Rambo: First Blood by David Morrell 

The classic thriller that enthralled a generation and the inspiration behind a cinematic phenomenon, Morrell’s novel First Blood is where the legend began.  Once they were soldiers: John Rambo the young Vietnam Veteran, disillusioned and ragged.  And Will Teasle, a Korean War Vet and middle aged Chief of Police.  Now they are deadly adversaries, both trained to kill, locked in a terrifying manhunt that is leading them ever closer to an inevitable crescendo of violence and destruction.  Hugely different to the audience friendly film adaptation that made Sly Stallone a superstar, the novel delves deep into the psyche of the two main characters.  With a clear critique of the Vietnam war, the novel explores the destructive nature of war and it’s effect on the two main characters, both on very different paths and on opposing sides of the law.  The result is a story that is both gritty and violent and touchingly heartfelt, as the reader sympathises with both characters, effectively thrown into their fates by forces beyond their control.