrator does an excellent job of telling the story.
The only real downside to this are the other stories as the narrator for those is the polar opposite. Too many big brash cartoony voices put on for each character.

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I am legend plus extras

I am legend is a horror classic and here, being superbly narrated, is not to be missed, especially since it’s free as part of the plus catalogue. Some of the criticism seems to be from people who were expecting the same story as the film, which is fair if you enjoyed the film I suppose, but the film (will smith version) was utterly terrible and missed most of what the made the original a unique story. So don’t be put off this if you didn’t like the film - it’s only short after all so give it a go.

The additional short stories are an enjoyable added bonus, particularly given the eerie narration.

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Much better than the movie

Now I know why it was called “ I am legend “ really good story based in the 60s great insight into alcoholism and insanity yeah really glad I read that one star review that said it’s nothing like the movie

Thank god this would be a great movie

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Best audio book so far

5 stars - because Yuri Rasovsy brings the story to life. I'm only on chapter 4 but am really looking forward to spending more time with this audio book. Good narration is the key to transporting you into the world of the book - Yuro Rasovsy does just that. I'll be looking for other audio books that he has narrated. I believe he passed on in 2012 - God rest his soul.

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I am Legend is a classic.

I Am Legend

A pandemic has killed most of the human population and turned the remainder into vampires, all except that is Robert Neville who seems to be the sole survivor. The vampires conform to the stereotypical vampires, they don’t like garlic, sunlight or stakes through the heart. Published in 1953 I am Legend is set in Los Angeles in the mid 1970’s just after the outbreak.

In 2012 it was voted vampire novel of the century by ‘the Horror Writers Association in conjunction with the Stoker family estate to mark the centenary of Dracula creator Bram Stoker's death’. It doing so it beat off competition from Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot and Ann Rice”s Interview With a Vampire. I personally would have voted for Salem’s Lot but I can see why it won. Although technically speaking it isn’t really a thoroughbred vampire novel, it’s really a blend of horror and Sci-Fi.

Richard Matheson writes with great economy. It isn’t a long story, its really a novella, but he manages to pack a lot into it, this also despite it being on the surface a very simplistic story.

Robert Neville is no great hero, he’s just an ordinary man trying to survive. Richard Matheson meticulously describes his world, the food he eats, the music he listens to, his daily routine. He uses flashbacks to provide details of the plague that has befallen mankind and to describe the circumstances that have not just put Neville in this predicament but also contributed to his state of mind and psyche. The world he lives in is claustrophobic and suffocating. I am Legend is therefore also a study of the human condition showing what happens when someone finds they are the last man on Earth with no other human to interact with. The effects it has on Neville’s already fragile state of mind results in heavy drinking, paranoia and depression. This is at times painful to read, the loneliness he feels is palpable (there is a scene when he sees a dog that is particularly heartbreaking).

I am Legend also raises questions about the ugly side of humanity, such as the need to eradicate differences and destroy and dehumanising those who don’t conform. “Normalcy was a majority concept, the standard of many and not the standard of just one man.”

I am Legend is a small but extraordinary novel. It’s like Dr Who’s Tardis or Felix the Cat’s bag in so much as it’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. It’s more relevant today than ever before especially during the pandemic, and on top of that it’s a gripping and entertaining story.

The Other Stories

Also included in this volume are 10 other short stories by Richard Matheson’s, Buried Treasure, The Near Departed, Prey, Witch War, Dance of the Dead, Dress of White Silk, Mad House, The Funeral, From Shadowed Places and Person to Person.

These stories are a mixed bag but most are worth a read. They are all written to the same high standard as I am Legend, Richard Matheson is an imaginative masterful wordsmith. The best of the bunch is Prey, a story of a woman terrorised by a Zuni fetish doll, it was included in the 1975 TV movie ‘Trilogy of Terror’ as Amelia. It’s not the only story here that has been filmed for cinema or TV, "Dance of the Dead" was adapted as an episode in Masters of Horror in 2005 and "The Funeral" was adapted as story segment for Rod Serling's Night Gallery in 1971. As well as Prey also worth a mention are Mad House, the story of a man struggling with mental illness and From Shadowed Places, another story with a folklore connection, this time a JuJu curse. There is also humour here, The Near Departed and The Funeral are both quite funny, I especially liked the dark humour of The Near Departed.

I am Legend is worth 5 stars on its own, it is a classic. The other stories probably reduce this collection to 4 stars, but I will still give it 5 stars as their inclusion is a bonus.

The Audible chapters and my individual ratings are as follows:

Chapters 1 - 21: I am Legend *****
Chapter 22: Buried Talents ****
Chapter 23: The Near Departed ****
Chapter 24: Prey *****
Chapter 25: Witch War **
Chapter 26: Dance of the Dead **
Chapter 27: Dress of White Silk *
Chapters 28 - 29: Mad House ****
Chapter 30: The Funeral ****
Chapter 31: From Shadowed Places ****
Chapter 32: Person to Person ***

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rubbish, nothing like the film

nothing like the film - really disappointing, don't even bother downloading , no wonder it's free

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    4 out of 5 stars

I am Legend is great. Short stories not so much

I have read I am Legend before. Knowing the story makes a second read (listen) much better.

Matheson's prose devotes a lot of time to describe the details around the action. Exactly what the character does. The layout of the scene. This makes for a vivid image of the story, something I enjoy.

The listener is given a close and intimate insight into loneliness and dread. Neville, our protagonist, is vividly described.

Robertson Dean's voice is great. A timeless American accent.

The short stories are not very good, original, or inventive. Yuri Rasovsky has been handed a hospital pass here! That said, they allow us to see how Matheson works on his craft.

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