Matheson on vampires

A postscript on I Am Legend from the "wish I could write like that" department — here's a passage from his exposition as he muses about vampires:

At one time, the Dark and Middle Ages, to be succinct, the vampire's power was great, and fear of him tremendous. He was anathema and still remains anathema. Society hates him without ration.

But are his needs any more shocking than the needs of other animals and men? Are his deeds more outrageous than the deeds of the parent who drained the spirit from his child? The vampire may foster quickened heartbeats and levitated hair. But is he worse than the parent who gave to society a neurotic child who became a politician? Is he worse than the manufacturer who set up belated foundations with the money he made by handing bombs and guns to suicidal nationalists? ... Really, now, search your soul, lovie — is the vampire so bad?

All he does is drink blood.