I am Legend by Richard Matheson
"I Am Legend" follows Robert Neville, the last known survivor of a pandemic that has turned humanity into vampire-like creatures. As he navigates a desolate world, he struggles with isolation, the loss of his family, and the constant threat of the infected. Neville spends his days fortifying his home and hunting the creatures, while at night he barricades himself against their attacks. He conducts experiments to find a cure, grappling with his sanity and the nature of humanity. Ultimately, he discovers that he has become a legend in the eyes of the new society of vampires, challenging the definition of what it means to be human.
By Richard Matheson · First published 1954 · Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy · 21 chapters · 58,943 words
First lines
ON THOSE CLOUDY DAYS, Robert Neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back.
If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival; but he still used the lifetime habit of judging nightfall by the sky, and on cloudy days that method didn't work. That was why he chose to stay near the house on those days.
What this Textopian page supports
I am Legend is listed on Textopian as a novel by Richard Matheson, dated 1954 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Richard Matheson
- Date: 1954 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Dystopian
- Length: 58,943 words
- Structure: 21 chapters, 1,921 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for I am Legend by Richard Matheson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering I am Legend?
- How does this novel by Richard Matheson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The novel explores themes of fear, isolation, and the monstrous, embodying classic horror elements.
- Science Fiction — It presents a post-apocalyptic world with speculative science regarding vampirism and disease.
- Fantasy — The existence of vampires and supernatural elements introduces fantastical themes.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense throughout the narrative create a thrilling atmosphere.
Tags
Post-apocalyptic fiction · Science fiction · Horror · Survival story · Isolation · Loneliness · Dystopia · Vampire novel · Zombie apocalypse · Last man on earth · Grief · Loss
Contents
- CHAPTER ONE
- CHAPTER TWO
- CHAPTER THREE
- CHAPTER FOUR
- CHAPTER FIVE
- CHAPTER SIX
- CHAPTER SEVEN
- CHAPTER EIGHT
- CHAPTER NINE
- CHAPTER TEN
- CHAPTER ELEVEN
- CHAPTER TWELVE
- CHAPTER THIRTEEN
- CHAPTER FOURTEEN
- CHAPTER FIFTEEN
- CHAPTER SIXTEEN
- CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
- CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
- CHAPTER NINETEEN
- CHAPTER TWENTY
- CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE