The great science fiction, fantasy and horror writer Richard Matheson has passed away, ending what one fellow writer called “a supernova lifetime of writing.”
Matheson wrote many books, including: The Shrinking Man, What Dreams May Come and I Am Legend. Macmillan has a long list of his great books.
Personally, I will never forget reading The Shrinking Man as a teenager, blown away by the cosmic themes explored inside that slender book. Many of his books were turned into classic films, but his novels deserve to be remembered by themselves as well.
Author Harlan Ellison posted this tribute to the great author:
If there is anyone out there who didn’t know I worshipped him, from his first story, “Born of Man and Woman” (which I read the day it was published back in 1950), to his second story, “Witch War,” on through every book–western, mystery, fantasy–for a supernova lifetime of writing mentioned in the same breath with Poe and Borges, then they haven’t read my many encomia to Richard’s singular top-of-the-mountain talent. I called Ruth, to weep, and got Ally, whom I used to date, and her brother, Dick’s son, Richard Christian, and was barely able to gasp out the usual irrelevancies. Frankly, I am downsmashed.
(Image via Beth Gwinn)