[.ca] First Blood (ISBN 0446364401)

First Blood is Society Defined:
First Blood, while exciting and full of action, is not a great novel, but it is an important one, especially when considering the time of it's release. As almost any other novel ever transformed into a movie, First Blood contains a great more amount of depth in each character, driving the story to it's tragic but inevitable climax. I best interpreted this novel as two forms of Audie Murphy battling against each other. Of course, we all know Audie Murphy, the renowned World War II hero who returned, though affected by his experience, a celebrity to the United States. In First Blood, Teasle (the Brian Dennehy character in the movie) is perhaps the Audie Murphy of Korea, while he did not return home to celebrity, was recognized and able to achieve a comfortable life. However, his personal life is currently failing and he begins to drive his ambition towards his profession, leading him to Rambo. If Teasle is the Audie Murphy of Korea, then Rambo is the Audie Murphy of Vietnam. A decorated war hero, he comes home to find only isolation and no recognition, displaying both the government's and society's aging ignorance and denouncement of soldiers and veterans from the time of World War II to the Vietnam era. If Audie Murphy performed the same heroic duties in Vietnam rather than World War II, he would most likely become the broke, drifting, mentally and emotionally scarred Rambo that we find in the novel. Teasle apprehends the drifting Rambo, but when he makes his escape, Teasle and Rambo find themselves in a violent battle that defines both their lives during and after their time of war. Teasle advances into the mountain (a mythological symbol itself of transformation) seeking Rambo using similar tactics as those of the Korean War. Growing with every body count is Teasle's understanding that he will not achieve his goal as Rambo holds the advantages that American soldiers fell prey to during the time of Vietnam. Thus, this becomes a battle not just between the two men, but between the generations. Col. Sam Trautman (portrayed by Richard Crenna in the movie) appears as a strong symbol of the government. He is the man that created and fathered his soldier, but he will also become the man who will lead him to his mortal climax. Many details of the novel are unrealistic, especially to any of those with military experience, possibly deverting much of their interest. However, in it's persistance, this novel is a deep study of American society's development and expression (from both the establishment and citizens) throughout the century. Therefore, First Blood is certainly a good read for those who not just care to study America's past, but caution for the future.

What one could never imagine.....:
"First Blood" tells the story of a young man named Rambo. Rambo,a former Green Beret of the Vietnam War,endured some of the most brutal and fearful experiences while in Vietnam. Now,Rambo has become a grimy vagrant. The only one thing that Rambo wants to do now? Settle down in the small,peaceful town of Madison,Kentucky. However,upon Rambo's arrival in Madison,things take a quick and rough turn around the corner. This is when the Sheriff of Madison,Wilfred Teasle,throws Rambo out of Madison. A veteran of the Korean War who's accomplishments and respect in Korea are supplemented by his accomplishments and respect in Madison,Teasle isn't going to let a Vietnam vagrant come in and destroy a thing. Yet,despite that,Rambo is a young man who has been through hell and back. Nobody is going to stand in his way,and nobody is going to push him back over the edge. And once Wilfred Teasle,his colleagues,and his non-colleagues discover this,the next few days of their lives are going to be as turbulent as they will be one thing:forever changed. "First Blood" is one of the most intelligently crafted novels ***ever*** written. A brilliant concept used for the plot,"First Blood" takes both the concept and the plot and bring them to life. This is by the pages of "First Blood" having exhilarating action that remains true to that of the Vietnam War,blending that in with the regular action required by the story. Add all of that in together with the impeccable character chemistry of "First Blood" that is used in both the action and non-action scenes. This,right here,is the heart and soul of "First Blood". It gives "First Blood" a large amount of true and original life. It richly executes all of the ideas,concepts,and "scenes" in "First Blood" to the fullest. Everything there,alongside how "First Blood" takes on the issues of civil disobedience,the Vietnam War,and what serving in Vietnam did to some people(by the way in which the character of Rambo was written)and works them in both keenly and appropriately,with "First Blood",you have an astounding work of art. There are actually three versions of "First Blood" available:the original 1972 hardback printing,the 1973 paperback printing,and the current paperback printing that was re-released in 2000. If you want an easy and convenient time in getting your copy of "First Blood",just buy the current paperback printing. It happens to come with an introduction by David Morrell,something not included in the original novel. However,if you want to discover "First Blood" in its fullest talent,search out either the 1972 or 1973 printing. Not only will you being hanging onto a collector's item(the original printings being out of print,the way the novel's success sank to the very bottom in the 80's after Ronald Reagan's joke pertaining to the "Rambo" films and now knowing what to do the next time a terrorist/hostage crisis arose was taken seriously by a foreign newspaper,and,to a certain aspect,the drawing of Rambo on the cover,the comparisons between how differently David Morrell and Sylvester Stallone "documented" Rambo being present and recognized),you get to discover "First Blood" in its very original context:the intruiging thing being that it was released around the era of Vietnam,during the Nixon administration. Overall,writing at its very best. Whether you are or are not a fan of the "Rambo" films,if you are an avid reader,"First Blood" is one novel that you don't want to miss out on. No fiction novel ever had so much life to it--no fiction novel ever had such a strong look at important and controversial issues,either.

Reality:
Although this is a good book, most of Morrell's later books are more exciting. The saddest aspect between the book and the movie is that one of Hollywood's biggest cowards is portraying a Special Forces soldier. Stallone, when he had the chance to actually be a real man, ran off to Europe. There is nothing psychotic about Rambo. He is simply fighting back against injustice. Upholding the Special Forces motto of "Free the Oppressed". Although the liberal image of Special Forces, ie Green Berets, is of a lunatic baby-killer, the real fact is that Special Forces soldiers have very few cases of psyochological problems. Less than the military in general and much less than the self induced stress created by mildless drones in the civilian sector.

Morrell's Best:
this book is way better than the movie. the way that morrell write is pretty good. you know the character better and the action and thrill are great. i recommand it to not only rambo fan, but every reader.

Action Packed Book!:
After being a fan of the "Rambo" and "First Blood" movies I finally got around to reading the book that these best selling movies were based on.In the book John Rambo is a drifter who is arrested in a small town in Kentucky for vagrancy.After mistreat- ment and abuse by the Deputies John mops up in the Sheriff's Department deputies. The Sheriff,Teagle is determined to conquer John Rambo.He has no idea that Rambo is a former Special Forces officer.Rambo turns out to be Sheriff Teagle's worse nightmare. He used his training to battle Sheriff Teagle and his forces in the hills and caves of Kentucky.A book that you will not soon forget.Read this book and you will have a greater appreciation of the Rambo movies.