Most Popular Books by Richard Matheson

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.

When Richard Collier, a dying screenwriter, becomes infatuated with Elise McKenna, a celebrated actress at the turn of the century, his love proves strong enough to bring him through time to her side.

A collection of horror including stories such as "Third from the Sun," "Little Girl Lost," "Death Ship," and "Duel," which was the basis for the Spielberg film of the same name.

An SF novel about vampires . . . Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth . . . but he is not alone. Every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire, and they are hungry for Neville''s blood. By day he is the hunter, stalking the undead through the ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive like this?

"The novel that inspired the thrilling new movie from Artisan Entertainment starring Kevin Bacon"--Cover.

Originally published: New York: Viking Press, 1975.

What happens to us after we die? Chris Nielsen had no idea, until an unexpected accident cut his life short, separating him abruptly from his beloved wife, Annie. Now Chris must discover the true nature of life after death. But even Heaven is not complete without Annie, and when tragedy threatens to divide them forever, Chris risks his very soul to save Annie from an eternity of despair. Can love bring together what Heaven and Hell have torn asunder?

Personally selected by Richard Matheson, the bestselling author of I Am Legend and What Dreams May Come, the stories in Nightmare at 20,000 feet more than demonstrate why Matheson''s regarded as one of our most influential horror writers. Featuring the story "Duel," a nail-biting tale of man versus machines that inspired Steven Spielberg''s first film. Remember that monster on the wing of the airplane? William Shatner saw it on The Twilight Zone, John Lithgow saw it in the movie-even Bart Simpson saw it. "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" is just one of many classic horror stories by Richard Matheson that have insinuated themselves into our collective imagination. Here are more than twenty of Matheson''s most memorable tales of fear and paranoia, including: "Prey," in which a terrified woman is stalked by a malevolent Tiki doll, as chillingly captured in yet another legendary TV moment; "Blood Son," a disturbing portrait of a strange little boy who dreams of being a vampire; "Dress of White Silk," a seductively sinister tale of evil and innocence. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

An essential collection of rare tales of terror from the multi-award-winning Twilight Zone scripter and I Am Legend author—only available in ebook format. A researcher encounters an exotic new strain of "Backteria" that causes the infected person to vanish—leading the doctor on a path of discovery deep into a past he should have left buried. A simple "Haircut" that starts off as a routine trim becomes a dark and terrifying experience when a barber is confronted with a sick customer who seems otherworldly. A case of mistaken identity leads to a darkly farcical story of marriage, murder, and a love that knows no bounds in "Getting Together." Backteria & Other Improbable Tales gathers these and sixteen more uncanny short stories from master storyteller Richard Matheson, "one of the great names in American terror fiction" ( The Philadelphia Inquirer). Stories include: "Backteria", "He Wanted to Live", "Life Size", "Man with a Club", "Professor Fritz and the Runaway House", "Purge Among Peanuts", "The Prisoner", "The Last Blah in the ETC", "Counterfeit Bills", "1984 1⁄2", "Pride", "Now Die In It", "Leo Rising", "Where There''s a Will" (written with Richard Christian Matheson), "Getting Together", "Person to Person", "CU: Mannix", "Haircut", "An Element Never Forgets" "The author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson." —Stephen King "Perhaps no other living author is as responsible for chilling a generation with tantalizing nightmare visions." — The New York Times "Matheson''s a writer who just has the special knack, the deft skill to imagine terrifying scenarios on any scale, large and small, and give them chilling possibility." — Los Angeles Times

In this suspense thriller by the author of I Am Legend and Now You See It, a man is on the run for his life after he''s replaced by an impostor. Government mathematician Chris Barton lives a routine life—until, at the end of an ordinary workday, he finds his car missing from the employee parking lot. When he finally arrives home, there is a stranger living in his house—a man who claims to be him. Thrust suddenly into a surreal world where the evidence of his senses cannot be trusted and strangers are trying to kill him, Chris must avoid violent assassins while following a trail of cryptic clues to regain his life . . . "Matheson is the master of paranoia—pitting a single man against unknown horrors and examining his every slow twist in the wind. 7 Steps is a book to be devoured in one long swallow." — San Jose Mercury News "Richard Matheson is one of the great names in American terror fiction. 7 Steps to Midnight commands attention. . . . The writing is fortunately up to Matheson''s high standards. This is a novel that flies across the page." — The Philadelphia Inquirer Praise for Richard Matheson "The author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson." —Stephen King "One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century." —Ray Bradbury

Hollywood screenwriter Matheson''s first novel is a glossy thriller set in the ruthless world of prime-time TV. When a young TV writer finally comes up with a blockbuster--a violent series called "The Mercenary"--the plots he creates chillingly become real. For a copycat killer is imitating events from the show. . . .

The bestselling author of such classic novels as I Am Legend and What Dreams May Come, Richard Matheson is one of the twentieth century''s acknowledged masters of suspense. Hunted Past Reason is a major literary event: Matheson''s first new novel in seven years-and a gripping tale of madness, paranoia, and murder. It''s supposed to be just an ordinary camping trip, two old acquaintances hiking through the wilderness toward a remote cabin in the woods of northern California. Bob Hansen, a middle-aged family man and author, isn''t anticipating anything worse than sore muscles and maybe a few chilly nights. But the enforced isolation of the hike soon exposes long-hidden rivalries and resentments between Bob and his guide through the forest, a fading TV actor whom Bob has known for several years. The deeper they get into the primeval wilderness and the farther from civilization, the greater the tension between the two men becomes-until the simmering hostility erupts into a terrifying life-or-death struggle for survival. Two men entered the woods, but only one may emerge alive. Hunted Past Reason is a nail-biting thriller in the classic Matheson tradition. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A collection of short stories from the genre fiction Grand Master and New York Times –bestselling author of I Am Legend . The basis for the science fiction film Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman, Richard Matheson''s "Steel" was previously filmed as a powerful episode of the original Twilight Zone television series—and is just one of over a dozen unforgettable tales in this outstanding collection, which includes two new stories that have never appeared in any of the multi-award-winning author''s previous collections. Also featured is a bizarre satirical fantasy, "The Splendid Source," that was turned into an episode of Family Guy. A Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductee, and the winner of the World Fantasy and Bram Stoker awards for Lifetime Achievement, Matheson''s Steel: And Other Stories demonstrates once again the full range of his legendary imagination.

Maximilian Delacorte was once the world''s greatest stage magician--until a mysterious disease ended his career forever. Now, after months of seclusion, Max has lured his family and associates to his lonely mansion for an afternoon of magic, madness and revenge. As grisly tricks lead to ever more surprising twists, not even The Great Delacorte can tell where the illusion ends and murder begins.

Four classic novels of murder, madness, revenge, and survival by "one of the great names in American terror fiction" ( Philadelphia Inquirer). I Am Legend Named the best vampire novel of the century by the Bram Stoker Estate, I Am Legend is the story of the last man to survive a pandemic that turned the rest of humanity into blood-sucking monsters. Someone Is Bleeding In Matheson''s debut novel, a young novelist falls for a beautiful woman who is involved with a shady lawyer. But the love triangle turns dangerous when corpses begin to pile up in the woman''s wake. Ride the Nightmare A family man saving up for larger home, Chris Martin lives a conventional life—until a secret from his past invades his home, threatening everything he has built. Fury on Sunday A lunatic pianist escapes from an insane asylum one Sunday morning and spends the next four hours on a revenge-fueled rampage to find his erstwhile manager and his lover''s new husband.