Vintage Sci Fi: Book No.13
13 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Covers, Little Red Reviewer, Vintage Sci Fi
No.13: I am Legend by Richard Matheson
As part of Vintage Sci Fi month being hosted by Little Red Reviewer I’ve given myself a small challenge to post a vintage book each day – one that I’ve read – and to highlight some of the covers. Today’s choice is I am Legend by Richard Matheson. This is a great book, it’s not cheerful, in fact it’s downright bleak but reading about one man’s journey into loneliness and despair is bound to be a bit bleak. All the same I thought the ending was innovational. I did hum and ah about whether or not this is sci fi – but I think it is. I suppose it’s also horror and you could say it was the early inspiration behind zombies.
First edition from 1954 below:
- 1964 Bantam
- 2007 Doherty Tom Associates
- 1956 Corgi Books
- 1997 Orb
- IDW Graphic novel
The corgi one is a bit shocking!
Books and travelling with Lynn 
Yes, scary and sad at the same time: it’s the kind of book you cannot forget.
The 1997 cover is my favorite, the dark, sepia tones are just perfect for the story and its mood.
Definitely scary and sad. The 1997 is so creepy – it is a good cover.
Lynn 😀
Definitely like the 1997 cover the best! And yes, this is one hell of a bleak (but absolutely wonderful) novel!
I still can’t believe the ending was changed in the recent film. The ending of the book was so jaw dropping.
Lynn 😀
2007 and the 1997 look like they’re using the same idea, or the former might even be a tribute to the latter. Funny though, because the older one actually looks more modern!
Yeah, there’s quite a few of those particular covers – that just vary in certain small details. Now you mention it though the more modern does manage to have an older type look.
Lynn 😀
I haven’t read this although I did enjoy the film and would like to try the book too. The 2007 and 1997 covers have a similar idea. I think the 2007 is a bit too in your face though. I prefer the 1997 cover as its colours and outline are subtler.
It has a much bleaker outlook than the film and the ending is dramatically different. I hope you get a chance to pick it up.
Lynn 😀
I had to scroll quickly past #2’s cover…it creeped me out too much! I’ve never read I Am Legend but I did watch the film starring Will Smith. It’s one of those films that I really enjoyed but left me feeling too devastated to attempt re-watching it, haha.
Haha – well, I’ll just mention that if you found the film devastating then the film me be a tad too much! Seriously, it’s a very dour book with a bleak outlook and basically you’re observing one man go crazy with loneliness. The ending is incredibly powerful and I was personally disappointed that they changed the film but I can see why they would. And yeah, some of those covers are very creepy – which makes me love ’em.
Lynn 😀