This one really hurts, I love "I am Legend" and still consider it one of the finest books ever written and is responsible for most of the creation of the Modern Zombie. Romero has said many times if he had never read 'I Am Legend' he wouldn't have flesh eating zombies(Mathesons infected were more like vampires, but there was that new society at the end of the book that when you find out, its a major gut punch).
Matheson is responsible for many of the original Twilight Zone episode(terror at 20,000 feet),some of the best B films from the 50's and 60s, and even a few schlock Roger Corman films starting Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, and Basil Rathbone.
With out Matheson, there would be no Steven King, no George Romero, even Speilbergs first film 'Duel' was an adaptation of one of Mathesons short stories.
Hollywood never did a great job on adapting a lot of his work, but his work is still there to enjoy.
Dude was a legend, and someone I always admired.
Don't make writers like him anymore.
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