The legendary author passed away on Sunday. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...ichard-matheson-i-am-legend-writer-dies-at-87 Sir Rhosis
You have no idea how many times I'd see a TV show or movie and afterwards think, "Holy crap that was awesome!"...only to see Matheson's name in the credits. The Incredible Shrinking Man Night Stalker Duel Trilogy Of Terror to name a few.
Needless to say, he wrote "The Enemy Within." His novel I AM LEGEND was filmed three times, the best one being THE OMEGA MAN. And he wrote the novel that SOMEWHERE IN TIME was based on.
Not to denigrate any of the great pieces already mentioned, but for me THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (in print AND especially on film) is just IT. And I'm pretty sure he and other members of his gang contributed to the Beaumont-credited THE INTRUDER, an early Shatner / Corman film (the one that LOST money), which may be the smartest use of Shatner's talents ever, a role which requires him to show the full range he is often too interested in trotting out.)
True story: I actually celebrated my high school graduation by going to see THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE at a local movie theater. Little did I know what a big part of life Richard Matheson would someday become.
Yeah, he wrote the screenplay for "Duel," based on his own short story. People are often surprised to find out just how much of the pop culture of the last century came from Matheson . . . .
George Clayton Johnson and his imposing mane of hair is still with us. John D. F. Black and his imposing beard is still alive. Joyce Muskat is still alive, as far as I know, though I've heard she suffers from... MS, or something of that nature. A good number of the writers, actually. Sir Rhosis