I am Legend
by Richard Matheson · first published 1954
38% recommend62% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A lean, grim survival story told from one man's point of view. Its tight focus sets it apart from the film adaptation. Suits fans of short, bleak sci-fi with a strong central character.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
See work: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL64225W
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
I Am Legend
Editorial Editorial Empire, Richard Matheson,Richard, Steve Steve Douglas
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 22 recommend · 2 mention2 recommend · 22 recommend
2018–2025The Man Who Fell to Earth
Walter S. Tevis
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 52 recommend · 5 mention2 recommend · 52 recommend
2014–2024The Postman
David Brin
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
2012–2025Dream Park
Larry Niven, Steven Barnes, Grover Gardner narrator
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 65 recommend · 6 mention5 recommend · 65 recommend
2008–2024Tiger! tiger!
Alfred Bester
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 109 recommend · 10 mention9 recommend · 109 recommend
2017–2026The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Claire North
Recommended by 13 · mentioned by 1313 recommend · 13 mention13 recommend · 1313 recommend
2013–2026The dog stars
Peter Heller
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 97 recommend · 9 mention7 recommend · 97 recommend
2011–2026Judas Unchained
Peter F. Hamilton
Recommended by 15 · mentioned by 1815 recommend · 18 mention15 recommend · 1815 recommend
I've been a big fan of the book 'I am Legend' by Robert Matheson. I'm hoping the studios give the director of the film the same freedoms Ridley Scott now enjoys. Yet as much as I like Will Smith somehow I think this casting decision is ominous.
on “Review: 'Blade Runner'” ↗…would use. I likely would have enjoyed it more had I not been expecting an Asimov story on film. I like Will Smith a lot, but somehow he's been in multiple films that ruined favorite books from my youth (I Am Legend is another book that I love and that had an abysmal film adaptation...I don't blame Smith, though, as he did a great job even in a very cheesy film). I, Robot was also pretty cheesy even without the weight…
on “Apple is making a show based on Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ books” ↗…so while the books below may not be considered masterpieces or even "true" sci-fi, they may be a good "gateway drug" for others like me: - The Postman by David Brin - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller - I am Legend by Richard Matheson
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗The Postman by David Brin The Dog Stars by Peter Heller I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Anything by Dalton Fury (RIP) One Second After by William Forstchen Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗That's a shame. For those that only know I Am Legend via the film, I definitely recommend reading the book. They don't have much in common apart from zombies and the title.
on “Richard Matheson dies, aged 87” ↗…Moby-Dick. Don Quixote, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, The Call of the Wild, Lord of the Flies, The Painted Bird, The Handmaid's Tale, 2001: A Space Odyssey, On the Beach, Naked Lunch, I Am Legend, The Grapes of Wrath, Last and First Men, Frankenstein, Try to avoid "Great Books" lists, though. Ask your closest friends who they read. Or if a literary reference comes up that sparks your curiosity,…
on “Ask HN: I don't read fiction, how much am I missing out on?” ↗Currently https://caml.inria.fr/pub/old_caml_site/FAQ/FAQ_DEBUTANT-eng... I just finished Sphere, and came away a bit disappointed. Before that I read I Am Legend, which was excellent! It has nothing to do with the movie at all.
on “Ask HN: What is HN reading?” ↗I read this via this SF Masterworks series and I've enjoyed most that I've picked up: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks Richard Mathesson books are good, I think I am Legend is the one I read first and then started looking out for others in this series. Swastika Night was probably the most mind-blowing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_Night
on “On “A Canticle for Leibowitz”” ↗But Dracula was defeated by being decapitated and stabbed in the heart. I do hope religion isn't claiming those as their own! FWIW, I like the concept in the book 'I Am Legend' where the vampires are repelled by religious symbols that are meaningful to them, rather than any religion in particular.
on “Dracula's Biggest Mistake” ↗In the I Am Legend novella (a big contributor to modern zombie), the infected are more like vampires and retain their intelligence. The book is notable for the primary theme it introduces, the otherness of the zombies (in…
on “Deadly animal prion disease appears in Europe” ↗It's strange, you rarely hear it mentioned in the same breath as other post-apocalyptic literature like A Boy and His Dog or I Am Legend. I was only made aware of it while reading an article about the making of Fallout. So, thanks for the indirect recommendation!
on “On “A Canticle for Leibowitz”” ↗> They don't have much in common apart from zombies and the title. According to the BBC, the book doesn't even have zombies: "Richard Matheson, who wrote the 1954 vampire novel I Am Legend" I haven't read the book, so I might be making an unfair judgment here, but I was fairly sure it was about zombies as well.
on “Richard Matheson dies, aged 87” ↗…and scary in a way that sticks with you are just fundamentally different from the jump scares of the film. The Vincent Price adaptation (The Last Man On Earth) remains the most faithful film version of I Am Legend, in spirit if not in specific detail. I don't really mind when a movie script changes some plot points or some character details to make it work on screen, I just dislike it when the spirit of the thing…
on “Apple is making a show based on Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ books” ↗Richard Matheson was the Donald Knuth of horror and SF TV tropes. A giant has fallen. As for _I am Legend_, _The Last Man on Earth_ was debatably the closest adaptation.
on “Richard Matheson dies, aged 87” ↗I believe that was a novel by Richard Matheson, author of Twilight Zone episodes, I am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man etc. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Matheson
on “Hell Breaks Loose” ↗