I Am Legend...65 Years Later.

On the recommendation of my Oberlin Friend Rossana Rossi, I read Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend this week. 

Rossana and I met in 2001 when I was organizing a George Michael tribute concert at Oberlin College. With my mind on finding backup vocalists, I heard Rossana singing as she walked down the street. I followed her, in love with her tone. I approached her, complimented her, implored her to be a part of the show, and she became an integral voice in the George Michael Project.

These days, Rossana does administrative work for audio/video technicians at the United Nations. By night, she is an herbalist in the Wise Woman Tradition. As she expains it, “I am on a first-name basis with the plants that grow in my area, I use traditional, time-tested methods of plant medicine (tinctures, oils, vinegars, honeys, even smoke blends), and when working with individuals, I simply facilitate their healing. The plants do the work and the person plays an active role in their own healing process. No bystanders here! Also, I am student of Kung Fu Wu Su for 8 years; I sing in the shower; I have a pet turtle, Manolo; and I love cooking and baking.”

Now, onto I Am Legend: The main character Robert Neville is the (maybe) sole survivor of a global pandemic. The narrative unfolds Neville's daily life in Los Angeles as he tries to understand and cure the disease that he is immune to. He barricades himself in his home after sunset, when the vampire-like infected come to life. 

If you told me as I was reading it that I Am Legend was first published 65 years ago, I would have doubted you. Known for its influence on the zombie-vampire genre and the idea of a worldwide disease-driven apocalypse, I Am Legend’s DNA can be found in countless books and films that came after it, but it feels modern and fresh.

I e-mailed with Rossana after I finished the book, grateful I started 2019 with her suggested reading. Who doesn’t want to imagine a world-wide apocalypse as a new year begins? 

About a Book: when did you first read I Am Legend?

Rossana: In the early aughts, perhaps 2004. I was working at Barnes and Noble in the section with the Sci-Fi books and this book was always on the shelf...I picked it up because it had an awesome cover and the title was compelling. After seeing it every day for many, many months, I decided to buy it. Really, I bought it on a hunch. 

About a Book: When did you last read it (if you read it more than once)?

Rossana: I read it more than once. But, only twice. The last time about 3 years ago.

About a Book: What did you like about it?

Rossana: It was like nothing else I'd read before. Partway through, I saw that it was originally published in 1954. The entire story was profound, created a feeling of desolation, of exploration, and perhaps some futility. The ending tripped me up, too. I don't do narcotics, but my brain felt like it was tripping a bit. 

About a Book: What did you not like about it?

Rossana: Literarily, nothing. His writing was sharp and left clear visual detail in my mind. It left me wanting more -- not in terms of plot, but in my imagination. I just missed the protagonist so much. On his behalf, I missed the world that changed; I missed people, humanity; I felt his grief…and I was afraid of his living in the culture/society that was clearly emerging. I wanted him to be around people again and become whole. 

About a Book: Why did you recommend it?

Rossana: I hope that the story would be as trippy and amazing for anyone else.

About a Book: I am struck by how short I Am Legend is-how Matheson cherry picks details so nicely, and there’s not a lot of fat to the book. Any thoughts on the sparseness of the writing? (Note: I provided a specific example of sparseness to Rossana here, but I won’t spoil the book by telling you what.)

Rossana: You know, I never thought of the Spartan-ness of the writing. It contributed overall to the "only what's necessary" feel, and heightened the vibe. So interesting you brought that up, though; I truly never thought of it before. 

About a Book: Did you see the Will Smith movie version of I Am Legend? What did you think of it?

Rossana: Friends who had seen the movie [commented] on it. I immediately wasn't interested. In fact, I was morally opposed to watching it. The fact that the film is set in New York City and later Vermont totally transforms the vibe of the story - which was originally set in [Los Angeles]. I don't know if in literature the term mise en scene [accent grave on the 1st e in "scene"] is used, but to change the location of the movie kills the plot. And there were lions or whatever running through NYC?! Amazing. Totally not worth it.

I still haven't seen the movie. Don't plan to.  

About a Book: Is this genre one you are drawn to (genre being maybe vampire or apocalypse), and why?

Rossana: First, I am generally drawn to science fiction. But vampire or apocalypse, not necessarily. I wasn't aware that this was a "vampire" book until someone else classified it as such. There are no mentions of "vampires" in the book; the second wave of evolving humans are strange, re-animating corpses; and the third wave are these almost super-humans. The shit was just trippy. No vampires. And the apocalypse was only for homo sapiens, not for the evolving humans, it was the dawn for them. 

About a Book: I read a 2005 review of the book describing it as “perhaps the greatest novel written on human loneliness.” Any thoughts on that?

Rossana: Yep. That's all there is to say. 

About a Book: Anything else you want to say about the book that I am not leading you to with my questions?

Rossana: This idea was spurred on by your last question, but I will be bold and compare the quality of the descriptions and feelings of desolation and isolation that arise from reading it to Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." Both f*ing punctured me. Had me tapping into the loneliest I've ever felt. 

About a Book: What are you reading now?

Rossana: [I] finished reading a string of romance novels. I needed some mental chewing gum. 

Between the romance novels, though, I read two memoirs: Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola, and Yesterday, I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant. 

About a Book: This was a great book to start out my year with-thanks for the recommendation-it flew by for me, and I looked forward to going back to it each time I put it down.

Rossana: YAY!

You can find Rossana’s plant medicine/herbalist website here. I hope you also get to hear her sing one day.