I Am Legend

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Why is I Am Legend one of those books that film adaptations can never get right? Why does every version feel the need to change what is a fantastic story? I’ve seen countless versions of the story, different takes on it, and none can ever quite capture the bleak hopelessness of the book… or that ending.

I Am Legend follows the story of Robert Neville, the last living man on Earth. Everyone else is neither dead, a vampire, or something in-between. He spends his days questioning why he’s even bothering trying to survive, yet for some reason even unknown to him, he won’t simply give up. He’ll drink, be reckless, and have plenty of crash outs (as the kids say) but refuses to end it all, even when he’s at his most lonely or depressed.

It’s an interesting story because despite the world building and presentation of this dystopian future, it’s very much purely a character study. Robert goes on little adventures and does some research, but there is no real way out of this situation. No way to bring everyone back. No sunny days ahead He’s fucked, and is basically living day to day without any motivation outside of just the will to live.

Therefore, plot wise, while there are some twists and turns along the way, and the end is kind of shocking, not a lot happens. Yet, you’re always gripped to the page. Always eager to see what nothing happens next. Always awaiting his next fit of rage and whisky bender. Robert’s compelling because his situation is so dire, and it’s very difficult to judge any of his actions when everything is so completely and utterly fucked.

Is the way he treats himself ok? Well, what would you do? Is the way he thinks about the woman vampires a bit creepy and rapey… sure… but he doesn't do anything about it, and is clearly going mad. Is killing the vampires in their sleep the right thing to do? Given the circumstance and the fact that he takes no joy from it… probably.

There’s so many questions he asks of himself, let alone what we ask, and for me that’s what makes the book such an interesting read. He is in an impossible position and doesn’t know what to do about it, and we are right there with him.

I like Robert Neville overall. He’s broken, crazy, and has a temper but it all feels justified to me. From the memories we see of him before the world went to hell this wasn’t who he was. He seemed like a good father and husband. A kind neighbour. Someone who was heartbroken by the lost around him and tried his best to deal with it. Even within the events of the books he’s hopelessly looking for a cure that can’t happen.

It’s this character study that draws me so much to the book, and why I feel every adaption fails. They always want to make it a bigger story, rather than something personal. Want to lean on the worlds gone to hell aspect rather than the lone survivor living in it. I am Legend is a great book. A study of loneliness and depression is a broken world written to perfection. It’s fascinating, and questions so many aspects of humanity. That is what makes it a personal favourite, and one i’d always recommend.