About
Richard Matheson was an American writer born in 1926 in New Jersey and died in 2013 in Los Angeles. After serving as an infantryman in Germany during World War II, he earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. He published his first short story in 1950, then became famous with novels such as I Am Legend (1954) and The Shrinking Man (1956). He also wrote for television, including episodes of The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. His work explores themes of isolation, fear, and the human condition, and has influenced many authors and filmmakers.
* 1926-02-20 — † 2013-06-23
Major works
- I Am Legend (1954)novel
- The Shrinking Man (1956)novel
- Hell House (1971)novel
- Bid Time Return (1975)novel
- What Dreams May Come (1978)novel
Key milestones
- 1950Publication of his first short story, 'Born of Man and Woman', in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
- 1984Receives the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.
- 2010Inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
Themes
IsolationFearHuman conditionSurvivalIdentity
Sources: id.loc.gov · mopop.org · sfadb.com