First Blood by David Morrell

I recently reread First Blood by David Morrell. This novel was first published in 1972, a time when war divided this country and veterans were treated with disdain. Rambo has survived horrible experiences in Vietnam and has all the symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome. His clash with an overzealous sheriff in a small town in Kentucky results in multiple deaths and much destruction of the town. The book alternates points of view between Rambo and the sheriff, allowing the reader to understand the unwise decisions that both men make. The movie made from the book follows much of the storyline of the book, but the endings are quite different.