I Am Legend | |||||
Richard Matheson | |||||
Orion Millennium, 160 pages | |||||
A review by Lisa DuMond
Robert Neville has a rough life, working day and night. While the sun shines he slaves away, killing off the
competition... one vampire at a time.
His methods are simple and direct. Kill as many as humanly possible. Kill them -- kill them again, that is,
and make sure they don't come back this time. If you have to choose one person to save the world, Neville is a damn good choice.
He spends his nights keeping the remaining bloodsuckers from forcibly recruiting him for their army of
darkness. The lengths he goes to to excel at both jobs is truly impressive and ingenious. Also deadly -- but it's us
or them, after all. The systems he has developed to slay the vampires and to fend them off is not the kind of thing
you'd see in Home Alone. Did I mention there is plenty of violence and gore?
Unfortunately, every night sees more of "them" and less of "us." And this is where the book transcends a simple vampire
story and becomes a showpiece of the genre and eye-opening social commentary.
Matheson uses his horror story to make a point: What is normal? Sure, at first the vampires are a small but vocal
minority. A minority that threatens the existence of humanity. Killing them off should be no problem, though. But what about
when their numbers grow? At some point, the "us" is bound to become the "them." What happens when the balance of power shifts?
Every day is a losing battle to prevent a complete take-over. Every day brings Neville closer to being the ultimate minority of one.
It's a nightmarish vision of the future, told with such graphic detail that it seems all too possible. Matheson's command
of narrative delivers a riveting, exciting story every time. That power is never more evident than between the
covers of I Am Legend. If ever a book was made to read in one sitting, this complex horror novel is it. Before you
read yet another gothic vampire novel, read the story that's different. You may forget the details of the other books, but
this one will stay with you. And get that grey matter working.
In between reviews and interviews, Lisa DuMond writes science fiction and humour. DARKERS, her latest novel, will be published in early 2000 by Hard Shell Word Factory. She has also written for BOOKPAGE and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. Her articles and short stories are all over the map. You can check out Lisa and her work at her website hikeeba!. |
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