Common Things

A couple of weeks ago, while fighting the type of cold that allows one to do little more than watch television and sleep, I had the good fortune to run across a Planet of the Apes marathon. It was just the thing to keep me entertained between medication and naps.

The original movie still holds up well, and as far as great story lines go, I think it’s fantastic. I also love Charlton Heston as Taylor, but it’s not my favorite role of his. When I think of Charlton Heston, my first thought isn’t of Ben Hur, nor is it of Soylent Green. Both cross my mind, but for me, Charlton Heston is The Omega Man, and given my love of Vincent Price, that’s saying something.

No one ever seems to know what movie I’m talking about when I mention The Omega Man. I’ve even tried to ring bells by referencing The Last Man on Earth, but I always get the same blank stares. Now that I Am Legend is out there, I hope that will change, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

The last time I was at Starbuck’s, the trivia question was “Who wrote I Am Legend?” Shockingly, no one had come up with the correct answer before me, and the barista was impressed but not shocked I knew the answer. (I’ve had a bit of a run at Starbuck’s when it comes to trivia, and soon I shall need to stop letting them grab items from my brain while I sleep.)

I rifled off some of the other stuff Richard Matheson has written to see if I could ring bells with any of the baristas, but nothing really worked. Actually, all it did was secure my oddity in their eyes, but in a good way. I think.

Here’s the thing about Richard Matheson: he’s written a ton of material that is absolutely dear to me. I know. I know. Who among us can’t say that about our favorite authors, right? Well this is different because the works I’m talking about have come over the course of the last thirty years of my life, and until about a year ago, I had no idea one guy’s brain was responsible for all that stuff.

I’m a huge fan of The Twilight Zone, and when the attempt was made in the 80’s to bring back the magic of the original series, there was one episode that stuck with me: “Button, Button.” It is the kind of story I've always wanted to write.

The original series also featured a tale that is better known for William Shatner’s being in it than for Matheson’s writing: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” In addition to that episode, Matheson wrote The Twilight Zone episodes “A World of His Own,” “Nick of Time” (another episode with Shatner), “The Invaders” (which stars a lineless Agnes Moorehead), and about ten others.

During the early eighties, I saw a movie that struck me in the same way as “Button, Button”: the story was so fantastic, I wanted to grow up and write like that. It’s called Somewhere in Time.

I also grew up watching Star Trek, and one of the best episodes—aside from "The Trouble with Tribbles"—was written by Matheson: “The Enemy Within.” Kirk is split in two during a transporter malfunction, and one of him is good while the other of him is evil. The story goes on to explore how each of us needs both good and bad to survive and to be who we are. (Reread that last part—to. . .be. . .who. . .we. . .are—in your best Kirk voice.)

There’s a ton of other stuff this guy has done that most people know of: The Incredible Shrinking Man, A Stir of Echoes, and What Dreams May Come are some of the biggies, yet I’m willing to bet that for as many people as there are who have heard of one or more of his bigger works, almost none of them know the man’s name.

I find this sad. I’m just happy to know he’s out there writing the kinds of things that make me rethink the world, take another look out of the corner of my eye, and dream of someday writing something like that.

Oh, and did I mention that “Button, Button” is being filmed? The title is The Box, and I can’t wait to see it.