A fantastic anti-war novel brimming with both thrills and raw emotion. It's the kind of book that genuinely makes you empathize with everyone involved, blurring the lines between "good guy" and "bad guy." This is the novel that sparked the entire Rambo film phenomenon – the original First Blood by David Morrell. Highly recommended for fans of action thrillers and thought-provoking war stories. Looking for your next gripping read? Look no further than First Blood.

Rambo's just trying to hitchhike, minding his own business, when Teasle, the local police chief, picks him up and tries to run him out of town. Rambo doesn't give a damn about Teasle's attempts to get rid of him. He's not doing anything wrong, so he ignores Teasle's warnings. I like that Teasle is a point-of-view character; he's complex and interesting. He's not a bad guy, per se. He abuses his power, but he does it for what he thinks is a good reason. And at first, he doesn't go too far. It's...

Why read a book when they've already made a movie?I came into reading *First Blood* by David Morrell with a little trepidation since I loved the movie so much. Would this be a pile of dogmeat, or would it somehow be better than the movie? The movie captured all the great scenes of the book, but also added a few and even changed the ending. The book, however, gave all the characters a little more depth, a little more three-dimensionality, with backgrounds and histories fleshed out for the police,...

David Morrell's *First Blood* is an urban, action-packed adventure and war thriller from 1972. It throws us into the conflict between John Rambo, a Vietnam vet, and Sheriff Teasle, a small-town lawman whose wife has left him, and who's desperately searching for any reason to avoid going back to his lonely house. The novel takes a powerful, unflinching look at the experiences of military veterans returning from Vietnam during that era (Teasle is one himself). It highlights how society often view...

David Morrell published his novel *First Blood* in 1972 as a response to the Vietnam War, inspired by his students returning from service. Morrell's writing on the subject began in 1968. While many recognize the Rambo character from the Stallone films, *First Blood* originated as an allegory about war experiences, martial training, and the connection between generations of warriors. Sheriff Teasle, portrayed by Brian Dennehy in the film, holds a more significant role in the book. Every other c...

"I don't kill for a living.""Of course not. You tolerate a system that lets others do it for you. And when they come back from the war, you can't stand the smell of death on them." 68%“Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'.” - Will Smith MIB, not the originator of this quote. “Did not know who he was fucking with.” - Richard B. Riddick, escaped convict, murderer. Actually, books and movies who follow the did-not-know-who-he-was-fucking-with trope are some of my absolute favorites. However, I'm n...

David Morrell truly excels in his writing workshop, expertly delivering a visceral, stomach-churning experience that puts you right in the thick of the action. He's so good, I even borrowed the bat cave sequence for We Sold Our Souls. If you're looking for a gripping thriller, First Blood by David Morrell is a must-read.

Most people will come to *First Blood* having seen the film first, as well as the three sequels. While the book does contain the thriller aspect and some of the action of the film, it is also a kind of dark character study into how a person can be affected by military training and the traumas of war. In terms of the influence of this novel on me as an author, I would say that the protagonist, J. Rambo, has a number of similarities to my own John Kennedy character. These will become even more ap...

His name was Rambo, and he was just some nothing kid for all anybody knew, standing by the pump of a gas station at the outskirts of Madison, Kentucky. He had a long heavy beard, and his hair was hanging down over his ears to his neck, and he had his hand out trying to thumb a ride from a car that was stopped at the pump. To see him there, leaning on one hip, a Coke bottle in his hand and a rolled-up sleeping bag near his boots on the tar pavement, you could never have guessed that on Tuesday, a...

I'm almost embarrassed to admit I didn't realize the movie "First Blood" was based on David Morrell's book, *First Blood*. So, when my friend 11811 (Eleven) reviewed *First Blood*, I immediately requested a copy.The story kicks off with Rambo showing up in a small Kentucky town. The local sheriff doesn't like "his kind" around, so he hauls him out to the edge of town and dumps him there. Rambo comes back. Sheriff Teasle does it again. And again. Rambo takes exception to being told he can't be in...