Scan barcode
godofwar's review against another edition
2.0
Individual ratings:
I Am Legend: 1/5 (The 2007 movie remains the best version in my opinion)
Buried Talents: 2/5
The Near Departed: 5/5
Prey: 2/5
Witch War: 1/5
Dance of the Dead: 0/5
Dress of White Silk: 1/5
Mad House: 3/5
The Funeral: 3/5
From Shadowed Places: 1/5
Person to Person: 1/5
I Am Legend: 1/5 (The 2007 movie remains the best version in my opinion)
Buried Talents: 2/5
The Near Departed: 5/5
Prey: 2/5
Witch War: 1/5
Dance of the Dead: 0/5
Dress of White Silk: 1/5
Mad House: 3/5
The Funeral: 3/5
From Shadowed Places: 1/5
Person to Person: 1/5
hjswinford's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
remjunior's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more because it is really compelling and probably pretty accurate about what it feel like to be the last person on earth (presumably). That being said, I just can't get past this 1950s sexist BS that is present in almost every piece of older science fiction I've ever read. I get it, he's lonely...but saying that if he had run into this woman earlier, he might have violated her? Or the constant remarks to himself that she's just a woman and is essentially seducing him? Give me a break. I think there is a line between having a despicable character and being a sexist author...this felt more like that latter, although Robert Neville was kind of insane to be fair.
OK. Now that I've said that, I truly liked the premise and the isolation of the main character. The drinking, the trying to befriend a dog, the flashbacks to his family....it all worked really well. The ending is horrifying in a lot of ways, but I think the even scarier idea is that Matheson wrote this novel during the Cold War and it probably truly was a reflection of the fear that the people of the U.S. were feeling at that time. Germ warfare? Vampires that are out to kill you but turn out to be sentient and kind of the same as people? Etc. It's frightening stuff.
Overall, I liked it. It was a quick read. I hated the sexism and feel like it was pretty obvious that it wasn't just the character being sexist, but the author. Hey, I might be wrong. It just really rubs me the wrong way.
OK. Now that I've said that, I truly liked the premise and the isolation of the main character. The drinking, the trying to befriend a dog, the flashbacks to his family....it all worked really well. The ending is horrifying in a lot of ways, but I think the even scarier idea is that Matheson wrote this novel during the Cold War and it probably truly was a reflection of the fear that the people of the U.S. were feeling at that time. Germ warfare? Vampires that are out to kill you but turn out to be sentient and kind of the same as people? Etc. It's frightening stuff.
Overall, I liked it. It was a quick read. I hated the sexism and feel like it was pretty obvious that it wasn't just the character being sexist, but the author. Hey, I might be wrong. It just really rubs me the wrong way.
carbonneau's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fedak's review against another edition
4.0
Hard to separate the massive influence this one had on the “Zombie” genre and the actual book itself.
Of the multiple movies it inspired I had only seen the Will Smith vehicle. And unlike that movie- the main character here was an immensely unlikable alcoholic asshole.
But has somewhat of a character growth story arc and it was cool seeing the origin of many of the concepts that formed the basis of the books it influenced
Of the multiple movies it inspired I had only seen the Will Smith vehicle. And unlike that movie- the main character here was an immensely unlikable alcoholic asshole.
But has somewhat of a character growth story arc and it was cool seeing the origin of many of the concepts that formed the basis of the books it influenced
wakingaube's review against another edition
3.0
I am Legend was an extremely enjoyable story. I was a little disappointed when I reached page 16o to find out that that was the end of the book's title story though. The rest of the book was a collection of short stories. I read about three of them before giving up. They weren't bad but they weren't really holding my attention either. It would have been nice if the cover had let you know that this was I Am Legend and a collection of short stories.
hhamlet's review against another edition
2.0
Wow, a novella has never taken such concentration and force to get through. I prefer Robert Neville when he was Will Smith and had a lovable German Shepherd for a sidekick.
shamatake's review against another edition
3.0
If you've seen the movie and enjoyed it, you might not like the book.
el_bez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
borjabilbao's review against another edition
5.0
Mira que he leido novelas actuales que comparten idea, escenarios, etc. pero como lo lleva a cabo "Soy Leyenda" me ha parecido casi unico.