Reviews

First Blood by David Morrell

rschmidt7's review against another edition

5.0

Even better than the movie, if that's possible. Different enough from the Stallone version to be well worth the read.

neon_ghouls9's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

paintchipped's review against another edition

3.0

Been a while since I've read a whole book in only a few hours.

petealdin's review against another edition

5.0

Masterful. Absolutely s***s on the movies and their ridiculous dilution of what Morrell set out to achieve.

Rambo in this novel is complex, snarky, fuming, alive. Unlike Stallone's deadpan rendition. And Rambo is definitely not the good guy in the book.

A piece of literature as well as a first rate thriller.

This is my second read of the book after forty-odd years.

The only thing I'd recommend is people don't buy the HEADLINE publishers edition because it is absolutely rife with mistakes: typos, missing punctuation, wrong words... Get another edition.

bwky85's review against another edition

5.0

This one is an absolute crackpot! The movie, though kept the same tone, doesn’t hold a candle to this read.

readacorn's review against another edition

4.0

Kurzmeinung /Lese- und Hörerlebnis
Als Stallone/Rambo- Fan war diese Lektüre für mich längst überfällig. Man ist es ja gewohnt, dass Bücher tiefer gehen als Filme, aber in diesem Fall hat mich das Ausmaß doch erstaunt. Den Hintergrund von Teasle, die Beziehung zu Trautman und vor allem John Rambos innere Dialoge geben noch einmal ein ganz anderes Licht auf die Geschichte. Teils auf dem Kindle gelesen, teils mit von Audible vorlesen lassen, war der Sprecher sehr gut. Die Dialekte hat er sehr glaubhaft interpretiert und bei Trautman hätte ich glauben können, es spricht Richard Crenna. Dass der Ausgang im Buch anders ist als im Film wusste ich wohl, dennoch barg es für mich eine Überraschung. Ich bin froh, diese Lücke jetzt geschlossen zu haben.

fiannamck's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

haakansoderstrom's review against another edition

5.0

Excelente, la dinámica del relato te hace sentir en carne propia lo que van viviendo los dos personajes principales, la acción se sucede sin pausas y te ma tiene atento todo el tiempo. Suelo leer muchos libros en simultáneo, pero está nobela me hizo suspender todas mis lecturas para poder leerla toda de un tirón.

Violento al extremo, por momentos reflexivo, angustiante y desesperante. todas sensaciones muy fuertes que incluso en algunos pasajes obligan a dejar de leer y tomarse unos minutos para recuperar el aliento.

throatsprockets's review against another edition

5.0

This raw and angry debut novel - about two men refusing to back down no matter how many people die - seems as relevant to modern America as it did to the Vietnam War era. It races the reader through unrelenting violence, trenchant socio-political commentary, intense characterisation and unexpected mysticism and dumps you out the other end exhausted and with a head full of fascinating but contradictory notions. High recommend to anyone with a tolerance for gore and machismo.

writermattphillips's review against another edition

3.0

A postwar novel with mass market appeal... I see why it's so famous.