I Am Legend starts with a solid, if not overused and interesting premise. Nelville is the last man left on earth, or so he suspects, after vampires have taken over. If anything, that in itself adds a reason to read the book. It's really a rather formulaic book, pretty predictable at points but symbolic and poignant at others. And perhaps that's where the strengths end. 
 I Am the Legend is just far too choppy, short and unable to flesh out into something bigger. Much potential, wasted on the second part of the book where the book starts to climax (and of course I won't spoil it). Nelville himself, his past, could have been used better emotionally, truly characterizing him as the sole survivor. Rather, the novel uses his rage has a device to characterize him - lacking the depth needed to sway readers. 
 I am the Legend, is with no regard a bad book, but by the standards of literary masterpieces, it has not a good book. It is a popular, enjoyable, and straight forward easy book to see, maybe, like the brainless shows we seem to enjoy on TV. Far too simple, far too little, far too less is in I Am a Legend to win it the literary strength it needs to succeed.