That's a shame.<p>For those that only know I Am Legend via the film, I definitely recommend reading the book. They don't have much in common apart from zombies and the title.
Richard Matheson was the Donald Knuth of horror and SF TV tropes. A giant has fallen.<p>As for _I am Legend_, _The Last Man on Earth_ was debatably the closest adaptation.
He lived a long, great life and left a wonderful legacy behind and for that I thank him. Goodbye Richard, you will be appreciated more than you will be missed, a rare feat.