The revered Richard Matheson whose wide ranging works include the vampires in I Am Legend to the time traveling love story of Somewhere In Time, is being honored in a collection of short stories by leading authors of our time, some of whom credited Matheson with inspiring their work. Edited by Christopher Conlon, He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson includes fifteen short stories that are based or inspired by one of Matheson’s works.
Beginning with a story by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill, “Throttle” is inspired by Matheson’s “Duel”, but here a trucker goes after a motorcycle gang with blood on their hands. Also included is Nancy A. Collins’ “Return to Hell House” which is a prequel to Hell House. The book concludes with Whitley Strieber’s “Cloud Rider” where a man learns what deadly force is behind the storm.
This collection has been inspired by a wide range of Matheson’s writings and is a worthy tribute to the author. Although many of the stories may refer to a specific work, it is not necessary to have read Matheson to enjoy them. Other authors included are John Shirley, Mick Garris, Gary A. Braunbeck, Joe R. Lansdale, and F. Paul Wilson.