I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
The novel is a post-apocalyptic horror story that centers around a solitary man who may be the last human alive on earth after a pandemic has turned the rest of humanity into vampire-like creatures. He spends his days fortifying his home, hunting for food, and killing these creatures while they sleep. At night, he is tormented by their attempts to break into his home and kill him. His isolation drives him to the brink of insanity, and the novel explores themes of loneliness, survival, and the human capacity for hope in the face of utter despair.
The 601st greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 26th on Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories (NPR)
- 27th on 50 Books to Read Before You Die (Complex)
- 65th on Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books (NPR)
- 86th on Top 200 Science Fiction Books (Pre-2000) (Sci-Fi Lists)
- 1195th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Books You've Always Meant to Read (Waterstones)
- Horror: The 100 Best Books ("Horror: The 100 Best Books" Book by Stephen Jones (Editor) and Kim Newman (Editor))
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)