tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55783924075817190742024-03-13T02:59:15.833-07:00The I Am Legend ArchiveJohn Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756902860221179061noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-91849004101036142762020-11-07T07:08:00.006-08:002020-11-07T07:10:21.170-08:00New Italian graphic novel adaptation of I AM LEGEND available for pre-order<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS7lrV5InTtJy9Z-DxbQat7yLZpkjCKKxQ87MmJsS3In6G2GpzYJJ8EOuxwl6-Rjk-3rRAVc23y6RBn8FrAGUb4AizkrxeDQOCi2NaBpG34ec_W-1v4ur5Xzz3jSAK39AGnO9aY1jHjsG/s1600/124248436_3711268585596349_434743310179986808_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS7lrV5InTtJy9Z-DxbQat7yLZpkjCKKxQ87MmJsS3In6G2GpzYJJ8EOuxwl6-Rjk-3rRAVc23y6RBn8FrAGUb4AizkrxeDQOCi2NaBpG34ec_W-1v4ur5Xzz3jSAK39AGnO9aY1jHjsG/w400-h300/124248436_3711268585596349_434743310179986808_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"></span></span>Coming next May from our friends at Independent Legions in Italy (home of many Italian translations of great horror novels and stories), a 399-copy numbered limited edition graphic novel of Richard Matheson's <b>I Am Legend</b> (<b>Io Sono Leggenda</b>).<br /><p></p><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Adapted by Alessandro Manzetti and illustrated by Stefano Cardoselli, with introduction by Richard Christian Matheson. You can pre-order the book <a href="https://www.independentlegions.com/store/p399/iosonoleggenda.html">here</a> at a discounted price until November 30, 2020. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><br /></span></div><p></p>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11800985021534562914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-46458371036007041322020-04-18T12:57:00.004-07:002021-12-22T19:16:57.168-08:00Soy Leyenda (1967) Available Online for a Limited Time!Sorry to say that if you're just seeing this post now, you've missed it. For a brief window, the 1967 Spanish student film adaptation of <b>I Am Legend </b>was posted online on VIMEO.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18GDljQ9K2w70UJMHf21eNNS5_wFqWadS51nnzP1h8tg7g8VpEudWF_RJygKI6VZXP5SZLYQz7lCkamhvC-Ecj1xxIoYtYLQ6EFEG-70SHNi20NYAtusf8y4AsVgUbxdUy2cUpBzRWxR5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-04-18+at+12.50.21+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1226" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18GDljQ9K2w70UJMHf21eNNS5_wFqWadS51nnzP1h8tg7g8VpEudWF_RJygKI6VZXP5SZLYQz7lCkamhvC-Ecj1xxIoYtYLQ6EFEG-70SHNi20NYAtusf8y4AsVgUbxdUy2cUpBzRWxR5/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-04-18+at+12.50.21+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks to #DoréEnCasa, an initiative of the Spanish Film Library that allows access for a limited time to recently recovered and restored materials, for making this rarity available, if only for a limited time.<br />
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I've written a comprehensive article on the short film for <a href="https://www.cimarronstreetbooks.com/2020/05/now-shipping-barebones-2.html"><i>bare</i>•bones #2</a>, which is now available.<br />
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I never expected to have the opportunity to see this without traveling to Spain. Very special thanks to David J. Schow for alerting me as to its availability! <br />
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John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-88803450090849074412020-03-10T07:53:00.001-07:002020-03-10T07:53:52.248-07:00Suntup Editions I Am Legend updates and Meltzoff art print<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRxm5W1Lj6-DEmCcjwOMCz6krStxd8pa_Go-DmGYvKxnX9qyjUfPSG4aklL57uGhHQqF_boAOHqIIWtek8s3N0DNM4HTVjXZPjvkRdiP2PFjKiBDegzZX-wJbzna3V130FfJm-_oNkCkv/s1600/ial.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1020" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRxm5W1Lj6-DEmCcjwOMCz6krStxd8pa_Go-DmGYvKxnX9qyjUfPSG4aklL57uGhHQqF_boAOHqIIWtek8s3N0DNM4HTVjXZPjvkRdiP2PFjKiBDegzZX-wJbzna3V130FfJm-_oNkCkv/s320/ial.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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As the release of Suntup Editions' deluxe <b>I Am Legend</b> draws closer, they have revealed a few updates, including revisions to the binding of the letterpress <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-by-richard-matheson-numbered-edition">numbered limited edition</a> (of which it appears only a handful of copies remain). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYY8HrK7g1F2Ge8k_l7oOAVPv7nPkT6E4hKfSi3_oZZXQZrY-nSiUoaokOuOYGNu5MFo4WD7ZCN9sfA9_5NzX9MBYHa8yOaYECL4yPricX8dgpMpR-iad5jHZgKpsqI3_aIt93kkk49OP/s1600/num.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYY8HrK7g1F2Ge8k_l7oOAVPv7nPkT6E4hKfSi3_oZZXQZrY-nSiUoaokOuOYGNu5MFo4WD7ZCN9sfA9_5NzX9MBYHa8yOaYECL4yPricX8dgpMpR-iad5jHZgKpsqI3_aIt93kkk49OP/s320/num.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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They also announced that the dust jacket for their <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-by-richard-matheson-artist-gift-edition">Artist Gift Edition</a> will feature Stanley Metzoff's original painting from the 1954 Gold Medal 1st edition of the book. Less than 10% of this edition remain available for sale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2O34Y3s4Vzv6pg83fRttJ7357U6Ss53jQkxvP9gObCDw_xplPwmWXIw8dtq2YoWU7d1qdn2nnkP0Wqt5Xd1FgjaA2YLOIkAklPL-FUktwv_GrtEj1ELvZTbi9acyajGkx84zJ093uf4v/s1600/1494ea64-5ebe-4dd0-a4ac-8327d952de1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2O34Y3s4Vzv6pg83fRttJ7357U6Ss53jQkxvP9gObCDw_xplPwmWXIw8dtq2YoWU7d1qdn2nnkP0Wqt5Xd1FgjaA2YLOIkAklPL-FUktwv_GrtEj1ELvZTbi9acyajGkx84zJ093uf4v/s320/1494ea64-5ebe-4dd0-a4ac-8327d952de1e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Suntup also announced that they will be offering a licensed <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-limited-art-print">fine art giclée print</a> of Meltzoff's painting, limited to no more than 100 copies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZELxufriptio7MwPjPVL8PKQ8EyB5yatXNJb2s_cs5L1A12HjZehncCjd9TBdGoPym5xuo6lVeG9Fhs0CivMmXLxSUhesa3Si9TxN_t4DzfIrm2LWUlWpftGCeTc8iWsYswiudHy6kqSW/s1600/meltzoff_print_wall_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1020" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZELxufriptio7MwPjPVL8PKQ8EyB5yatXNJb2s_cs5L1A12HjZehncCjd9TBdGoPym5xuo6lVeG9Fhs0CivMmXLxSUhesa3Si9TxN_t4DzfIrm2LWUlWpftGCeTc8iWsYswiudHy6kqSW/s320/meltzoff_print_wall_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-78046554325722910612019-09-29T09:34:00.004-07:002019-09-29T09:35:43.914-07:00I AM LEGEND coming from Suntup Editions<a href="https://suntup.press/i-am-legend">Suntup Editions</a>, a high-end specialty press known for their finely crafted limited editions, have announced three versions of Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND that they will be publishing in 2020.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetgZIl7BN00ORGL_7NGEd5X9I3CN51Ogb_JU885i7uOykPPZeG6YA937ziFVRYXJZV54tpdM_sMq04TyHqf63nFGez89OT0RYY3M_1ido8hnj-QJltM-YPuaa2pj398oVe1_k9KLD5I44/s1600/LegendTrioWide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetgZIl7BN00ORGL_7NGEd5X9I3CN51Ogb_JU885i7uOykPPZeG6YA937ziFVRYXJZV54tpdM_sMq04TyHqf63nFGez89OT0RYY3M_1ido8hnj-QJltM-YPuaa2pj398oVe1_k9KLD5I44/s400/LegendTrioWide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A deluxe leather bound <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-by-richard-matheson-lettered-edition">lettered edition</a> of 26 copies retailing for $3500 (and already sold out - I believe to existing subscribers) features a handcrafted wooden stake on the cover, laser engraved with title. The book is printed letterpress and signed by artist Allen Williams who provides six black and white illustrations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LPk5VFstfaAHZXEHztPERFJwWH5wDMAfobbIa-cBnPfqhKpwjUPmrGuLxA8Llvj1AC-oA1Nh_NAQ0fiSAhicxAsS0jXxLRdJItDHTEd7rFjDg5hLbNN4vQcCbKPzb1IopBtEA6vNy124/s1600/LegendLetteredClamshellOpen_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1024" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LPk5VFstfaAHZXEHztPERFJwWH5wDMAfobbIa-cBnPfqhKpwjUPmrGuLxA8Llvj1AC-oA1Nh_NAQ0fiSAhicxAsS0jXxLRdJItDHTEd7rFjDg5hLbNN4vQcCbKPzb1IopBtEA6vNy124/s320/LegendLetteredClamshellOpen_1024x1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-by-richard-matheson-numbered-edition">numbered edition</a> of 250 copies retailing for
$695 is also printed letterpress and signed by artist Allen Williams.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNuzj7mI94_ED8Y4uq0_eGgGhiOa2tyetjru_k-TjGJk2u7N78N0OX4Q0TE0h2B2qBrZ_X1qaji1G9JOr9crENkfLqNVkgdX4ysZ0VSVk4nEngf6mVPqbAlLF2AFjEXLs2l69o7iDOqRL/s1600/LegendLimitedWithCasev2_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1024" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNuzj7mI94_ED8Y4uq0_eGgGhiOa2tyetjru_k-TjGJk2u7N78N0OX4Q0TE0h2B2qBrZ_X1qaji1G9JOr9crENkfLqNVkgdX4ysZ0VSVk4nEngf6mVPqbAlLF2AFjEXLs2l69o7iDOqRL/s320/LegendLimitedWithCasev2_1024x1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An offset-printed <a href="https://shop.suntup.press/products/i-am-legend-by-richard-matheson-artist-gift-edition">artist gift edition</a> in dust jacket (limited to 1000 copies) retailing for $75 is also signed by artist Allen Williams.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3Ef9mqXrXYD0cdigUtilaDZp3UB7UAiImoG2MGBpK8hHSw4XtFVnos6CqCXh1BdVqzgFjbFFRhn-Nz3WjjmDJuSJcBa5uefJk_gis82siBoxZ9c06Yee3pB1VzewwalbyId2Yp02oHi2/s1600/LegendAGECase_e5e48094-95fe-4139-82bf-37bab5398f2a_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1024" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3Ef9mqXrXYD0cdigUtilaDZp3UB7UAiImoG2MGBpK8hHSw4XtFVnos6CqCXh1BdVqzgFjbFFRhn-Nz3WjjmDJuSJcBa5uefJk_gis82siBoxZ9c06Yee3pB1VzewwalbyId2Yp02oHi2/s320/LegendAGECase_e5e48094-95fe-4139-82bf-37bab5398f2a_1024x1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ordering information is at the links provided. We look forward to adding two of these three editions to the archive next year.<br />
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<br />John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-63520093322704681762019-01-23T14:58:00.003-08:002019-02-20T22:38:09.093-08:00I Am Legend Hardcover edition coming from TOR Books this Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ebxb37UZGPObabFdVGYjyLZCagQ0f7FeiHv-rvw_EhQj_EFHUv2OyL_QGStLClecFBUPLwqw1PlFWfmH8eS3MisTMBbf5k9-mK5MjhAb3gf5LUsStwVivZeY77o7AdqZfKo0-J_gl8Cz/s1600/71IIfk1qnJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ebxb37UZGPObabFdVGYjyLZCagQ0f7FeiHv-rvw_EhQj_EFHUv2OyL_QGStLClecFBUPLwqw1PlFWfmH8eS3MisTMBbf5k9-mK5MjhAb3gf5LUsStwVivZeY77o7AdqZfKo0-J_gl8Cz/s320/71IIfk1qnJL.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
I recently stumbled onto this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250242754?tag=slcinema-20">Amazon listing</a> for a hardcover edition of Richard Matheson's <b>I Am Legend</b> coming from TOR Books on October 22, 2019.<br />
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This is the first time since TOR published their first paperback edition of the book in 1995 (along with several short stories) that they have offered a hardcover edition of the book.<br />
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The cover art is once again a digitally manipulated version of <a href="https://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2011/02/illustrating-i-am-legend-jim-thiesen.html">Jim Thiesen</a>'s painting from the first TOR paperback.<br />
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I've put out some feelers to see if I can get some additional details, but here's what we know right now:<br />
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<li>Binding is listed as a hardcover.</li>
<li>Amazon lists the trim size as 4.2 x 6.7 inches, about the size of a mass market paperback</li>
<li>The book is currently offered at $14.99, $3 cheaper than the current trade paperback edition.</li>
<li>The page count is listed as 448 pages, which is 131 pages longer than the current trade paperback edition, and 128 pages longer than the current mass market paperback.</li>
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As soon as I have more details, I'll pass them on!John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-35746950358245560382019-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-01T06:00:00.299-08:00Night of the Living Dead: Born of I Am Legend
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">By John Scoleri</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">As early as 1974,
in his preface to John Russo’s novelization, George A. Romero acknowledged
Richard Matheson’s novel <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b>
as an inspiration for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Living
Dead</i>. While this fact has since been referenced countless times in articles
and interviews, the story of how Romero became acquainted with the novel has
largely remained untold. The person responsible for introducing Romero to Matheson’s
novel was his friend and colleague, Richard Ricci. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">But before we get
to that, a little history on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b>
and its author is in order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Richard Matheson
was just 24 years old when his first short story, “Born of Man and Woman,” was
published in the third issue of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magazine
of Fantasy & Science Fiction</i> in the summer of 1950. While the story
garnered much attention and acclaim, it would be Matheson’s third novel, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b>, which would have the
greatest impact on generations to come (in a storied career that included such
classic novels, stories, teleplays and screenplays as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Shrinking Man</b>, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hell House</b>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Duel</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Night Stalker</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Somewhere in Time</i>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The idea for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b> came to Matheson around age
16 when he first saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dracula</i> with
Bela Lugosi. He thought, “if one vampire was scary, a world filled with vampires would be very scary.” </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>[1]</span></span></span><span></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5578392407581719074#_edn1" name="_ednref" style="mso-endnote-id: edn;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The short novel was
written in 1952, while Matheson and his wife were living in Gardena,
California. Their house on Cimarron Street became the home of his protagonist,
Robert Neville. The book tells the tale of the last living human in a world
overtaken by vampires. Neville endures nightly assaults from the undead in his
boarded up home. By day, he makes his way through the surrounding neighborhoods,
searching for and exterminating the vampires while they sleep. He also spends many
of his waking hours struggling to identify and understand the scientific cause
of the phenomenon. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV5S-soPKZI-KYIhQAkXRFQjq5jn8Brbo1c19FVdKLggIFkZMrroHwjrxIoPmq0mCiwa5VOjxS71pYhjRz9Ym3zvEZqLpQrjwvrZoTzqiJjICFyRCKylfLF4t3NIGQR9sXg4N8d_nWmg5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-05+at+3.42.25+PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV5S-soPKZI-KYIhQAkXRFQjq5jn8Brbo1c19FVdKLggIFkZMrroHwjrxIoPmq0mCiwa5VOjxS71pYhjRz9Ym3zvEZqLpQrjwvrZoTzqiJjICFyRCKylfLF4t3NIGQR9sXg4N8d_nWmg5/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-05+at+3.42.25+PM.png" width="190" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Published in 1954
by Gold Medal as a paperback original, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I
Am Legend</b> was the first science-fiction novel from the publisher
predominantly known for hard-boiled fiction. Award-winning mystery writer
William Campbell Gault’s quote on the cover promised, “This may be the most
terrifying novel you will ever read.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">An early review in
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magazine of Fantasy & Science
Fiction</i> heralded the novel as:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">… an extraordinary book which … investigate(s) an ancient legend in
terms of modern knowledge of psychology and physiology, and turn the stuff of
supernatural terror into strict (and still terrifying!) science fiction.
Matheson has added a new variant on the Last Man theme, too, in this tale of
the last normal human survivor in a world of bloodsucking nightmares, and has
given striking vigor to his invention by a forceful style of storytelling which
derives from the best hard-boiled crime novels. As a hard-hitting thriller or
as fresh imaginative speculation, this is a book you can't miss.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I Am Legend</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> has inspired some of the horror genre’s greatest talents, from
Stephen King and Dean Koontz to Brian Lumley and Dan Simmons. It has remained
in print around the world for almost 65 years, and in 2012, the Horror Writers
Association voted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b> the
Vampire Novel of the Century. So who would have thought a young college student
would play one of the most pivotal roles in the book’s history? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">While Richard
Ricci can’t recall precisely when he first read the book, he does remember the
time of his life when he first experienced Matheson’s tale.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“I would have been in college, maybe 1959
or 60. My life was dark and desperate. It was hugely satisfying to escape into
another’s struggle, even darker than my own. Duane Jones </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(a college friend of Ricci’s who would
later go on to play the lead role of Ben in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night
of the Living Dead</i>) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was not around
any more keeping me steady, and I had not yet met George, so I wasn’t thinking
cinema then. I was thinking survival. </i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I Am Legend</span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> is a lot
about a man surviving a hell on earth. I could dig it.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ricci, who would
go on to be one of the original Image Ten investors, was the cousin of George
Romero’s college friend Rudy Ricci. When George and Richard met, the two men
connected immediately. They worked together on the never completed (and sadly
now lost) film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Expostulations</i>. Their
shared dreams of making films were interrupted when Ricci left Pittsburgh to
serve in the U.S. Navy in 1962. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Before reporting
for duty, Ricci did two things that would have a profound impact on George
Romero’s future. The first was paying six months rent on the Latent Image’s
facilities to ensure George and his colleagues would have a chance at success.
The second was giving Romero two books to read and consider as a potential
sources for films they might make together upon Ricci’s return. One title is
lost to the ages. The other: Richard Matheson’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b>.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“I thought George would respond to a
story of a man alone struggling against a non-functional and hostile society. That’s
certainly the way life felt to us there in the mid-sixties. Endless war. Fire
in the streets. Cops beating students. Gunfire bringing down our leaders.
Things out of control.” </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Those familiar
with both the novel and film can appreciate the tonal similarities, as well as
the uniqueness of each story. On the surface, the premise is similar. A
societal upheaval has occurred, with the reanimated dead in search of flesh and
blood. Romero’s ghouls were not the germ-infected or undead vampires of
Matheson’s novel. And while it is generally true that zombies of the voodoo
variety were the only ones commonly referenced at this point in time, it’s
worth pointing out that the television spots and trailers for the first
official adaptation of Matheson’s novel (1964’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last Man on Earth</i>) would refer to the creatures as zombies as
well as vampires, four years before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night
of the Living Dead </i>would arrive on the scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ricci saw
opportunities in the book that George was able to incorporate into his story.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“It lent itself to the low budget,
quick production, small location, contemporary film we could afford to make.
Its visuals were easy to see and make real. Ghouls from the grave are
easier than monsters from outer space. Ghouls were people! </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Night is really about one man‘s
struggle—Duane Jones, Ben, is the story of that movie. George added characters
… but it still feels like one man’s story and it manages to collapse the whole
story of the book into one night. Both lead characters die at the end,
both killed by the forces of a dominant and barbaric, ruthless society.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The similarities between
the book and film were not lost on Matheson: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I ran across his film on TV one night and thought, When did they makemy novel into a film again?” </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>[</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>2</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>]</span></span></span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span></span></span></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5578392407581719074#_edn2" name="_ednref" style="mso-endnote-id: edn;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">In later years,
Romero would often go so far as to say he ‘ripped-off’ Matheson’s novel. But anyone
familiar with the film and the book realize that’s an oversimplification. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Matheson’s novel
focuses on themes of loneliness, isolation, and ultimately self-realization,
whereas <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Living Dead</i>
deals with the breakdown of society, and how a small group fails to come
together in a time of crisis. While the television reports provide cursory
information about the mysterious radiation from the returning Venus Probe that
appears to have caused the dead to rise, our protagonists do not have the time or
inclination to worry about what’s causing the phenomenon, or figuring out how
to reverse it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">One of the key aspects
of Matheson’s novel that seems to have resonated with Romero was the notion
that the threat was not an alien one, but one that came from within. The
creatures banging on the doors and windows were not strangers, or beings of
unknown origin. They were neighbors, friends, and perhaps most frighteningly of
all—family members.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Several scenes in
the film share the overall feeling of the book. Countless ghouls clawing at the
doors and windows of the house. Johnny’s return at the film’s climax, before he
drags his sister Barbra into the sea of ghouls. These are just some of the
moments when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Living Dead</i>
comes closest to Matheson’s novel. But so much of the film, including its
diverse cast of characters, is uniquely its own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ricci reiterates
what has often been said about the making of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Living Dead</i>; that it was the combined effort of a team
of people working together towards a common goal, but with an established
leader taking the point.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The film was made with a lot of input.
The co-writer credit could have been shared by a lot of other people. George’s
mastery was that he was able to absorb the input of the actors and others, and
still weave a solid, fast-moving story.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ricci believes
there are several reasons why the film continues to resonate with viewers.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“There are lessons to be learned from it,
similar to the way we learn from the great Greek myths. We see ourselves
in this movie. We are certainly the ghouls wounded by the lack of real feeling
and real physicality within our society—starved for genuine, nourishing
interaction. We didn’t get it in life, so we’re going to track you down in
death and EAT you to get it. Can’t get closer than that!</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“And we are also the people in the
house, trapped by fears of dying and unable to unite in a way that overcomes
our ego-minds and our perceived need to be right. We fight and argue when we
should be co-operating. Tom is the only character who gets it right. Too damn
bad that the truck caught fire...”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">In retrospect,
there’s no denying the impact that the book had on the film. As a result of
Romero’s acknowledgement of this inspiration, many readers were introduced to
Richard Matheson’s novel. And thanks to their unique takes on a similar
premise, both are still regarded as classics. All these decades later, and for
decades to come, they will continue to inspire new generations. And it may have
never happened if not for Richard Ricci’s fortuitous introduction.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“I don’t think there would have been a </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Night of the Living Dead</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> if
we—and I guess I mean, if I—hadn’t read </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I Am Legend</span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">. George
did not read that many books then. He trusted me to advance concepts, and the
concept is basically from </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I Am Legend</span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">. And we have a saying in the media
world—‘Concept is King.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">But Lordy,
he did a great job. Even Richard Matheson said that our zombie portrayal was
the one film that came closest to his original book.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The back cover of
the 1954 first edition of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Am Legend</b>
made a bold prediction about then 28 year-old Richard Matheson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Read this novel. Watch this young writer. You may be in at the birth
of a giant.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">How appropriate
that a similar statement would aptly describe a 28 year-old George Romero upon
the 1968 release of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Living
Dead</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>[1]</span></span></span><span> <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/p/richard-matheson-interview.html">Richard Matheson Interview</a>,
conducted by David Brown and John Scoleri. </span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span>[2]</span></span></span><span> Ibid.</span></span></div>
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--></style></span><i><span>A slightly edited version of this essay first appeared in <a href="https://fantasm-media.myshopify.com/collections/george-a-romero/products/50-years-of-night-the-official-night-of-the-living-dead-magazine-pre-order">Fantasm Presents #3: Night of the Living Dead - The Official Magazine</a>, Fantasm Media, 2018.</span></i></span></div>
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</style>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-91485313912934943852018-05-02T10:01:00.002-07:002018-05-02T10:02:45.626-07:00The Folio Society editions of Richard Matheson's I Am LegendThis morning <a href="http://www.foliosociety.com/">The Folio Society</a> announced the release of two editions of Richard Matheson's <b>I Am Legend</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoBnNlGjiW7PQ0ALRbVKPkLbv6R99qOk8WLIzbyRGGOf-JBPvJ4fAeQvx4RVm7B_cPx98veTG6nhY0sPolGPbSsijSLH4TVd86-daL_IODoGHVykOlSHdlks7c4t1BbPXzthBcI-efG1X/s1600/616x353_DP_LLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="616" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoBnNlGjiW7PQ0ALRbVKPkLbv6R99qOk8WLIzbyRGGOf-JBPvJ4fAeQvx4RVm7B_cPx98veTG6nhY0sPolGPbSsijSLH4TVd86-daL_IODoGHVykOlSHdlks7c4t1BbPXzthBcI-efG1X/s400/616x353_DP_LLE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Folio Society editions feature an introduction by author Joe Hill, and are illustrated by Dave McKean, most famous for his collaborations with Neil Gaiman, and also responsible for illustrating the Donald Grant edition of Stephen King's <b>Wizard and Glass</b>.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wb2p99dHcxw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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A <a href="http://www.foliosociety.com/book/aml">collector's edition</a> retailing for $59.95 is housed in a die-cut slipcase.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29UtzdIRr0PV6poiN1-NrCbMMzHPPd9Jsk-XX5oYcbmR7O2fNfl72QfCRksx5GcIE24a5yYRYigfthj1GYs8FDxwEWhLTjmjVIj9lF3ffTHAGiiTIJFfVLu_E-_L6wrbCLVQWwpwkfqLi/s1600/AML_15227451542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29UtzdIRr0PV6poiN1-NrCbMMzHPPd9Jsk-XX5oYcbmR7O2fNfl72QfCRksx5GcIE24a5yYRYigfthj1GYs8FDxwEWhLTjmjVIj9lF3ffTHAGiiTIJFfVLu_E-_L6wrbCLVQWwpwkfqLi/s320/AML_15227451542.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
A <a href="http://www.foliosociety.com/book/LLE">limited edition</a> retailing for $395 features a unique binding and also includes an exclusive print signed by Dave McKean. There is a limit of one per customer on this 295-copy edition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rQRJB0gUMcIDGBMwp5NsvMXPgjyWDoJVc7t68kGBWsKzdlfFGIlbMEE69QCAHmaoqELZUJDwaLRIKVZ8LZGd4BoHmG6n0CWqgpXP6fPQfK_kMe_6gRFCohu-e-FbE2ag9P_skHxig4_Y/s1600/LLE_15235378562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rQRJB0gUMcIDGBMwp5NsvMXPgjyWDoJVc7t68kGBWsKzdlfFGIlbMEE69QCAHmaoqELZUJDwaLRIKVZ8LZGd4BoHmG6n0CWqgpXP6fPQfK_kMe_6gRFCohu-e-FbE2ag9P_skHxig4_Y/s320/LLE_15235378562.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
Here's a great video in which McKean speaks about his work on the book, and provides a sneak peek at several of his illustrations.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NHxMhloTmb0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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If you are interested in the limited edition, I suggest acting quickly. In the few hours since the announcement was made, nearly half of the limited edition run has already sold out.John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-12367082857271493012018-04-17T09:38:00.000-07:002018-04-17T09:38:29.290-07:00New Maps of Hell - Kingsley Amis on I Am Legend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbphstPcAizMofo3-X-ynI5BDvLBmq3J0Z8aNZ9T3KUx2ClD_FvY28pAR8RqvihkjxFfHo4f9q_BX078CmqIP73V-DFPcfoyT9i-vt1CbM85N7Mwi3Zt2yib9A5xyrGWaEAXRy1qcRvSBU/s1600/IMG_2677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="939" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbphstPcAizMofo3-X-ynI5BDvLBmq3J0Z8aNZ9T3KUx2ClD_FvY28pAR8RqvihkjxFfHo4f9q_BX078CmqIP73V-DFPcfoyT9i-vt1CbM85N7Mwi3Zt2yib9A5xyrGWaEAXRy1qcRvSBU/s320/IMG_2677.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
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<b>New Maps of Hell</b> is a critical analysis of science-fiction by author Kingsley Amis, originally published in 1960 by Harcourt, Brace & World. Reprinted in 1961 by Ballantine Books (cover art by Richard Powers).<br />
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Speaking of the boundary between fantasy and science-fiction stories, Amis noted:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“... although vampirism is one of the staples of nineteenth-century fantasy, Richard Matheson’s novel <b>I AM LEGEND</b> makes brilliantly ingenious and incidentally horrifying use of the myth for science-fiction purposes, whereby every traditional detail is explained along rational lines: the wooden stake through the heart for instance, which put paid to Dracula and so many of his playmates, is necessary in order to maintain the dissension of the wound—bullets and knives are no good for that job, and the microbe which causes vampirism is acrophobic.”</blockquote>
More than a decade later, Amis would write an introduction to Matheson's <b>The Shrinking Man</b>, first<b> </b>appearing in the hardcover edition from David Bruce & Watson (London, 1973) and later reprinted in the Gregg Press edition (1979).John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-7264929191109096522016-04-05T14:41:00.001-07:002016-04-05T14:41:09.628-07:00I Am Legend Reviewed - Galaxy 1955<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bCaIkpWPgmLt5mklHq04wTBUNyzHHBrRuKreJ4dcwVFcZc5UCtNM6Q60Qxvs_L4_RCTNihGNt0IVSBJARRRKP085aYYNjscheRFrzRpre1piuJxn_MZidMDYVPAu5k68mF1oUeFZj1Ye/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-04+at+9.23.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bCaIkpWPgmLt5mklHq04wTBUNyzHHBrRuKreJ4dcwVFcZc5UCtNM6Q60Qxvs_L4_RCTNihGNt0IVSBJARRRKP085aYYNjscheRFrzRpre1piuJxn_MZidMDYVPAu5k68mF1oUeFZj1Ye/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-04+at+9.23.48+AM.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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I previously reprinted what I believe is the first published review of <b>I Am Legend</b> from the <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-review-of-i-am-legend.html"><i>Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction</i></a> (November 1954). I'm back with another early review, this one from anthologist Groff Conklin, book critic for <i>Galaxy Science Fiction</i>. This ran in the January 1955 issue of that magazine.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>For what I think is Gold Medal's first venture into the field of original science fantasies, it has chosen a weird and, I fear, rather slow-moving first novel* by a man heretofore known for his excellent short horror tales.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>I Am Legend</b><i> tells of a disease that almost completely wipes out the human race, leaving behind only a handful of hideously changed creatures to attempt to revive civilization.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It is "supernatural" science fiction, a horrid, violent, sometimes exciting but too often overdone tour de force.</i></blockquote>
*As most of Matheson's fans are already aware, <b>I Am Legend</b> was not Matheson's first novel. While it was his first genre novel, it was preceded by <b>Someone is Bleeding</b> and <b>Fury on Sunday</b>, both published by Lion books in 1953.<br />
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<br />John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-3639452659007577102014-11-21T19:07:00.005-08:002014-11-21T19:09:03.146-08:00Additional Test Footage for Ridley Scott's I Am Legend Followers of the blog will recall the <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2012/11/hemocyte-test-footage-for-ridley-scotts.html">video</a> I posted last year of Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff's practical concept work for Ridley Scott when he was developing the project.<br />
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The following video is also from the StudioADI YouTube channel, where you can check out the entire collection of Feature Film and Non-Feature Film Work from Amalgamated Dynamics Incorporated.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/14QYCShlGHA" width="560"></iframe>
John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-3142085002951889212013-11-07T09:03:00.000-08:002013-11-07T09:03:36.233-08:00I Am Legend Motion ComicI Am Legend fan Marc Ihlow has created a motion comic using Elman Brown's artwork. Check it out:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KznWn0HOLls" width="560"></iframe><br />John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-10418253915539348522013-06-24T17:08:00.000-07:002013-06-24T17:08:00.299-07:00Richard Matheson 1926-2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5syJK6HolgWvFoO6qaujn6PhPoT2OpcRGZKpSa4VHKOysD6bySs_IKgDEmPqDpDnT_qYz8CCgr5UFRw3Op5REluzAzk8Xwlxlp2KIwJnYDcluakr2YNQAW-cqVOQVP3bTN7TQdj_EsPm/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-24+at+4.41.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5syJK6HolgWvFoO6qaujn6PhPoT2OpcRGZKpSa4VHKOysD6bySs_IKgDEmPqDpDnT_qYz8CCgr5UFRw3Op5REluzAzk8Xwlxlp2KIwJnYDcluakr2YNQAW-cqVOQVP3bTN7TQdj_EsPm/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-06-24+at+4.41.24+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today I choose to celebrate the life and phenomenal body of work of the most influential writer in the world. Well, to <i>this reader</i> at least. And for anyone coming to this site, you probably share some affection for this amazingly gifted writer.</div>
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I have had the great honor of meeting many inspirational figures in my lifetime, and yet of them (ranging from George Lucas to Ralph McQuarrie to George Romero to Steve Jobs), none found me to be speechless. Only Richard Matheson. I must have fumbled out a few words as I held out my first edition paperback of <b>I Am Legend</b>, which he graciously signed to me (so somehow I must have gotten my name out). And on that evening in 1990, after he received the lifetime achievement award from the HWA (then Horror Writers of America, now Horror Writer's Association), I more comfortably walked over to congratulate him on this richly deserved honor, in my then 20 year-old estimation.</div>
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In 2007, I flew down to LA to attend what I imagined would likely be Richard Matheson's last book signing at Dark Delicacies, timed with the theatrical release of the latest version of <b>I Am Legend</b>. Though I had seen him a handful of times in the ensuing years, I wanted to take one final opportunity to say thanks. And I'm glad I did.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />For Robert Neville and <b>I Am Legend</b>—a thousand times over. For Scott Carey and <b>The Shrinking Man</b>. For Richard Collier and <b>Bid Time Return</b> (which I read from at my wedding). For "Prey", and a hundred more truly amazing stories. For everything. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Matheson is a writer whose influence far surpasses his name recognition. Without even knowing it, millions have been touched by his gifts. Through <i>The Twilight Zone</i>. <i>Duel</i>. <b><i>Somewhere in Time</i></b>. <b><i>The Legend of Hell House</i></b>. <b><i>What Dreams May Come</i></b>. Any number of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. <b><i>The Incredible Shrinking Man</i></b>. <b><i>The Last Man on Earth</i></b>. <b><i>A Stir of Echoes</i></b>. <i>The Night Stalker</i>. <i>Trilogy of Terror</i>. And through each of these, and those adaptations yet to come, he will be fondly remembered, and continue to live on.</div>
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Richard Matheson had a clear belief about what happens when one dies. He wrote about it in his novel <b>What Dreams May Come</b>, and in his non-fiction book, <b>The Path</b>. As he embarks on that great mysterious journey, I hope he finds it to be everything he imagined and more. </div>
John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-19835357123899964062013-04-20T22:33:00.001-07:002013-04-20T22:33:22.557-07:00I Am Legend... animated? En español?Stumbled across this short animation by Koosuke Furuya on Vimeo and wanted to share it here. <br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/64272058" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/64272058">Soy Leyenda Richard Matheson</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4476511">Koosuke Furuya</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-86988811704312652022013-02-26T06:14:00.003-08:002022-02-25T14:36:05.506-08:00Walking in the footsteps of Robert Neville<div style="text-align: justify;">
I encourage you to check out an interesting article by Geoff Nicholson from the Los Angeles Review of Books, in which he seeks out the actual locations where a number of books take place, including <b>I Am Legend</b>.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I, and others, have made attempts to find the number of the house
where Matheson lived on Cimarron Street, and it seems he simply doesn’t
remember. Cimarron is a long street, stretching from above the 10 to
well below the 105, and there’s also a Cimarron Avenue and a Cimarron
Way in Gardena, which actually fit better with the geography of the
novel, and although I enjoy an aimless drift more than most, a
dozen-mile expedition to an unspecified address in Gardena was too
nebulous even for me.</i> </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That said, Nicholson was able to retrace the steps of Charlton Heston from a number of locations used in the filming of <i>The Omega Man</i>. You can read the whole article <a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-walk-of-the-worlds/"><span id="goog_1192066687"></span>here<span id="goog_1192066688"></span></a>.</div>
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John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-479737352030251772012-11-10T13:54:00.001-08:002012-11-10T13:54:51.897-08:00Hemocyte Test Footage for Ridley Scott's I Am Legend<div style="text-align: justify;">
Regular followers of the blog will recall the <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2011/04/steve-johnson-xfx-i-am-legend-make-up.html">video</a> I posted last year of Steve Johnson's unused practical effects tests from <i>I Am Legend</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now making the rounds on the web is footage from Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff who provided practical concept work for Ridley Scott when he was developing the project. </div>
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The following video is from the StudioADI YouTube channel, where you can check out the entire collection of Feature Film and Non-Feature Film Work from Amalgamated Dynamics Incorporated</div>
<div class="user-profile-item profile-description">
</div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cY_MYfueEOs" width="560"></iframe><br />John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-22707193644616304112012-11-10T11:29:00.003-08:002012-11-10T11:29:44.706-08:00The Last Man On Earth Soundtrack CD Now Available<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our friends over at <a href="http://www.mmmrecordings.com/">Monstrous Movie Music</a> have just released a new batch of soundtrack CDs including a long-awaited, fully authorized stereo recording of Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter's score to The Last Man on Earth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs8DHhTF_34FERTQTE0zOiWkRux93nLYzTFcpim9EHD3T95xJaIWkL33_9DKuZ-KaKgxvJjHwqv_B-x4off98zLE4L3rx16JYKZ08TwTAJZcSLESJIKSg7Ax85BK0UR6drminIgNGMa6T/s1600/1969-lastman-cover-mainpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs8DHhTF_34FERTQTE0zOiWkRux93nLYzTFcpim9EHD3T95xJaIWkL33_9DKuZ-KaKgxvJjHwqv_B-x4off98zLE4L3rx16JYKZ08TwTAJZcSLESJIKSg7Ax85BK0UR6drminIgNGMa6T/s400/1969-lastman-cover-mainpage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I picked up my copies when it debuted at the Son of Monsterpalooza show a few weeks back, and now you can <a href="http://www.mmmrecordings.com/Last_Man_on_Earth/last_man_on_earth.html">order</a> yours online. Time to discard the bootleg mono release sourced from the isolated score track on the Image LaserDisc. This is the real deal, and it's limited to just 1000 copies, so don't delay or you may find yourself paying an outrageous price on the secondary market. </div>
John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-40670188852673287012012-11-10T10:14:00.002-08:002012-11-10T10:14:31.727-08:00Richard Matheson's Censored and Unproduced I Am Legend Screenplay<div style="text-align: justify;">
As previously reported, Gauntlet Press will be releasing an updated version of Richard Matheson's original screenplay adaptation of <b>I Am Legend</b> (aka "The Night Creatures") later this month, featuring another beautiful cover by Harry O. Morris, a new forward by Richard Matheson, and with a newly updated introduction by Mark Dawidziak.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZl0VZP32I4wffCPnS6GRHaTEG7FQ7fLgcrDRLMMS0Hh8kqKujogoC76H5cq3zBpDCOVNzrbB9eHJk1MUvqCrLzao4MkWM6EVzt7mY-CoVSuOpOK4hcIsdtYJdzMOVjMGAZkSvxJ1FHRy2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-10+at+10.05.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZl0VZP32I4wffCPnS6GRHaTEG7FQ7fLgcrDRLMMS0Hh8kqKujogoC76H5cq3zBpDCOVNzrbB9eHJk1MUvqCrLzao4MkWM6EVzt7mY-CoVSuOpOK4hcIsdtYJdzMOVjMGAZkSvxJ1FHRy2/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-11-10+at+10.05.13+AM.png" width="393" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was happy to provide book covers and stills from the archive to help illustrate this new volume. It's definitely worth reading if you're interested in how Matheson would have adapted his book for the screen, and his forward is enlightening. You can pre-order your copy now on Amazon using the link below.</div>
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=slcinema-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=193426735X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;">
</iframe>
John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-89907818924610677932012-04-01T16:13:00.003-07:002012-04-01T16:14:21.650-07:00I Am Legend named Vampire Novel of the Century by Horror Writer's Association<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the "we expected no less" department...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>HWA, in conjunction with the Bram Stoker Family Estate and the
Rosenbach Museum & Library, also presented the special one-time only
Vampire Novel of the Century Award to:</i></div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;"><i>Richard Matheson for his modern classic <b>I Am Legend</b></i></ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0fNi17O5_20YH9duJiOlqVJitzF1BkPH3MeCuen6rEsg6OZReodn7KEEuexSB7LKBDkIylpVmVDSTrMB53-7QI0TLxfdmGt4mJJOII-jNL5c47vDtrPOnya61drwyrs2HpFw_0GiaH5q/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0fNi17O5_20YH9duJiOlqVJitzF1BkPH3MeCuen6rEsg6OZReodn7KEEuexSB7LKBDkIylpVmVDSTrMB53-7QI0TLxfdmGt4mJJOII-jNL5c47vDtrPOnya61drwyrs2HpFw_0GiaH5q/s400/Picture+1.png" width="238" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>This award was voted on by a jury chaired by Dracula expert Leslie S. Klinger and was sponsored by Jeremy Wagner.</i></div>
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Click <a href="http://www.horror.org/blog/?p=2453">here</a> for more information</div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-36010533775098278912012-02-03T21:59:00.001-08:002021-07-18T08:07:52.688-07:00Richard Matheson's I Am Legend - A Field Guide to the Science Fiction Book Club Editions<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYUIJUKR36U5SdKhrGJVP6jyjO3AzOaS6HxLTcVKezAb5YLH3FyOqbKk8P0Nr7Oc6bOoBBKgFP4Gx0THTWgSFhfQkvKLteRXquMNMa4unhR2M66hVXOExK3SgSNWPx7M4768WjFjiBlZr/s1600/SFBC.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYUIJUKR36U5SdKhrGJVP6jyjO3AzOaS6HxLTcVKezAb5YLH3FyOqbKk8P0Nr7Oc6bOoBBKgFP4Gx0THTWgSFhfQkvKLteRXquMNMa4unhR2M66hVXOExK3SgSNWPx7M4768WjFjiBlZr/s320/SFBC.jpg" width="209" /></a>One of the most common questions I get through <i>The I Am Legend Archive</i> is, "How can I tell if my hardcover book club edition of <b>I Am Legend</b> is a first edition."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Science Fiction Book Club
(SFBC) edition has been the source of much confusion throughout the years.
First off, it's dated 1954, the year the Gold Medal paperback
original was released, and the publisher is listed as Nelson Doubleday.
The first world hardcover edition of <b>I Am Legend </b>was published in 1970 by Walker & Company. The book club edition didn't debut until <a href="http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?271466">March 1980</a> as part of a series of science-fiction classics with matching designs and cover illustrations by Tony Gleeson.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thanks to Geary Gravel, who saved his monthly SFBC solicitation flyers ("Things to Come"), I can share with you the original listing for the book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAUGIf48PufTmo7T9sfAPwdi6YSX_gS68RvydecE475oqHB5ANSLKKdBgbt_gDSCC_Q6eX4YbblrSE06wkCUQd8huPhX-B9uCj4LPjl0uDdLbXBSpo-ElCMTZoXNzK3SgfEAMYRYHCLX0/s2048/Things+to+Come+March+1980+-+interior+Geary+Gravel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1389" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAUGIf48PufTmo7T9sfAPwdi6YSX_gS68RvydecE475oqHB5ANSLKKdBgbt_gDSCC_Q6eX4YbblrSE06wkCUQd8huPhX-B9uCj4LPjl0uDdLbXBSpo-ElCMTZoXNzK3SgfEAMYRYHCLX0/w434-h640/Things+to+Come+March+1980+-+interior+Geary+Gravel.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">After more than 30 years of collecting more than 175 editions of <b>I Am Legend</b> from around the world, I think I have solved the riddle of how to identify a 'first edition' of the book club edition.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have three distinct binding variations of the book in the archive. If you have or are aware of any others, please <a href="mailto:john@iamlegendarchive.com">contact me</a> so I can incorporate that information on the site. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRn0jxg-F2Ys14vOJ453oX4pLHNzuBB0RA_1xYkbFZugqL64EOAqbLIovgw43ttyz_f-cLOcW_SAjOcGorI2Ffy8xUxPZVNWqwZ8MFDuvx80ppUBEisqZ43V1DzyKft8hdC6HMBYitGC/s1600/P1030181_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRn0jxg-F2Ys14vOJ453oX4pLHNzuBB0RA_1xYkbFZugqL64EOAqbLIovgw43ttyz_f-cLOcW_SAjOcGorI2Ffy8xUxPZVNWqwZ8MFDuvx80ppUBEisqZ43V1DzyKft8hdC6HMBYitGC/s400/P1030181_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>The Black and Gold Edition </u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuV4-ZJPxIz7fCbBcH1KzsA6LnpNAYGud2yrXV7rRBt27l7MVDmKmEzMtFCHF8_8-aA18o01R9NYOXIByeEhwGPgvDbM53AiRDMFflEuxt79Z3WYpOYUcSBmfNjXUgAbwGz_GMGbHoEmC/s1600/P1030187_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuV4-ZJPxIz7fCbBcH1KzsA6LnpNAYGud2yrXV7rRBt27l7MVDmKmEzMtFCHF8_8-aA18o01R9NYOXIByeEhwGPgvDbM53AiRDMFflEuxt79Z3WYpOYUcSBmfNjXUgAbwGz_GMGbHoEmC/s400/P1030187_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>1/4 bound in black faux-leather with black paper boards. </li>
<li>Gold lettering on the spine (I Am Legend - MATHESON - the only version that matches the lettering on the dust jacket spine).</li>
<li>Evenly cut pages. </li>
<li>Pages 75 and 77 have no markings on the lower page gutter. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hvRbA9_afM_FrcxCc5BM5vXz6j785JhBBhGWjmEsvOXOlf65Fdi5uONGw__OGOl6TPEa0PzONFoyQbN75vJQPgk4O-kQiakoFuDPPbi4hBqGin0V2Al3vlOTjQwbCU9RZy7kGmrlRN2k/s1600/P1030184_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hvRbA9_afM_FrcxCc5BM5vXz6j785JhBBhGWjmEsvOXOlf65Fdi5uONGw__OGOl6TPEa0PzONFoyQbN75vJQPgk4O-kQiakoFuDPPbi4hBqGin0V2Al3vlOTjQwbCU9RZy7kGmrlRN2k/s400/P1030184_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black and gold edition on the right is the only one with evenly cut page edges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvST-AJamqRwSnLlgYN4ufmGjGzixLCVvYAuAI0-kCGfB_RsNuSXLKPkKrLnZRY9-r3cdV6H3-3RYLbpDlWmCcE1P7mJ2xeDFnIPfvh82-jtKtlWko6dDDRhiCnTW1KkGny-KSOGsaj1g/s1600/P1030185_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvST-AJamqRwSnLlgYN4ufmGjGzixLCVvYAuAI0-kCGfB_RsNuSXLKPkKrLnZRY9-r3cdV6H3-3RYLbpDlWmCcE1P7mJ2xeDFnIPfvh82-jtKtlWko6dDDRhiCnTW1KkGny-KSOGsaj1g/s400/P1030185_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVYrFUr2OpLsVWeY4zA4H9LaUUhA1gn8REtMqIyn0LXkaAhz6nghhz0Wrhq6TwEwc0KSpdloPZH2SuyyA2etvI3gBOWhWC9e8Cm6oPQw-_YUrKct8tHu1T5wGncPrzoMLdTX7L0ikiicH/s1600/P1030186_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVYrFUr2OpLsVWeY4zA4H9LaUUhA1gn8REtMqIyn0LXkaAhz6nghhz0Wrhq6TwEwc0KSpdloPZH2SuyyA2etvI3gBOWhWC9e8Cm6oPQw-_YUrKct8tHu1T5wGncPrzoMLdTX7L0ikiicH/s400/P1030186_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Due
to the elaborate binding, and in the absence of the printing artifacts
present on the other editions, my opinion is that the black and gold edition is the first book
club edition. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>The Red Edition</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdNZgtmB10kgIyQauv5aIMD1xTyGq-TbK2S4UEQgU4sluB78_IsvXiYTKSjMHnpx4i8zVSNGBDD2ONOvYQ57IftZ6_sfsbdHNCZsxHuSTUvBdW3qDdluuQBV5m-iJUDI8gJ4qwKRjWRL4/s1600/P1030188_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdNZgtmB10kgIyQauv5aIMD1xTyGq-TbK2S4UEQgU4sluB78_IsvXiYTKSjMHnpx4i8zVSNGBDD2ONOvYQ57IftZ6_sfsbdHNCZsxHuSTUvBdW3qDdluuQBV5m-iJUDI8gJ4qwKRjWRL4/s400/P1030188_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Bound in red faux-leather boards. </li>
<li>Orange lettering on the spine (I Am Legend - RICHARD MATHESON). </li>
<li>Deckled edge page cut. </li>
<li>Page
75 and 77 have a black bar on the lower page gutter that would remain
in subsequent editions. </li>
<li>This edition has no number on the back of the
dust jacket—it has 3684 on the inner back flap.</li>
</ul>
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<u>The Blue Edition</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-9KC_hX6xXuujPWL7bX6MW-U7kG9wA0Z4hkVMAZR8Of3hPisJ-ksJbPHT2zIOYtPqw6y8K_qV_iqrZ6cuCK0M1XMj0uUO3MfrSB89wCcHV2uGKrjfohERcyJcVTVf6AMSNO3GYmcLwtM/s1600/P1030189_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-9KC_hX6xXuujPWL7bX6MW-U7kG9wA0Z4hkVMAZR8Of3hPisJ-ksJbPHT2zIOYtPqw6y8K_qV_iqrZ6cuCK0M1XMj0uUO3MfrSB89wCcHV2uGKrjfohERcyJcVTVf6AMSNO3GYmcLwtM/s400/P1030189_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Bound in blue paper boards.</li>
<li>Black lettering on the spine (I Am Legend - RICHARD MATHESON). </li>
<li>Deckled edge page cut. </li>
<li>Page 75 and 77 have a black bar on the lower page gutter. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>My
copy was purchased directly from the SFBC when offered late in the 90s,
so I know that this represents the final run that they offered.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Thanks to reader William Thompson, you can check the date of your edition using the SFBC gutter codes. The first (black) edition and last few years of the blue editions don't have a gutter code, but if you check in the gutter of page 150, you can cross reference against the list on <a href="http://www.isfdb.org/wiki/index.php/Gutter_Codes">this page</a> to determine the year of your printing. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you find this information helpful. If you share this info, please reference the I AM LEGEND ARCHIVE, and if possible include a link back to the site. That would be greatly appreciated!<i><br /></i></div>
John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-28704043770125716252012-01-03T06:22:00.000-08:002012-01-03T06:22:28.971-08:00New Year - New Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAYPQDmvDGQ/TwMOeQpuQtI/AAAAAAAAFHI/lt2rno9X314/s1600/GlogoSm_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAYPQDmvDGQ/TwMOeQpuQtI/AAAAAAAAFHI/lt2rno9X314/s1600/GlogoSm_01.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>I Am Legend</b> aficionados are well aware of the publications from <a href="http://www.gauntletpress.com/">Gauntlet Press</a> (including the 40th Anniversary limited edition of <b>I Am Legend</b>, <b>Bloodlines</b>, and <b>Visions Deferred</b>). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gauntlet has announced their publication slate for 2012, which includes a new autobiographical novel (<b>Generations</b>) and a new edition of Matheson's <b>I Am Legend</b> screenplay, titled <b><a href="http://www.gauntletpress.com/cgi-bin/gauntletpress/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=template&thispage=IAmLegendPB&ORDER_ID=169222571">Richard Matheson's Censored and Unproduced I Am Legend Screenplay</a></b>, to be released this summer.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I confirmed with publisher Barry Hoffman that the book will include material previously published in <b>Bloodlines</b> and <b>Visions Deferred</b>. As soon as the cover art is available I will post it here.</div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-42719700399942907822011-07-27T06:28:00.000-07:002011-07-27T06:28:47.568-07:00Official I Am Legend eBook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTg9nFTzyr0a9Pz5B19_HTFUh5AQ3W0zDfYro-mSIjWTjrGCXgY8WT2ORsUduDmC-OFFKkKtLsxaBbFzfy0PmHuuJLAS_JJYnoxalhiZg0rNBeszy_WNu-bi-XDbeJnDX_r1xRy9LAE_a/s1600/mzi.gelgcbst.225x225-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTg9nFTzyr0a9Pz5B19_HTFUh5AQ3W0zDfYro-mSIjWTjrGCXgY8WT2ORsUduDmC-OFFKkKtLsxaBbFzfy0PmHuuJLAS_JJYnoxalhiZg0rNBeszy_WNu-bi-XDbeJnDX_r1xRy9LAE_a/s1600/mzi.gelgcbst.225x225-75.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I Am Legend</b> is officially available as an eBook from Rosetta Books (along with several other Matheson titles, including a new collection with an unpublished short story, "Backteria" and a collection of Matheson's song lyrics titled (appropriately enough) "Lyrics"), so I had to buy a copy to 'officially' have it in the I Am Legend Archive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Get it for your <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/i-am-legend/id444527134?mt=11">iOS</a> device, or through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Legend-ebook/dp/B00514HDNW/">Amazon</a> for your Kindle. </div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-62024458609476024002011-04-18T13:35:00.000-07:002011-04-18T13:35:55.869-07:00Steve Johnson XFX I Am Legend Make Up Test<div style="text-align: justify;">Following up on my <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-legend-production-art.html">post featuring the Kerry Gammill production art</a>, Steve Johnson XFX has recently uploaded some 'hemocyte' Make Up Test footage on YouTube.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j22RthvabUM" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While it seems like it would have worked better than the almost cartoonish CGI we were treated to in the Will Smith/Francis Lawrence film, I still contend that the biggest mistake the filmmakers made was changing the creatures from being recognizable humans (i.e. Neville's neighbors).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's my opinion, anyway. What do you think?</div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-52545217427991025482011-04-10T18:39:00.000-07:002011-04-10T18:55:12.532-07:00Last Call: I Am Legend Movie Tie-In Trade Paperback<div style="text-align: justify;">Now's your chance if you want to pick up a copy of the <b>I Am Legend </b>movie tie-in trade paperback before they're all gone at only $5.98—a 63% savings! Or, it looks like you can grab the last of the Orb editions for only $5.47. Amazon indicates they're down to only 10 copies of that, and I'm hoping that the next time they have the book in stock, it will feature a new cover (I assume the one they are using for the mass market edition). Stock up now and save!</div><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=slcinema-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001FOR5XU&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=slcinema-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002LITSE8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-41345561641005919822011-02-26T10:30:00.000-08:002011-04-15T13:45:14.323-07:00Illustrating I Am Legend: Jim Thiesen<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I first became aware of artist Jim Thiesen in 1995 when he painted the cover to TOR Books' first publication of Richard Matheson's <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/search/label/Tor%200-812-52300-8"><b>I Am Legend</b></a>. I immediately fell in love with the cover, which I felt managed to capture the epic scope of Matheson's novel. I purchased the original art, and discovered that I was already familiar with a great deal of Thiesen's other art by sight, if not by name. I thought it as about time someone sat down to find out a little bit more about this artist who has provided artwork for such high profile writers as Stephen King, Brian Lumley, and Thomas Harris.</i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i> </i></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhsET9KwmJeUNWide22M3juLV5wdwF_UV0hbppx515mivvjro-G00k5b2VHvPMjVh5RIV_upo8MHarPVwcyV1Up73ZuKpsxf4_F7xIJchYzWmpIf1Pv-0D6w6OqbfrVGmgUNyPqDFalWG/s1600/LEGEND.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhsET9KwmJeUNWide22M3juLV5wdwF_UV0hbppx515mivvjro-G00k5b2VHvPMjVh5RIV_upo8MHarPVwcyV1Up73ZuKpsxf4_F7xIJchYzWmpIf1Pv-0D6w6OqbfrVGmgUNyPqDFalWG/s200/LEGEND.JPG" width="200" /></a>IAL Archive: Were you aware of Richard Matheson's <b>I Am Legend</b> before you got the cover assignment?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Jim Thiesen: No, I was not familiar with the book. The art director told me it was about vampires—<i>lots of vampires</i>! <br />
<br />
IAL: What was your vision for the cover art? Were you pleased with the results? I'm of the opinion that it in many ways it's the best thematic representation of the novel of all the cover art that has been used.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>JT: I wanted to create lots of vampires, but I wanted them to flow like one continuous entity. I wanted to give them a kind of H.R.Giger-like feeling. I appreciate your appreciation of the piece. But as with most of my work, I would like to keep working on it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDBTw1KrMijei0UgbbxsYp9ybwuf7U_RUvftd7TFtBJduWyx9ep535-2-7dkuy2MlFD_94J6-UXPfQnA9iu1jKk5AkdKoBjsSi-iBMnAyRf8q4MhV4WYyRbJ8CE5b6d0pNyDLTAgGzT2W/s1600/031286504x01lzzzzzzz.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDBTw1KrMijei0UgbbxsYp9ybwuf7U_RUvftd7TFtBJduWyx9ep535-2-7dkuy2MlFD_94J6-UXPfQnA9iu1jKk5AkdKoBjsSi-iBMnAyRf8q4MhV4WYyRbJ8CE5b6d0pNyDLTAgGzT2W/s200/031286504x01lzzzzzzz.gif" width="130" /></a>IAL: Were you aware when Tor digitally manipulated the art for their Orb trade paperback? What are your thoughts on that versus your original painting?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">JT: I was not aware of any of the things that TOR was doing with my work—and not compensating me for, which by law they are supposed to do. As you know, last year I found out about quite a few of the things that TOR has been doing illegally with my art. Obviously I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about not getting paid, nor with the way they have manipulated my work. Unfortunately prosecuting them would not be financially worthwhile.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBsqh4Wuy0dcmxoR8DVzhSFG_1VSPusAvb9pfpAgrCs_9pV_90cpcorH_BtNL271h0nPCDqH7JxYZ7PnMAU2SWGhsF2EFtOOU7aIGumYH_bQL3tkU7AQbMe3F7jAQzZoYBBkvHA2YKFmY/s1600/SFM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBsqh4Wuy0dcmxoR8DVzhSFG_1VSPusAvb9pfpAgrCs_9pV_90cpcorH_BtNL271h0nPCDqH7JxYZ7PnMAU2SWGhsF2EFtOOU7aIGumYH_bQL3tkU7AQbMe3F7jAQzZoYBBkvHA2YKFmY/s200/SFM.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>IAL: That revised artwork (<i>cropped - perhaps to remove a vampire baby, blurred, and one foreground head relocated</i>) has gone on to be used in several countries around the world, second only to the Will Smith movie tie-in art. How does it feel to have your art (albeit in an altered form) seen by millions of readers around the globe?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
JT: The art has changed so much it hardly feels like mine anymore.<br />
<br />
<i>2011 Post Script:</i><br />
<i>A new edition of <b>I Am Legend</b> is forthcoming from TOR, and if the <a href="http://iamlegendarchive.blogspot.com/2011/02/have-you-seen-this-book.html">cover shown</a> in a recent Richard Matheson interview in Fangoria is accurate, it restores Jim Thiesen's original art, cropped to remove the horizon, and it appears once again manipulated to remove the baby. </i><br />
<br />
Check out my <a href="http://barebonesez.blogspot.com/2010/11/illustrator-jim-thiesen-barebones.html">full interview</a> with Jim Thiesen, including an extensive gallery of his art. </div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578392407581719074.post-25838863437766270382011-02-24T15:07:00.000-08:002011-03-30T23:35:22.515-07:00Have You Seen This Book!<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The latest issue of Fangoria (#301) has a new interview with Richard Matheson, and one of the supporting illustrations (on page 44) appears to be a new paperback cover from Tor Books. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNRH59aD8EboyMGTsBcJnHPSPKBRcPRCTQi1m7dSYezXksfNksuXiAQUj6pRQ-YPIWuz_whZi8IqVTP1E1NVg1Vgiw9nWqlq5wmOwkMeijgHZvK7U8Wb-AWQC57mAwY9-1yB4-jBCKeom/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNRH59aD8EboyMGTsBcJnHPSPKBRcPRCTQi1m7dSYezXksfNksuXiAQUj6pRQ-YPIWuz_whZi8IqVTP1E1NVg1Vgiw9nWqlq5wmOwkMeijgHZvK7U8Wb-AWQC57mAwY9-1yB4-jBCKeom/s400/Picture+2.png" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
If this is in fact the latest edition of the book from Tor, what's particularly interesting is that for the first time since 1995, they have reverted to Jim Thiesen's original cover art (albeit cropped to elimiate the horizon), rather than the photoshopped version that has been used internationally in the interim. Unfortunately, if this image is accurate, it appears that the painting has been manipulated yet again to remove the baby which would be in the second row - between the two female vampires.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you happen to see this new cover in the store, please drop me a line (john [at] iamlegendarchive.com) or feel free to post a comment here, so I know it is in fact for real.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And while you're at it, if you happen to see a physical copy of the Steve Niles comic adaptation with the following cover, please let me know that as well!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBd30LdxPEPlP3ACrmCUlQRVovwvfESwMN4Spm77pHcSZATPp4wYeXACcZQrPexAG9u8md1G2EtsQW4oCDS7eRU9ET6mI5klSGPl6HwhpNheTGpS1BAgbeun687wxPg2T2E8g25SPTyI-/s1600/188172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBd30LdxPEPlP3ACrmCUlQRVovwvfESwMN4Spm77pHcSZATPp4wYeXACcZQrPexAG9u8md1G2EtsQW4oCDS7eRU9ET6mI5klSGPl6HwhpNheTGpS1BAgbeun687wxPg2T2E8g25SPTyI-/s400/188172.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.com3