Gauntlet Press publisher Barry Hoffman has penned a highly interesting, story-filled tribute to the late Richard Matheson —

Lastly (I could relate dozens of anecdotes), there was his aversion (early on) to dustjackets for his books. The first book of Richard’s we published was I Am Legend. He wanted just a red cover with his signature stamped on the front cover along with a blue slipcase. When I prepared to publish Hell House I asked him what color cover did he desire. He said to make it just like Legend, red with a blue slipcase. I mentioned this to his son, Richard Christian Matheson, whom I had become friendly with. R.C. almost screamed through the phone, “Hell House can’t be red!!! It has to be black with a black slipcase.” I persuaded R.C. to talk it over with his father. Richard called me and agreed to the black book/black slipcase. He then paused a few seconds. “What is the next book going to be … pink?”

[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]