By Richard Matheson

Characters: Robert Neville(Protaganist), Ruth, Ben Courtman(Antigonist)

Setting: Los Angeles Exposition: Robert Neville is the sole survivor of a

mysterious infection that has either killed or mutated every living being but are there other survivors? Trying to cope with his life, Robert begins a daily routine. Every day he gathers food and hunts the vampires. Every night he defends his home against the vampire horde.

Rising Action: During the night, Robert is taunted by an old friend, Ben Courtman. After nights of being taunted, Robert decides to soundproof his home.

Some time later Robert has a flashback of his life before the infection where we discover that his wife and daughter were lost to the infection.

Robert starts seeing a dog off in the distance during a gathering session. He eventually leads the dog to his home where he soon adopts it as his own. The dog dies within weeks.

On a simple daily routine Robert finds Ruth, a female survivor. She runs from him when she sees him but they eventually return to his place.

After a few months a relationship begins but soon she leaves. Robert has decided that this is it, he has nothing left to live for. The vampires attack that night.

Character Development: Matheson is superb with the character development, especially showing Roberts slow fall into madness from loneliness.

Author: Richard Matheson. Born on the 20th of February, 1962 in Allendale, New Jersey. Currently 85.

Also known for his many short stories, Twilight Zone Adaptations, and screenplays.

Graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, soon after joined the military.

Afterwards graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Married and has 4 children (3 of which are writers in fiction)

Movie Adaptations: I am Legend has been made into 3 separate movies: The Last Man on Earth(1964), The Omega Man(1971), I am Legend(2007).

Most adaptations differed from the novel drastically, except for The Last Man on Earth.

Both I am Legend and The Omega Man had the same premise but different explanations for the plague, location, etc.

I am Legend: New York City, vampires portrayed more as zombies, Plague originally a cure for cancer.

The Omega Man: Los Angeles, Infected less like vampires, Plague caused by biological warfare.