This enigmatic, mysterious American science fiction writer, winner of the World Fantasy Award, was familiar to science fiction fans only from the films “The Last” and “The Shrinking Man.” This publication introduces readers to two novels by R. Matson, which formed the basis for the above-mentioned films. These are the novels “I am Legend” and “The Way Down.” They are not connected by common heroes, but they are related by the theme - the struggle of a lonely person with Fate, with Fate, with Fate. The work of R. Matson can be classified as “philosophical fantasy”. The reader will see obvious allusions to Kafka, Sartre, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky. However, the language of the works is simple and dynamic, the plot is twisted like in a good detective story. As well as a full set of fantasy elements - transformations, shifts in realities, monsters. Matson will be revealed not only as a writer who discusses “eternal themes”, but also as a master of cool fiction who knows how to tickle your nerves...Illustrations on the dust jacket, endpapers and interior illustrations by Vladislav Asadullin.