The Best of Richard Matheson

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The first career retrospective of terrifying stories by “one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century” (Ray Bradbury), as selected by award-winning author Victor LaValle

Among the greats of twentieth-century horror and fantasy, few names stand above Richard Matheson. Though known by many for novels like I Am Legend and his sixteen Twilight Zone episodes, Matheson truly shines in his chilling, masterful short stories. Since his first story appeared in 1950, virtually every major writer of science fiction and fantasy has fallen under his influence, including Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Peter Straub, and Joe Hill, as well as filmmakers like Stephen Spielberg and J. J. Abrams.

Matheson revolutionized horror by taking it out of Gothic castles and strange cosmos and into the darkened streets and suburbs we recognize as our own. He infused tales of the fantastic and supernormal with dark explorations of human nature, delving deep into the universal dread of feeling alone and threatened in a dangerous world. The Best of Richard Matheson brings together his greatest hits as chosen by Victor LaValle, an expert on horror fiction and one of its brightest talents, marking the first major overview of Matheson’s legendary career.

Critics Review

u201cMake[s] a strong case for Richard Matheson as the most influential American writer of u2018fantastikau2019 between Lovecraft and Stephen King.u201d

Washington Post

u201cMathesonu2026was the master of a particular kind of story in which puzzlement turns gradually to acceptance of an impossible-seeming reality and ultimately to full-blown panicu2026Mathesonu2019s horror is for grown-ups, those who have lost the easy credulity of the very youngu2026Heu2019s an ideal writer to read right now, becauseu2014as grown-ups knowu2014we live in unbelievable times.u201d

New York Times Book Review

u201c[A] welcome, Halloween-timed retrospective collectionu2026Only Matheson could make you believe in these preposterous-seeming stories. And leave you wanting more.u201d

Los Angeles Times

u201cTension and scares aplentyu2026These chilling page-turners still hold up, serving as an excellent starting point for a new generation of readers.u201d

Kirkus Reviews

u201cRichard Matheson is one of the giants of genre writing, and his talents are on full displayu2026This collection demonstrates the indelible influence he had on speculative literature.u201d

Publishers Weekly

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