Richard Matheson. "Steel" was also the basis for a classic "Twilight
Zone" episode, along with other Matheson tales such as "Nightmare at 20,000
Feet," "Little Girl Lost," "Third From the Sun" and more. So who is Matheson and
why should you know him?
Simply, Matheson is one of the literary titans of science fiction and horror.
Several of his novels ("The Shrinking Man," "Hell House," "What Dreams May
Come," "A Stir of Echoes," "Bid Time Return" (filmed as "Somewhere in Time")
and, of course, his masterpiece "I Am Legend") have been made into hit films. He
adapted his short story "Duel" into a classic TV movie directed by a young
Steven Spielberg. He wrote the teleplay for another gem, "The Night Stalker,"
while his story "Prey" was part of the scary "Trilogy of Terror" starring Karen
Black. Next month, his story "Button, Button" (also a "Zone" segment) forms the
basis of the new movie "The Box," directed by Richard Kelly and starring Cameron
Diaz, with more Matheson-related properties on the way.
Matheson's clear, unsentimental prose and his matter-of-fact intrusion of the
supernatural and alien into everyday modern life have proved inspirational for
generations of genre writers. While he may not be a household name, giants such
as Stephen King and Anne Rice have touted him as a major influence on their own
work. He's still with us and still writing at 83, and if you've never read his
work, start with any of the novels above or his "Collected Stories." And look
for his name when you're watching an old "Twilight Zone"; like all his work,
it's usually the best of its kind.
(Hugh Jackman/AP)
Send us your thoughts on all things sci-fi, horror, etc. Write us at
heymsn@microsoft.com
Don Kaye covers films, TV and entertainment for MSN.com.
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