For the first time in Penguin Classics, the classic post-apocalyptic tale of survival by one of the most influential twentieth-century American writers of horror to celebrate his birth centennial
A Penguin Classics Hardcover
By day, Robert Neville drives through the deserted roads of Los Angeles, hunting dormant vampires and searching for answers to the plague that wiped out humanity and stranded him as the lone survivor. At night, when the vampires stalk the streets, Robert shelters in his home, using alcohol to drown his mind haunted by memories of the past. Vampires, plagues, the apocalypse: At one point in Robert’s life these were mere legends. But now they are his reality, the backdrop of a personal hell … and he may not be alone.
Cited as an influence by Stephen King, George A. Romero, and countless other writers and auteurs, Matheson’s 1954 tale of a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles inhabited by vampires forever changed the landscape of horror and speculative fiction. Matheson’s renowned ability to ground suspense and horror in the darkness of the streets and homes all too familiar to us is showcased in this classic tale of survival. The Penguin Classics Speculative Edition of I Am Legend will reintroduce readers to a touchstone of the genre and the legend of Richard Matheson.
Penguin Speculative Fiction Special is a hardcover series of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and more published by Penguin Classics. Featuring custom endpapers, specially commissioned cover art, and introductions by scholars and notable figures, these collectible editions celebrate classics that invite us to ask, “What if?” and that, through bold imagination, alternative visions, and magical realms, transform our perception of our world.
Ein wirklich tolles Buch. Ich mag den Film zwar auch gerne, aber jetzt, wo ich das Buch kenne und weiß wie die ganze Geschichte "wirklich" ist, hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass sie den Film mehr nach dem Buch gedreht hätten.
Lohnt sich wirklich es zu lesen.
Oct 8, 2024
4.0
Ein wirklich tolles Buch. Ich mag den Film zwar auch gerne, aber jetzt, wo ich das Buch kenne und weiß wie die ganze Geschichte "wirklich" ist, hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass sie den Film mehr nach dem Buch gedreht hätten.
Lohnt sich wirklich es zu lesen.
'The very peak of all paranoid SF'
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
'The most clever and riveting vampire novel since Dracula'
Dean Koontz
'An inspiration to me'
Stephen King
'A thoughtful, meditative exploration of solitude and despair... scary, thrilling, tragic, witty and—ultimately—uplifting'
James Lovegrove
'One of the most important writers of the twentieth century'
Ray Bradbury
'Matheson inspires, it's as simple as that'
Brian Lumley
----
Maybe it's not fair to review a book which at the point of me reading it is over 70 years old with its first release in 1954.
I can see that at the time being it was something new and maybe even revolutionary, but by todays standards it seems to be a bit bland.
The story takes a part in the very distant future of 1976 all the way to 1979 and follows Robert Neville the sole survivor in a post apocalyptic world conquered/destroyed by vampire like creatures.
Well and that's basically it.
We follow Robert through his daily routine just trying to survive and drinking too much alcohol.
Also he is thinking about r***ing hot vampire ladies waaaay too often which really pulled me out of the story several times.
Robert Neville is not a likeable but at best an understandable character (certainly not the thinking about r*** part) and I doubt that he should be.
So that all being said it's really hard for me to rate this book and I'm still not sure if I really liked or what kept me finishing it in the end.
I guess it's more of a book for lovers of the genre and people who want to go back to it's roots to see how it evolved.
Jan 21, 2025
3.0
Robert Neville is a very horny man.🧛♂️
'The very peak of all paranoid SF'
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
'The most clever and riveting vampire novel since Dracula'
Dean Koontz
'An inspiration to me'
Stephen King
'A thoughtful, meditative exploration of solitude and despair... scary, thrilling, tragic, witty and—ultimately—uplifting'
James Lovegrove
'One of the most important writers of the twentieth century'
Ray Bradbury
'Matheson inspires, it's as simple as that'
Brian Lumley
----
Maybe it's not fair to review a book which at the point of me reading it is over 70 years old with its first release in 1954.
I can see that at the time being it was something new and maybe even revolutionary, but by todays standards it seems to be a bit bland.
The story takes a part in the very distant future of 1976 all the way to 1979 and follows Robert Neville the sole survivor in a post apocalyptic world conquered/destroyed by vampire like creatures.
Well and that's basically it.
We follow Robert through his daily routine just trying to survive and drinking too much alcohol.
Also he is thinking about r***ing hot vampire ladies waaaay too often which really pulled me out of the story several times.
Robert Neville is not a likeable but at best an understandable character (certainly not the thinking about r*** part) and I doubt that he should be.
So that all being said it's really hard for me to rate this book and I'm still not sure if I really liked or what kept me finishing it in the end.
I guess it's more of a book for lovers of the genre and people who want to go back to it's roots to see how it evolved.
Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend delivers a bleak and deeply unsettling setting, yet at its core lies a very human longing: the desire for a safe, familiar home in the midst of a horrifying dystopia. This contrast between external terror and internal comfort creates a strangely compelling tension that carries the story forward.
What truly surprised me was the scientific approach. Despite the book’s age, the explanations and Neville’s methodical attempts to understand the infection feel refreshingly grounded and engaging. It adds a layer of realism that makes the horror even more believable—and, in turn, more disturbing.
The character development is especially striking because it unfolds almost entirely without real social interaction. As an introverted reader, I found this aspect fascinating. Neville’s journey shows how a person can continue to learn, adapt, and pursue solutions even in total isolation. At the same time, the novel doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of that solitude—his struggles with depression, desperation, and alcoholism feel raw and honest.
The final realization may be somewhat predictable—after all, the title itself hints at it—but the clarity and realism with which it is delivered are powerful. It pulled me in completely and stayed with me until the very last page.
This book truly earns its status: it is a legend.
Apr 2, 2026
A Hauntingly Monotonous Descent into Isolation
Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend delivers a bleak and deeply unsettling setting, yet at its core lies a very human longing: the desire for a safe, familiar home in the midst of a horrifying dystopia. This contrast between external terror and internal comfort creates a strangely compelling tension that carries the story forward.
What truly surprised me was the scientific approach. Despite the book’s age, the explanations and Neville’s methodical attempts to understand the infection feel refreshingly grounded and engaging. It adds a layer of realism that makes the horror even more believable—and, in turn, more disturbing.
The character development is especially striking because it unfolds almost entirely without real social interaction. As an introverted reader, I found this aspect fascinating. Neville’s journey shows how a person can continue to learn, adapt, and pursue solutions even in total isolation. At the same time, the novel doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of that solitude—his struggles with depression, desperation, and alcoholism feel raw and honest.
The final realization may be somewhat predictable—after all, the title itself hints at it—but the clarity and realism with which it is delivered are powerful. It pulled me in completely and stayed with me until the very last page.
This book truly earns its status: it is a legend.
