Rambo and Me: The Story Behind the Story, an essay

Award-winning author David Morrell created the character of Rambo in his 1972 novel, First Blood, which has been called “the father of the modern action novel.” Rambo went on to become one of the five most recognized thriller icons, along with Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, James Bond, and Harry Potter. In this in-depth essay, for the first time Morrell tells the full story about how the novel and Rambo were created. Among his new revelations, Morrell discusses how Audie Murphy, America’s most-decorated soldier of WWII, was the model for Rambo. Morrrell also describes how the riots and anti-war demonstrations of the late 1960s had a considerable impact on his novel.

In addition to write First Blood, David Morrell is the acclaimed author of numerous New York Times bestsellers that include the classic spy trilogy The Brotherhood of the Rose, The Fraternity of the Stone, and The League of Night and Fog. An Edgar, Anthony, and Macavity nominee, Morrell is a recipient of three Bram Stoker awards as well as the International Thriller Writers’ prestigious lifetime Thriller Master award.


“David Morrell is, to me, the finest thriller writer living today, bar none.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Columbus Affair

“David Morrell is a master of suspense.”
—Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Lincoln Lawyer

“Morrell, an absolute master of the thriller, plays by his on rules and leaves you dazzled.”
—Dean Koontz, New York Times bestselling author of 77 Shadow Street