First Blood

By: David Morrell

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

"HIS NAME WAS RAMBO AND HE WAS JUST SOME NOTHING KID FOR ALL ANYBODY KNEW."

The award-winning novel that inspired the legendary film series starring Sylvester Stallone.

First came the man: a young wanderer in a fatigue coat and long hair. Then came the legend, as John Rambo sprang 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.

Millions have seen the Rambo movies, but those who haven't read the book are in for a surprise - a critically acclaimed story of character, action, and compassion.

©2000 David Morell (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Pretty Good Book, Finished quickly

Pretty Good Book, I finished it quickly.

I also bought a second book (not the same series) by this author immediately after finishing this one.

Neither Side Is Right

If you've seen the movie but have not read the book, skip the authors forward at the beginning. The ending is not the same as the movie and if you listen to the forward first it will spoil that but other than that it was very enjoyable and thought provoking.

Great book, Greater performance

First I must say, seeing a child hood hero as almost a villain was complicated at times. while it's completely unfair to compare the original work to the movie I just don't see how it's possible to not put them in position against one another with the polarizing character of John Rambo. The first three quarters of this novel are excellent and I couldn't put it down, but just as the movie, the ending came so abruptly, the work almost feels unfinished. The ending of course, did not leave me with the American pride sensation that the films always did as a child, but that's the point. This book was so much deeper, spoke on a subject that I knew my father went through, and the damage that was done through the Vietnam War. I really appreciated this book, and while I still love "RAMBO" the American hero, I really appreciated "rambo" America's forgotten hero, asked to be merciless to our enemies, but mistreated by his own. Overall, I say well done.

Stallone vs Morrell

I like the story by David Morrell, but I like where Sylvester Stallone took the narrative of John Rambo. Stallone rescued Rambo from an eternal dead end and gave him a bright and profitable future.

WOW! The movie was terrible then!

They always say “the book was better” but maaaaannnn if u haven’t read this but like the movie, get ready for a ride that makes the film seem G rated in comparison!
Beyond that, the writing by Morel is bar none! A master of the thriller I can’t wait to red more from this guy!
The voice actor/reader did a super job too!

He had the right!

The beginning of the Rambo Saga, or Part I of the Trilogy. There was the young man, Rambo that entered the town in a fatigue jacket with his long hair. Then there was the town cop, Tiesel who didn’t like the man’s looks. No one in the days of Viet Nam liked the hippie-protester, soldier look. Repeatedly driven out of town, Rambo returned because he could, he had a right. After serving his country, he had the right to go where he wanted. Unfortunately, the townspeople and Tiesel didn’t see it that way. The situation escalates until a dozen people are dead tracking Rambo down.

worth the listen but..

very cool to hear the original story.. I do still prefer the movie actually..that hardly ever happens. the narrator was not the man for the job. He seemed better suited to read a computer manual and his attempt at a southern accent made it hard to listen. Everyone sounds like a stereotypical toothless gold miner. But nonetheless I'm glad I was able to hear the book.

Great listen

The complexity of the story was exceptional! The characters are connected in a way that you do not expect, based on the movie. It also, displays the difficulty of returning soldiers and how emotional difficult it is to step back into society.

Great quick read

I’m glad it was different than the movie. Just wish the authors note in the beginning would have been at the end of the book. It spoiled how the books ends.

Great narrator good story

This is a great story. Worth a credit definitely in my top 10. Rambo is a great character. I wish there was more books like this. This is my second time reading this book.