Robert Neville is the last living human in a world overrun by nocturnal, bloodthirsty creatures. By day, he scavenges supplies in Los Angeles and methodically stakes the undead while they sleep. By night, he barricades his home against their siege. Instead of relying on supernatural folklore, Neville uses microscopes and scientific experimentation to identify a bacterial cause for the plague. The collection also includes short stories that place ordinary people in surreal scenarios, such as a man haunted by a malevolent telephone call or a hitchhiker facing an inexplicable pursuer.
Science fiction readers interested in the biological explanation of monsters will find a grounded approach to the vampire myth. The book appeals to those who value psychological tension over traditional action, focusing on the mental toll of total isolation. Readers finish the collection with a different understanding of normalcy and how the definition of a monster changes when an individual becomes the minority. It provides a technical look at survival and the eventual transition from one era of humanity to the next.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1954
- Language
- EN
