Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve been a fan of Rambo. But I wasn’t a fan of the Rambo that most people think of when they talk about the character. My first exposure was Rambo: First Blood part II. It was nearly 20 years before I saw First Blood from beginning to end, and I was immensely surprised by the tonal differences from the sequels.Surprised, but not upset. First Blood was a pretty damn fine film, and when I found out that the series was based on a book, I knew I wanted to read it. It would be another handful of years before I got around to it: I’ve only just read the book this week.The first day I had it, I burned through 100 pages in a single sitting. That’s not how I tend to read, because as much as I enjoy reading, my eyes aren’t what they once were and the constant pain in my body makes it difficult to focus on reading for long periods of time. I moved through the remainder of the book much slower than in that first sitting – about 20 pages at a time – but I still got through it in five days. That’s a lot faster than I read most books.I'll avoid talking too much about the plot, as most people will know it by now. But there are some things I want to touch on.Spoilers below.What really stands out about the book is just how... proactive Rambo is when compared to the film version. He has no qualms with straight murdering people: during the jail escape, he immediately disembowels a man with the razor Teasle is trying to use to shave him. Later in the woods, he uses a rifle to kill the police office that’s shooting at him from the helicopter and managed to force the thing into crashing, killing the pilot. He then lays an ambush for Teasle’s men and wastes no time gunning down the 70-year-old dog trainer.I could go on, but you get the idea. Once he’s switched back on during his Vietnam flashback, he never shuts it down again. The movie version seems reluctant to cause harm, he goes out of his way not to kill people. Not so in the book. Rambo’s body count is astronomical. It’s an interesting thematic difference.The whole third act is really different from the film, especially where Trautman is concerned. In the book, Trautman knows Rambo by reputation alone, they don’t share the close familial bond depicted in the film. Trautman’s role in events is greatly increased in the film, and it’s for the better.Over all I think it's a very good book, I highly recommend people read it. The film does some things better, but the book gets deeper into characterizing both Rambo and Teasle, something the film could have desperately used. I'd also suggest giving the film a watch as soon as you're done reading the book. They compliment each other well, especially if it's been a while since you've seen First Blood.