Book Review: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Review of the 2nd SF Masterworks book (contains spoilers)

Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend is a cornerstone of modern horror and science fiction. It’s more than just a lone survivor vs the infected. This 1954 book challenges everything we think we know about isolation, fear and what it means to be human.

A Post-Apocalyptic Tale of Isolation

The story drops us into the life of Robert Neville, possibly the last human left in a world overrun by a vampire-like plague. By day, he fortifies his home, hunts for supplies, and tries to understand the disease. By night, he barricades himself inside as the infected swarm outside, clawing at his doors.

I Am Legend goes beyond battling monsters—it portrays the gradual breakdown of Neville's psyche. Flashbacks give us glimpses into the life he once had, the family taken from him. His sorrow, solitude, and frantic efforts to cling to his humanity make the terror hit close to home. The book doesn't pose the question, "What if you were Earth's sole survivor?" It compels you to experience that solitude, day after monotonous day.

The Science of Vampirism

One of the novel’s most intriguing elements is how Matheson strips the supernatural away from the vampire myth. These creatures aren’t mystical—they’re the result of a disease. Neville, though not a scientist, throws himself into understanding it, using microscopes and trial-and-error experiments to figure out how it works. Why does sunlight kill them? Why does garlic repel them? Matheson offers scientific (or at least pseudo-scientific) explanations, making the horror feel eerily plausible.

From today's viewpoint, Neville's approach to research raises eyebrows. In our post-COVID era, his lack of proper scientific methods can irk readers. He's not conducting controlled trials or working on a vaccine—he's just a man at his wit's end grasping for solutions. Yet, this aspect lends authenticity to the story.

Who’s the Real Monster?

As the story unfolds, Neville meets Ruth, a woman who appears to be another survivor. But there’s a twist—she’s actually part of a new society of infected who have learned to control their condition. They aren’t mindless monsters; they’ve adapted, evolved, and are trying to rebuild civilization.

In their eyes, he's a monster, a remnant of the past who won't come to terms with the current state of affairs. This clever unnerving change makes us doubt all we took for granted about the story's main character.

The Meaning of I Am Legend

The novel’s ending is what truly sets it apart. Neville is captured by the new society and sentenced to die—not as a tragic last survivor, but as a symbol of an era that’s over. In his final moments, he understands that he has become a legend—a terrifying myth whispered among the infected, just as vampires once were to humans. The last line, “I am legend,” hits like a punch to the gut.

This ending is what sets the novel apart from its adaptations. The 2007 film starring Will Smith, for instance, drastically alters the conclusion, turning Neville into a traditional hero. By doing so, it loses much of the novel’s philosophical weight, reducing the story to a more conventional action-horror narrative.

The Legacy of I Am Legend

Matheson’s novel didn’t just influence horror—it changed it. It planted the seeds for the zombie genre as we know it today and inspired generations of writers and filmmakers to explore the fine line between survival and monstrosity.

Even today, I Am Legend still feels fresh, still sparks debate, and still lingers in the mind long after you turn the last page.

So, have you read I Am Legend? How do you think it compares to its adaptations? Let’s talk in the comments!