March 2017: Richard Matheson/Creatures

March 2017 Creatures - Featured Author Richard Matheson



I am Legend
Hell House
A Stir of Echos
What Dreams May Come
The Shrinking Man

Interesting novel about a post pandemic world in which a vampire like virus has taken over. Robert Neville is the only "human" left on Earth. He is lonely and weary, but he still fights for life and searches for a cause and cure for the disease. He also hunts the vampires. In the end he sees himself through their eyes.

>2 luvamystery65: I really loved that book. I don't think the movie versions ever did it justice.

I'm currently reading A Stir of Echoes--just started it last night.

I think A Stir if Echoes is also what I brought home from the library. I've got a couple other books ahead of it in the queue, though. I am sticking with the author this month, for a change, rather than the theme! (Unless I happen to come across something that fits the theme, anyway, but I don't think I have any of those planned.)

I thought I Am Legend was very good. It's the only one (so far), I've read by him.

A Stir of Echoes -- very quick read and interesting take on the ghost story.

I also read The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue for "creatures" aspect of this challenge. This was ultimately a disappointing read for me. Somehow didn't manage to be either scary or suspenseful.

I read Preacher: Volume 1: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon. It has vampires, or at least one, and demons. I liked it and will read more in our GN month.

A Stir of Echoes / Richard Matheson
4 stars

It started with a party at a neighbour’s place and one friend who said he’d like to hypnotize someone. Tom said he’d be hypnotized, but later that night, he couldn’t sleep… and there was a “woman” in his house. That is, possibly a ghost? From there, Tom seemed to be able to sense what others were feeling… then he seemed to be able to “see” things happen before they happened… And on and on…

I really liked this. Not only was all this going on with Tom, but Tom has a wife and young son. His wife, in particular, was very upset about the whole thing, so in addition to Tom trying to figure out what was going on with himself, the book also explored how this was affecting their relationship. And there was a surprise ending.

>9 LibraryCin: I thought it was good too. Not what I was expecting. I saw the movie years ago but I guess I don't remember it that well.

>10 sturlington: I've never seen the movie. I didn't know there was one until after I'd finished. :-)

>11 LibraryCin: I don't think it was a blockbuster. I might rewatch it now.

>12 sturlington: I'm certainly interested in seeing it!

I'd read I am Legend last year and liked it very much, but I opted for reading something off my shelves this month instead of looking for more Matheson. I finished Darkest Powers Bonus Pack, a collection of 3 novellas by Kelley Armstrong that go with her Darkest Powers trilogy. The horror element is pretty light, but there are werewolves and necromancers, so I figure this book can fit into the "creatures" theme.