I watched the movie first and just got around to reading the novel. I certainly didn't expect it to be so different! The author certainly built up the feeling of loneliness that that was characterized by the movie. I was drawn into the book and finished it in one sitting. Very glad I decided to read it. Recommended! ( )

Overall, I thought this was an excellent book. There were two short stories that I didn't like and one that I liked the premise, but it was written like Matheson just wanted to show how many SAT words he knew. ( )

I made sure to give myself some time between seeing the film version and reading the book (I always prefer to see the movie first; novels always add to the story and usually improve upon it). I'm glad I waited. The two versions are similar in many ways, but the characters are different: regular white guy in the book v. hyper-intelligent black guy in the movie. The nature of the vampires is different: classic conception of the vampire v. zombie-like, demythologized superfreaks. The setting is different: suburban L.A. v. Manhattan. So, OK, maybe they're not similar beyond the basic premise.

Anyway, the book was more satisfying with its take on the "science" of vampirism, and the ending was more honest and creative. (The movie ended the way you think the book is going to end but doesn't.)

What the movie does surprisingly well (and this is a testament to Will Smith as an actor) is capture the arc of emotions Neville experiences in his horrific situation. The book takes you there, too, but reading it makes Smith's performance all the more impressive.

Well. I didn't expect to be reviewing the film here, as well, but there you go. ( )

This man is at the center of a vampire-based apocalypse and his biggest complaint is the naked women outside his house.
"How dare you look so sexually attractive!"
Finished it, hated it. ( )

For good reason this book has formed the basis of several movies over the decades. The general plot is very interesting - essentially, the last remaining man on Earth must survive a world that is now inhabited by various types of vampire like humans that are out to destroy him.

Certain parts of the book were outstanding. For example, I appreciated the beginning of the work where the author described the protagonist's efforts to survive alone in his home in a desolate world where he is the only normal inhabitant. I also thought the interaction between the protagonist and the woman towards the end of the book was also interesting, as was the final conclusion.

Much less interesting was extensive discussion of the protagonist's efforts to discover the cause(s) of the vampire like humans, and the unnecessarily long section devoted to the protagonist's interaction with the dog. I also thought the author went a bit overboard describing the protagonist's rantings, ravings and drinking spells as a result of his situation.

Nonetheless, a quick and recommended read on a most interesting subject. ( )