Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson may not be a household name for you, but chances are you're familiar with his work.  Matheson was a prolific author and screenwriter who died this week at the age of 87.  He wrote numerous books and short stories, primarily in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror.

 Six of Matheson's novels have been adapted as major motion pictures - the most well-known being I am Legend. Others include The Shrinking Man, Hell House, and Stir of Echoes.

Maybe you know his work writing for the television show, The Twilight Zone?  He wrote one of the most famous and often referenced episodes of the show, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet."  Gremlins staring into airplane windows?  We can thank Richard Matheson for that little bit of horror!

Here's one last work of his that you might know.  Matheson's short story "Duel" was directed by Steven Spielberg in 1971.  The iconic images of that rusty tanker barreling after Dennis Weaver's red Plymouth, horn blaring will stick with me as one of the scariest movies I've seen!  Watch the trailer and remember the fear.

A big thanks to Mr. Matheson for such memorable work.  Many of his novels, short stories, and movies can be found in the Sno-Isle Libraries catalog.