Richard Matheson Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Author Richard Burton Matheson was born in Allendale, New Jersey on February 20, 1926. His parents were Norwegian immigrants (who were named Bertolf and Fanny) and they divorced when Richard was only eight years old. He was later raised, by his mom, in Brooklyn, New York. Some of his early influences included Kenneth Roberts’ novels, the film “Dracula”, and a poem that was in The Brooklyn Eagle. When he was only eight, he would get his first story published in this publication. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and served as part of the United States Army during World War II in Europe. This experience would later form the basis of “The Beardless Warriors”. When he came back home, he went to the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism and got his Bachelor of Arts in the year 1949. He died in Los Angeles, California on June 23, 2013 at the age of 87.

He married Ruth Ann Woodson in the year 1952. The couple had four kids together; three of them, Ali, Chris, and Richard Christian became fiction and screenplay writers. Only Bettina Mayberry did not pursue a career in writing.

He won lifetime Achievement awards from World Fantasy Award (in 1984) and from Bram Stoker Awards (in 1991). He won two judged awards from World Fantasy Awards, one for “Bid Time Return” (best novel of 1975) and “Richard Matheson: Collected Stories” won for the best collection of the year in 1989. He won an Edgar in 1973 for “The Night Stalker”, one of two that he wrote and Dan Curtis directed. Richard passed away a few days before he was supposed to receive the Visionary award from Saturn Awards. He was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall Fame in the year 2010.

The first novel that he ever wrote, called “Hunger and Thirst”, was long ignored by a lot of publishers. It was later published in the year 2010; a lot of his later work were books that he had written long before, but were published much later in his career. His debut novel was published in the year 1953 and was called “Someone Is Bleeding”. When he was 24 years old, he had his first story published, it was called “Born of Man and Woman”. His work blends horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and he has even written a romance novel.

It is said that the inspiration for “Duel” came from an incident that happened to him and a friend (Jerry Sohl) when they were dangerously tailgated by a huge truck. It is said to have happened on the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Besides writing fiction, he also wrote for television series. Richard wrote the screenplays for five of Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe series. He wrote for “Star Trek” (the episode from season one called “The Enemy Within”). Mainly, he was closely associated with “The Twilight Zone”, a show that he wrote over a dozen episodes of; including all of the opening and closing statements that Rod Serling spoke. Other shows he wrote for include the western series: “Have Gun—Will Travel”, “Lawman”, and “Cheyenne”.

Many of Matheson’s works have been adapted into movies. “Steel”, a short story, was turned into a movie called “Real Steel”. His
novel “I Am Legend” was made into a movie multiple times. In one of these adaptations, Will Smith starred. “Duel”, one of his
short stories, was adapted for television, by director Steven Spielberg off a screenplay that Richard Matheson wrote.

“A Stir of Echoes” is a stand alone novel and was released in the year 1958. Tom Wallace was living quite an ordinary life, until a freak incident woke up psychic abilities that he did not know he had. He is hearing people’s private thoughts and learning some shocking things that he did not want to know.

Tom’s life turns into a waking nightmare, there are much bigger things that are waiting for him. He starts being the receiver of a compelling message from someone beyond the grave.

Some see why Stephen King says that Matheson is his biggest influence on his work; his saying this is one reason that they decided to pick up his work. Fans of the novel found this to pack a lot of punch; it allows you to see the psychology of someone from the fifties. There is a ghost story and a mystery, and it was interesting to read how spouses interact with one another. It is quite obvious that Matheson is writing from before the period of Women’s Lib.

“I Am Legend” is a stand alone novel and was released in the year 1954. Robert Neville is the only living human on planet Earth, but he is not at all alone. All the other men, children, and women have become a vampire. They yearn for Robert’s blood.

He is a hunter, by day and goes looking for undead throughout what used to be mankind’s civilization. During the night, he hides in his home and hopes it is dawn soon.

How long can a single man live like Robert has been?

The adaptations do not capture Matheson’s intended message of the novel. The novel has a strong impact, and is a story where a happy ending is not at all possible. Fans of the novel like how this book takes the road less traveled to give both the hero and the reader a new perspective to make them see things in a new way.

“Bid Time Return” is a stand alone novel and was released in the year 1975. A man from modern times loves a woman that he has yet to meet. Richard Collier is thirty-six and it might be to late to meet this woman. This is because he has a brain tumor that will soon kill him. He is a screenwriter that should realize how dreams can be created from nothing.

It takes him back in time to a swanky hotel located in San Diego in 1896, and locates his soul mate that is a celebrated actress from the last century.

Fans of the novel find that the unique way this book is written will draw readers right in and keep them hooked. Some liked the way that a horror and fantasy author tries his hand at romance. From another author, this book might feel like some weirdo is following a nice and innocent young woman around. By Richard Matheson, it is something that is full of passion and melancholy and just a thing of beauty.