The Buzz...About Books

Speculative fiction writer Richard Matheson died on June 23 at the age of 87.

Although you might not recognize the name, it is likely you are familiar with his work. In addition to short stories and novels, he was also a screenwriter writing 16 episodes for the television show The Twilight Zone, including the pivotal "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode. You know the one–William Shatner sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane but can't convince anyone else that it's there.

I enjoyed reading Matheson because he wrote about people in extraordinary circumstances, always inspiring readers to consider the choices they would make in the same situation.

If you've never read anything by Matheson, get started with these:

Button, Button: Uncanny Stories
In the title story an impoverished couple is given a chance to get $50 000 if they press a button but if they press the button someone will die.

Button, Button is also a feature film:
The Box (2009)

Hell House
Four people visit a haunted house in order to discover the truth about life after death but find their own flaws and weakness exploited by the house.

I am Legend
• eAudiobook
Only one man remains after a virus turns the world's population into vampires. The slow-moving vampires in this book were the inspiration for George Romero's zombies in Night of the Living Dead.

I am Legend has been made into feature films three times:
The Last Man on Earth (1964) [eVideo format]
The Omega Man (1971)
I am Legend (2007)

Nightmare at 20000 Feet
• eAudiobook
This collection includes three stories that became episodes of The Twilight Zone:

Disappearing Act filmed as And When the Sky was Opened (DVD)

Long Distance Call filmed as Night Call (DVD)
Nightmare at 20000 Feet (DVD)