Richard Matheson, the SF writer transitioned last week.

Image from:
Cinefestival Blogosfere

Who is Richard Matheson?  you may ask, if you’re not familiar with the SF genre.  I bet if I mention a few of his stories for both the screen and the page you’ll know him:
–Twilight Zone’s
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
–1971 Duel
–I Am Legend
–What Dreams May Come

See?  Now, maybe you understand why I do my best to influence people to pick up that SF/F book.  Take a chance on the genre.  If you wish to purchase any use THIS link:
Richard Matheson

Matheson is just one influential writer in that genre.  How many others have you passed up on because you don’t like SF?  I find it interesting when people who haven’t even deigned to look at SF literature, thinking:
Oh I don’t like that.

How do you know you don’t like it if you have never read anything in the genre?

Have you seen Duel?
Have you seen the Twilight Zone?
Have you seen What Dreams May Come?
How about Will Smith’s I Am Legend?

Did you enjoy those?

I’m so fortunate to be able to say that I met Richard Matheson in 1993 when he played Grand Master at the World Horror Convention (WHC) in Stamford Connecticut.  Matheson and I spoke at length about his influence in not only visual media but also in the written world.  So many of his stories, not just the ones listed above have influenced countless authors today.  I told him so as well.  He seemed genuinely pleased and as we passed each other throughout the convention, Matheson always stopped to say hello.  That convention changed my perspective on many authors I followed throughout their careers.

Matheson especially however as I recalled the Twilight Zones he penned and Duel as well.  I’ve seen Somewhere in Time, the Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour movie that was adapted from Matheson’s story Bid Time Return, many times over and I’ve read the book a few times too.  On one of the other occasions during the WHC when he walked by me, I stopped and spoke with him about the book and the movie.  I mentioned how much I enjoyed both.

See, now?

There’s another example of a popular movie that I’d be willing to bet many of you didn’t know that Richard Matheson penned.

My task set down for you now is to find a Matheson book.

–Be it:
Bid Time Return
–Be it:
What Dreams May Come
–Be it the short:
Duel

Read one of his stories then tell me you don’t like SF.

Richard Matheson will be missed.

Be Happy!  Be Well!  Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris