The definitive collection of terrifying stories by "one of the
greatest writers of the 20th century" (Ray Bradbury), edited by
award-winning author Victor LaValle
Among the greats of 20th-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, horror, 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 setting it in 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.
"[Matheson is] the author who influenced me most as a writer."
-Stephen King
"Richard Matheson's ironic and iconic imagination created seminal
science-fiction stories . . . For me, he is in the same category as
Bradbury and Asimov." -Steven Spielberg
"He was a giant, and YOU KNOW HIS STORIES, even if you think you don't."
-Neil Gaiman
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of
classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700
titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works
throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the
series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and
notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as
up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
**
**
