richard matheson Archives - The Writing Post

About Richard Matheson

Born in Allendale, New Jersey on Feb. 20, 1926, Matheson loved the film Dracula and the writings of history author Kenneth Roberts. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and went on to serve in the US Army during WWII before entering The Missouri School of Journalism.

Matheson started his career much like many other writers by writing short stories. His first story published, “Born of Man and Woman,” which told the tale of a monster child, appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Following this, Matheson’s career became a long one, and he wrote a lot material in many genres, including science fiction and horror. His list of written works features numerous books that include The Beardless Warriors, The Incredible Shrinking Man, A Stir of Echoes, and What Dreams May Come. He is also an accomplished short story writer, having written “Third from the Sun,” “Little Girl Lost,” “The Conqueror,” and “Steel.”

Likewise, he has written many films, such as Tales of Terror and The Legend of Hell House. Most notably, Matheson wrote 14 episodes of The Twilight Zone, also writing Rod Serling’s introduction and concluding statement of each episode. He also wrote the two Kolchak: The Night Stalker movies. Considering this, his work is worth investigating purely for his ability to jump from genre to genre.

After a long and robust writing career, Matheson died at the age of 87 on June 23, 2013.

Matheson’s Lasting Impression

Matheson left behind a large quantity of memorable works and many of which defined genres, from the vampiric creatures in I am Legend to the harrowing science experiment in The Incredible Shrinking Man. This balance between genres is a difficult one to maintain, but his ability to create compelling stories of average people dealing with above average conflicts is a crucial element of his staying power.

Not only that, he inspired many authors who were on the rise, which in itself is an extraordinary achievement.

As stated by the AP:

“Matheson influenced several generations of storytellers. Among them were Stephen King, who dedicated his 2006 novel Cell to Matheson, and Steven Spielberg, whose first feature-length film was the made-for-TV movie Duel, based on the Matheson short story of the same name.”

“The last man on Earth sits alone in his room when suddenly there is a knock at the door.” Perhaps one of the scariest short stories ever written, this one line can make your skin crawl. Yet, in I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, the protagonist faces this scenario every single night. An excellent novel of humanity versus assailing monsters, this novel covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

Summarizing the Apocalypse

The novel tells the tale of Robert Neville who appears to be the sole survivor of a pandemic. The sickness has ravaged the world and turned the dead into vampiric monsters that come out at night to terrorize the protagonist. Neville spends much of the novel grappling with loneliness and hardship as the only one left alive.

The mutants, he comes to find, are bothered by sunlight and have a thirst for blood. He calls them “Darkseekers” and shows little remorse in removing them from the city. To keep himself occupied, Neville stakes sleeping vampires and looks for a cure. He works time and time again to kill these creatures, and hopes to one day be reacquainted with humanity.

Neville lives alone and barricaded in his home. When he is out, he brings weapons and takes blood from the vampire-mutants. A ramification of his loneliness includes constantly dwelling on the death of his wife and child. As the days wear on, Neville notices the vampire-mutants organizing and more sedate. After being attacked by a female Darkseeker, Neville comes to the conclusion that she is there to distract him so that he is more easily captured.

After he is imprisoned, he is visited by the leader of the Darkseekers, who tell him that he, in fact, has become a legend in their new community. In the end, it is Neville who has become a legend, and his execution will seal the fate of all humanity. His death will make way for the new vampire-mutant civilization.

Vampiric Backgrounds

Matheson wrote I Am Legend and Gold Medal Books published it in 1954. He said the idea came to him when he was about 16 years old after seeing Dracula.

“… if one vampire was scary, a world filled with vampires would really be scary,” he said in an interview “I regard that as my only science fiction novel.”

Matheson said he actually came around to write the book in 1952 while living in Gardena, CA. This setting would drive the story and Neville’s isolation. The novel delves into the depths of humanity and explores plausible theories about vampiric creation.

Themes of Loneliness and Isolation

Neville’s psychological state is impacted in the novel by his loneliness severely. In many scenes, Neville questions his actions and the ethical nature of his vampiric destruction. In his home, barricaded, he experiences emotional distress. While he continues to fortify his home, kill vampires, and listen to records–for normalcy–he slowly crumbles through alcoholism and rage.

While constantly reflecting on being the last man on Earth, Neville finds only darkness and sadness. The monster in the city, was in fact sitting right in his living room. This existential understanding changes his perceptions of what it means to be human, and what his legacy will be in the new society of vampire-mutant hybrids.

Conclusion

Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend is an excellent, fast-paced book about the perils of being the last person alive on Earth. It deals with intense feelings of loneliness and sadness. Meanwhile, the action is fierce and violent. Matheson is able to juggle these to concepts expertly.