First Blood
Oct 2011 · David Morrell
4.6star
141 reviewsreport
eBook
270
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About this eBook
From New York Times bestselling author, David Morrell, comes a classic thriller that introduced the character of Rambo, one of the most iconic action heroes of the twentieth century. Called “the father of the modern action novel,” FIRST BLOOD changed the genre. Although the book and the film adaptation have similarities, they are very different, especially its unexpected ending and its greater intensity. If you’ve only experienced the film, you’re in for a surprise. Once they were soldiers. Rambo, the ragged kid whose presence in town is considered a threat. And Teasle, the Chief of Police of Madison, Kentucky. Both have been trained to kill: Rambo in Vietnam, Teasle in Korea. They learned different military tactics, different ways of death and survival in two different wars. Now, without warning, they are enemies in a civilian combat that becomes a chase through the woods and mountains and caves above the town. As we follow them, we understand that once a man has been trained as a killer, perhaps he is changed forever. Award-winning FIRST BLOOD was published in 1972, was translated into 26 languages, and has never been out of print. It was one of the first novels to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. David’s novelizations for RAMBO (FIRST BLOOD PART II) and RAMBO III are available as e-books. They’re quite different from the films and include revealing introductions. See also David’s RAMBO AND ME: THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY.
Critical reactions:
“A fine novel. . . . When Johnny comes marching home this time, watch out.” —The New York Times Sunday Book Review
“A first-rate thriller.” —Newsweek
“One of the finest chase novels you will ever read.” —Minneapolis Tribune
“A terrific thriller.” —Saturday Review
“One hell of a hard, fast novel.” —John D. MacDonald
Ratings and reviews
4.6
141 reviews
Alex Kennedy
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8 August 2021
I have not yet read this book, but if you have not seen the film or know the story (my case), DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION. The author had a moment of complete idiocy and spoils the ending of his introduction. I now know how the book will end after reading the introduction. How utterly asinine, what kind of a moron explains the ending to his novel in the introduction? So dumb, I have much less interest in reading now. Idiot summarizes his entire book in the first couple pages. Unreal.
1 person found this review helpful
Carter Emory
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24 February 2024
A book far from the movie, but a genuinely thrilling read. If you were yearning a story about a redemption, don't waste your breath: this story is absolutely BRUTAL. Within the first half of the book, you just know things are not going to go over pretty and dandy; all out hell's gonna break loose. And that's just what happens: all out war, brought to the forefront between a war vet, and a war-torn young man, who's got nothing left but his training, his scars, and his memories. I preferred the movie's ending (who doesn't like a more sympathetic and understandable character versus a cold-blooded stonewall gone feral?), but I appreciate the roots of this story that made up the movie more. Far greater imagery portrayed, far more fast pacing and intense mental descriptions when a character's perspective is being vocalized. A lot of that, and it's brilliant. Take it away as a reminder: our men and women who serve, even the rough patches, need some level of respect and peace.
David J. Curtis
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13 November 2016
If you liked the movies then you'll love the book. I won't spoil it for you but the ending is totally different from the ending rewritten by Stallone allowing him to make movie sequels.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
David Morrell, an award-winning Canadian writer of horror fiction, was born in 1943 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He was educated at the University of Waterloo and earned his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. Morrell is best known as the creator of John Rambo, the hero of his first novel, First Blood. The novel was adapted for screen and starred Sylvester Stallone. Although Morrell was not happy with the depiction of the Rambo character in the movie, he did write several sequels to First Blood and two further scripts for the sequels to the original movie. He also wrote a number of other books including The Brotherhood of the Rose which became a best seller in 1984. David Morrell has written one scholarly work, John Barth: An Introduction, published by Pennsylvania State University in 1977 and has taught at the University of Iowa. He now lives in the United States with his wife and daughter (another child, a son, is deceased).
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