The irony of the novel is that the vampires created by Neville’s experiments have created a civilization, and Neville has become the stuff of legend - a nocturnal monster who preys upon the vampires, kills them and performs experiments on them. In the book, scientist Robert Neville is the monster, the bad guy. I say this because the theme and the dark irony of the novel are betrayed in favor of a happy Hollywood ending. In the case of “I Am Legend,” being blissfully unaware of the source material (Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name) might have made the movie more enjoyable. But this short novel gave me one thoughtful afternoon.Time: 1 hour 40 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13 No book could ever make me afraid of ghosts and vampires. Alcoholism, depression, despair.Īnd then, after the plot twist, the strength to let it go, to recognise that the world moved on and the place needs to be made for the new, human-less order. Most likely he will never again meet any. Neville is the last man, a lonely being fighting only for his physical survival in a world that will never again be ruled by humans.
Still, with 160 pages it’s too short to really make you angry at any of its shortcomings. Language is a little stiff but stands the test of time better than many of book’s contemporaries. All the pseudo-scientific rationalisations of the plague do not sound very credible.
The details of his survival tactics… less description than in Robinson Crusoe, luckily. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn.Ī few years, if he’s careful enough. Every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire, and they are hungry for Neville’s blood.īy day he is the hunter, stalking the undead through the ruins of civilisation. Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth… but he is not alone. With a pinch of… hope, at the end? Maybe… One of the fathers of zombie apocalypse genre, even if the monsters are called vampires. And is way better than 2007 Will Smith movie. And then you realise it was written 60 years ago. You read this pretty standard post apocalyptic horror and you think… ok, cool, but what is all the noise about.
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