Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion

I am Legend by Richard Matheson has been selected as our next Koontz-Related Group Read. This is one of Koont'z favorite authors/titles. I am Legend will be featured for the months of April, May and June 2014. Please feel welcome to join us anytime.

I have a question about this book. According to this website, it is about 160 pages. I went to my library website to order it and they didn't have this version. They had a version with a similar cover and the Will Smith cover. The Will Smith cover says it is over 300 pages. Is this correct and if so, is there a difference between both versions? Thanks for the help.

I've never read the book. Maybe someone else knows :-)

This one with Will Smith is also listed at approx 160 pages :

This one here is over 300 pages but features I am legend & Other Stories. So it doesn't look like it matters which one you get but if you get the 300 page edition, it will have other stories as well :-)

The amount of pages in an actual book is not the same as an on-line version. The type print or page sizes are different. U can not compare a hard copy with a virtual copy if that's what u mean.

If you are talking about e-books, the number of pages should be the same now that e-books (at least Kindle books) have page numbering the same as the book. It's complicated to explain but no matter what sized type I use to read, I can find the page number for the book is the same. (At least on the latest Kindle which came out this past Fall)

I use an iPad and most books have a lot more pages then the book. It's probably a device thing. At least I think that's the case. I've never physically compared.

The Moonlit Mind has 1469 pages. I do believe it's about a 200ish page book.

They were both print books. Dustin's explanation with more stories in one version makes sense. I ordered the Will Smith version and looking forward to reading it. Thanks everyone in answering and letting me know that one version isn't an abridged version.

Diane wrote: "The Moonlit Mind has 1469 pages. I do believe it's about a 200ish page book."

The Moonlit Mind has 1,469 pages? Wow! :-)

Virtual pages. I no longer take the number of pages seriously .

I finished this one and I enjoyed it. For a book that is 60 years old, I thought it held up. Way different than the movie. I did get emotionally attached to the scene with the dog.

This book reminded me of "The Taking". The end of the world as we know it and the birth of a new one.

Jim, I'm glad you commented. I started it and found it very depressing (less than 10 percent into it) please tell me that it gets better. It just seems like there is nowhere positive for it to go.

Karen B wrote: "Jim, I'm glad you commented. I started it and found it very depressing (less than 10 percent into it) please tell me that it gets better. It just seems like there is nowhere positive for it to go."

It definitely is not a feel good book. I would stick with it. I did wonder at times why the ratings on this website were so high. I think the ending was the reason the ratings were high and that this book had a message and just wasn't a vampire story with no meaning.

I just got the audio from the library so will be joining you guys this month.

Why was I thinking the dog was there in the beginning? Nevel hasn't mentioned the dog yet so I am assuming he hasn't found him? Is he always there in the movie? It's been a while since I have seen the movie and I assume the book will be much different.

Great book, one of my favourite's.

I will have to find the audiobook myself :-)

This title is featured for the months of April, May and June so there is still plenty of time for anyone to join in.

I wasn't liking it but really got into it now. The conflict and tension is riveting. I didn't remember the dog in the first movie with Charlton Heston (The Omega Man). I didn't watch the Will Smith version because of the dog ... I was afraid it would be too sad but it's different with a book.

Tracy wrote: "Why was I thinking the dog was there in the beginning? Nevel hasn't mentioned the dog yet so I am assuming he hasn't found him? Is he always there in the movie? It's been a while since I have seen ..."

I never saw the Charlton Heston movie. In the Will Smith movie, the dog is there from the beginning. It shows flashbacks of the main character having the dog since he was a puppy.

Jim wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Why was I thinking the dog was there in the beginning? Nevel hasn't mentioned the dog yet so I am assuming he hasn't found him? Is he always there in the movie? It's been a while sinc..."

The Will Smith version with the dog just killed me. I think I actually stopped breathing for a few minutes during that scene it got to me so much.
Needless to say I haven't gotten up the courage to actually read the book as yet as I'm still traumatized by the movie too much.

If I understand from what others said, Will Smith had the dog since it was a puppy. In the book he finds the dog and it did not affect me as emotionally as I had thought it might.

I'll have to watch the Will Smith film after I read the book.

I just finished the book and after so much hesitation about it I loved it! Hollywood has a way of playing things up especially when it comes to romance and relationships with animals and guess what? I didn't cry when I read the book. Some parts were really exciting as the narrator is studying and trying to discover the cause of the "disorder".

Karen B wrote: "I just finished the book and after so much hesitation about it I loved it! Hollywood has a way of playing things up especially when it comes to romance and relationships with animals and guess wha..."

I think that's what I liked about the book also. The main character trying to find a cure and not just trying to survive. He still had hope. It seems like in modern end of the world works the story is just about the characters surviving the initial fallout.

The end of this book just left me standing looking stupid. I have gone back and re-read the last few chapters over and over but for the life of me I missed the part where (view spoiler)[he becomes the victim, well I understand that the vampires have been trying to get to him for a while but why are they afraid of him? What did I miss? (hide spoiler)]

I would like to get into a discussion of this if anyone else wants to do so. Maybe we could have a spoiler type discussion?

Tracy wrote: "The end of this book just left me standing looking stupid. I have gone back and re-read the last few chapters over and over but for the life of me I missed the part where [spoilers removed]"

Maybe I am reading too much into it (I do that) but I believe it to be a message of how people are afraid of things that are different. It was a role reversal from how people are afraid of vampires. Like I said, maybe I am reading too much into it and I totally missed the subtext.

Jim I would agree with you on that. Vampire was thought to be legend but was real: at the end is the non-vampire who becomes the legend for being different and a threat to those who have the bacteria.

Jim wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The end of this book just left me standing looking stupid. I have gone back and re-read the last few chapters over and over but for the life of me I missed the part where [spoilers re..."

It really is a lot different from the movie, at least the parts I remember of the movie anyway. It was interesting but at the same time a little on the weird side. I can understand the concept of them being afraid of Nevell because of those he has killed it's just strange that they would be afraid instead of the other way around.

Karen B wrote: "I would like to get into a discussion of this if anyone else wants to do so. Maybe we could have a spoiler type discussion?"

If there is anything you think might be a spoiler just use the spoiler alert option provided in the comment box by typing the world spoiler between pointy brackets click on(some html is ok) link for instructions (view spoiler)[ John Dies at the End! (hide spoiler)]

Finished "I am Legend", really enjoyed it! While I was reading this I kept thinking of the old movie, Night of the Living Dead. Strange, yes.

Also enjoyed the other stories in the book. May have to buy this book for my personal library!

Good to hear Danell! :-)

Since it's a lot different from the movie I may read it. Once I've seen a movie the book has never interested me since I have so many preconceptions of it.

I'm going to be reading this book tonight. Parts of the movie freaked me out, but I've been told they're pretty different.

The book is much better, one of my favorites. I have read it a couple of times. Would love to be reading it for the first time again. Enjoy.

I didn't think I'd like it, but I liked it so much that I ended up also reading another Matheson book (Hell House)

It was VERY different from the movie. I couldn't decide how I felt about the end. It was very interesting. I was preparing myself for the dog before even reading the book, but it wasn't as bad.

While I enjoyed the book, I didn't really enjoy how bland the ending felt. The book itself felt like all foreplay and no climax.

I'll probably read another Matheson book to see if that is just his style, or if this is how this particular book is. Because Koontz has some endings that made me feel this way as well. (Ahem ahem, The Taking!)

I'd like to say that if the ending hadn't felt so "I think I'll just end the book here." To me, I would have given it 5 stars.

I have this next on my To Read list. I am currently reading Brother Odd :-)

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I have this next on my To Read list. I am currently reading Brother Odd :-)"

I'm currently reading Brother Odd too. I'm around 70% in and it's taking me ages to get through. It just hasn't grabbed me like the previous Odd books :-(

Michelle wrote: "I'm currently reading Brother Odd too. I'm around 70% in and it's taking me ages to get through. It just hasn't grabbed me like the previous Odd books :-(
"

Really? I remember this one being among my favorite Odd books. Forever Odd was my least favorite, but I only read that one once so I should give it another chance. My perception changes when I read at a different time. I am not as far as you are in Brother Odd. I believe this is my second time reading Brother Odd :-) Good Luck!

Dustin Crazy,

Thank you for saying you liked my review of this book.

Jim wrote: "Dustin Crazy,

Thank you for saying you liked my review of this book."

Of course :-) You are most welcome.