By: David Morrell Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Grand Central Publishing Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 320 Publication Date: February 01, 2000
Product Description: From New York Times bestselling author David Morrell comes the novel upon which the box office superhit Rambo was based. First came the man: a young wanderer in a fatigue coat and long hair. Then came the legend, as John Rambo sprang up from the pages of First Blood to take his place in the American cultural landscape. This remarkable novel pits a young Vietnam veteran against a small town cop who doesn't know whom he's dealing with -- or how far Rambo will take him into a life-and-death struggle through the woods, hills, and caves of rural Kentucky.
Book vs. Movie vs. Reality War is nasty business. It always has been and always will be. And when you send young men (and women these days) off to war to become good and competent killers what returns home may not necessarily be something you counted on.Scars carry memories. David Morrell's 1972 book, FIRST BLOOD, was our introduction to Rambo and the book is quite different from the movie. But hey! Which book adapted to the big screen isn't? Without giving away too many of the differences in the book plot like the Kentucky setting vs. the Washington State setting, (which was actually filmed in British Columbia, by the way) let's just say the book is more true to life than the big screen shoot 'em up where few die but there are lots of explosions and calculated woundings. Hollywood gave us an over-the-top big screen one man army but the fact is, most highly decorated combat veterans aren't Rambos but good soldiers, sailors, marines or airmen who simply did what they had to do at the time to help others, stop what was happening or to survive. There are no 'Armies of One,' just Armies of everyday citizens who either become very good at their jobs in the short-term (or long term, for that matter) and return to civilian life, for good or ill with the training and harrowing experiences still bubbling very close to the surface. FIRST BLOOD shows a close-up look at PTSD long before it was recognized as such and what happens when it is left untreated and then abused. Morrell did a good job with the plotting where the unfortunate sequence of events esclates out of control until the ultimate and plausible ending. How good is the good guy and how bad is the bad guy and where do they merge in the novel? A good cautionary tale from a writer who knows how to write credible fiction.
They drew first blood, not me.... "First Blood" is one of my favorite movies, has been since I was a kid! Sylvester Stallone played a great John Rambo and I don't think any actor could have done it better, but thats the movie version...
"First Blood" by David Morrell is a great book and after reading it for the first time, I can tell you the movie is very, very loosely based off the novel.
Morrell's main character (Rambo) and the movie Rambo are really nothing alike. In the book, he is referred to as Rambo or the kid, there is no mention ever of his first name being John. The book takes place in Kentucky, not the Pacific Northwest and in the book Rambo does'nt carry 14' survival knife. In the movie version Rambo only kills one person that you know for sure (accidentally, when he throws the rock at the helicopter and the deputy falls out), in the book, his death toll is in double digits by the end. Alot of the great, famous lines from the movie "they drew first blood, not me", are not in the book. Colonel Trautman nevers talks to Rambo once in the book, whereas in the movies they are friends.
The book really explains both characters points of view well, breaking down Sheriff Teasle and Rambo to the point where you really dont know who to root for towards the end of the book. Both men are war heros, both refuse to give up or back down.
A really good chase novel from start to finish, keeps you on the edge of your seat!
A must read for all "Rambo" fans and anyone who likes a great action novel, I really enjoyed this book~
** WARNING ** At the beginning of the paperback version of "First Blood", there is a section called (Rambo & Me) written by the author in 2000. The author explains how he came up with the idea for "First Blood" and talks about the book, compared to the movie. About three pages in, Morrell tells you the ENDING OF THE BOOK?????, the ending is different than the movie and should be a surprise. I read the (Rambo & Me) section and was completely disappointed to read the ending before I read the first page and I'm still baffled and why the author chose to do this. Beware!
Not what I expected, but very okay, Not as good as the film. This is very much like Jaws. That book was also made famous by a brilliant classic film. So this has alot to live up to. sadly its not Stallone, it long winded and boring in places. Still worth reading, but probably better if you had not seen the brillaint films first. This is just an average book.
There are no friendly civilians. I liked this book. Unlike the movie, Rambo is much more dysfunctional in the book. The war has taken a tremendous toll on young Rambo and after convalescing in a hospital he is released and found backpacking in Madison where Teasle is the chief of police. Teasle isn't really a nice guy but he is nowhere near the complete antagonist that is portrayed by Brian Dennehy in the movie adaptation. He does give Rambo an opportunity to eat and get out of town which is exactly what he isn't let to do in the movie. In fact, he aggravates Teasle to the point that it does look like Rambo should be locked up while being investigated to see if he is wanted for outstanding crimes. After getting arrested Teasle runs his routine arrest like he was headmaster of Guantanamo Bay giving Rambo flashbacks of being a POW. From there it is routine warfare for Rambo as he tries to get free of Teasle to make it to Mexico while unleashing his skills as a Green Beret on anyone and everyone he comes into contact with.
The characters are rather flimsy in the book. The main characters are all idiots and sadists for the most part so you're left with none to root for. With that said, it's cool to get a glimpse into Ramob's psyche as he's wasting everyone. Enjoy!
GREAT read you've seen the movies, you've bought the knives, you got the doll, you've played the game!! now.. take a couple of hours and read the book.. Morrell is an excelent auther, and this is a very indepth look and the inner being of John Rambo.
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