David Morrell: First Blood - Danger Close with Jack Carr

Today’s guest is literary legend and icon David Morrell.
On May 25, 1972, he introduced the world to Rambo with the publication of his debut thriller, First Blood. Over the past 50 years it has never been out of print.
He went on to write dozens of novels including The Brotherhood of the Rose, The Fraternity of the Stone, The League of Night and Fog, Testament, Blood Oath, Last Reveille, The Totem, The Fifth Profession, Assumed Identity, Burnt Sienna, Creepers, Scavenger, Murder as a Fine Art, The Opium Eater, Inspector of the Dead, Ruler of the Night, and scores of others.
He captures and passes along advice from his decades of writing experience in The Successful Novelist.
David has also contributed to the world of Marvel comics having written for the Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine franchises.
While immersing himself in research for his novels he has learned to fly, been trained in firearms, hostage negotiation, assuming identities, executive protection, defensive/offensive driving, wilderness survival, and corporate security. He is an honorary lifetime member of the Special Operations Association and the Association of Intelligence Officers.
You can learn about David Morrell and his work at davidmorrell.net and you can follow him on Twitter @_DavidMorrell.
Sponsors:
Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at www.navyfederal.org
Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle Coffee. Purchase at www.blackriflecoffee.com/dange... and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!
SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer.
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Shout out to @trackerjoe08 for the incredible replica of the arrow from Savage Son

[@richgideon5745]

The Brotherhood of the Rose was the book that made me a life long David Morrell fan. I carried it in my ruck on a FTX while in the 82nd and read it anytime we had a break. Always my favorite.

[@TheGoldenAgeofHardRock]

Same here, Brotherhood, was my first one then I backtracked to First Blood, Blood Oath and Testament. After that, I was ready for Fraternity and League when they came out.

[@prepperbookclub]

I just love the engagement with other authors that Jack does. Its funny when I look for a copy of First Blood, Amazon pairs it up with In the Blood.

[@Jeffro5564]

Woah. I only have the original copy I found in op shop for $1.50

[@jerryoshea3116]

I think he's a really good.unterviee,he allows& encourages people to chat (&I'd imagine he doesn't realize how good he is) And when I moved to the U.S in the Summer of 1999,I was staying in Cali&and attended My Cousin's kids weekend school fundraiser,in Camarillo,S,Cali .Well taking an break from the Sunday afternoon activities (Thank goodness!)I thought I'd grab an beer&CHK out some local shops!..Well I found a Small little "2nd hand "Book store&was lucky to spot a Paperback "First Blood"David Morell "Trinity&The Haj" by Leon Uris and "Roots" By Arthur Haley! Anyway with that ramble out of the way,I wld full recommend it...The original Movie was good,but the Book is very different,a realm personal dual between the Sheriff&Rambo!! ...And I'm not sure if I might have left it in Cali,otherwise I wld send to u.(I think I paid an $2 or something) ..And this David Morell is somewhat of a "Dark horse" he's been around,but he keeps it all close to his chest!..

[@bkdesignr]

Jack this is absolutely fantastic. What a helluva conversation. I need to reread First Blood asap. Thank you.

[@KC2BKM]

I cant add to this comment.

[@richarddoty1498]

Wow Rambo is Audy Murphy, what a gut punch . What a great insight for younger folks, having lived through the riots in 68 this all brings such clarity to his work.. Thank you Jack for this great interview.

[@vitor2650]

I indulged and bought all 7 of your audiobooks. I listened to one of them while hiking in the Sequoia National Forrest last week.

[@TheGoldenAgeofHardRock]

Thanks for nailing down the exact date of publication with David! I agree that it's not readily available. For those of us that love to celebrate these masterpieces on the correct date, it is much appreciated.

[@AsdeEspadas.Fernando]

Oh my god!! Wonderful!!!

[@JoeMartinez-eb3xc]

Was stationed in Germany back in '76 when I read First Blood. I remember thinking back then that this would make a good movie.

[@jumblesaleboo]

It was brilliant to see David mention Gil's knives... I remember back in the day, as a 15 year old, finding David's Rambo First Blood Part 2 paperback in a 2nd hand book store. This was way before the internet, (circa 1988) because David was so generous in giving Jimmy Lile's business address, I wrote to Jimmy Lile, asking him for his autograph....A month later, and a large envelope popped through my letter box. It was a signed catalog of Jimmy's knives...I was over the moon, as I live in the UK, this was the Holy grail for a young Rambo fan back in the late 1980s. I also got an autograph from Hoyt Eastern too. :)

[@RichardBargloski]

Yes!!!!

[@lsauthor]

First Blood is my favorite novel… Jack Carr is my favorite thriller author… this podcast is heaven.

[@dionthomas5418]

The 50th anniversary of Rambo, the Real American Patriot Special Forces Warrior and badass legend novel character, I love Rambo for having a impact on my life time

[@authoradambray]

I lived in Vietnam for 8 years. Rambo the movie is actually available there but the dubbing of the film in Vietnamese language actually places the events of the movie in Thailand! Of course it makes no sense, but my local Vietnamese friends had no idea of the truth until I explained it to them.

[@832KJV]

What a treat!! I saw the film in 1982 and bought the book a.s.a.p. thereafter. It remains my favourite film today - really impactful. I watch it at least once a year. Great show Jack.

[@libre-tad6283]

I don't know why I went to see the film but I went every night it was on including a date...there was no hype around it that I remember but it was extraordinary back then

[@d.w.whitlock5189]

As a lifelong David Morrell fan this conversation was a true gift. Thanks Jack and David!

[@jeffk8019]

Came here to watch this interview after hearing about it in Only The Dead's Author's Note. I ordered a signed book copy of OtD and loved Ray Porter's reading (just got done with the audio version about an hour ago). Mr. Carr- you are a master storyteller. Great interview.

[@codytx]

One of the best episodes yet. Listened on a podcast app, but had to switch to KZbin to see the knives!!

[@trackerjoe08]

Awesome video as always and It was my pleasure to make that arrow for you. I'm honored that you take the time to chat with me time from time in your busy schedule!

[@TheShane209]

I’m about to order first blood since you’ve raved about it, First Blood is my favorite movie of all time I can’t wait for this

[@thedawnofwrestling6876]

David Morrell has been my #1 influence as a writer. I haven’t read The Terminal List, but I’m going to pick it up right now! Great interview. 🙌

[@JR-ju3kj]

He's one of my big influences,too,as an aspiring comic book writer and artist(I also want to write books,too).

[@jamesdavid1874]

I read the story of how Rambo got his name on a book jacket in the 90's, happy to hear it from David Morrell, the source.

[@SebastianKomor]

Thank you for this episode. Love hearing the full story of Rambo, just weeks after having been to Hope, BC. Love the city aside from its Rambo history.

[@TheSamkerby]

I found First Blood paperback book around 1977. Read it, did a book report of it in school, read it so many times. Still my favorite novel. Then I seen a trailer on tv for the movie! I was so excited! Then the trailer said Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo… I was like “What? Rocky?’ He’s not who I had pictured in my head as John. But I did enjoy the movie anyways. Congrats on 50 years of the book. Cheers!

[@jerryoshea3116]

Interesting comments..Who do u think could have played him..You've got me thinking!!??? It's a difficult one,for example&not necessarily the same thing,but u had a Movie come out 5 or 6 yrs ago, Starring &Produced by Sean Penn"The Gunman" which was o/k,but I think it had potential,with another Actor to have been a good movie! Instead it just turned into an all Action,Violent,certainly lacking in plot Movie,with a few quality Actors.thrown into it(Ray Winston,Javier Bardem,Mark Rylance(A Brilliant stage &film Actor) And ironically a guy who had a brief Cameo&advised them on the Military stuff was one of Jack's guests .Mark Billinghan.A former 19 yr SAS Sgt&10 yr Vet of the Brit Parachute Regiment,who head also got into writing books!. And they found out they had both been neighbors staying/serving nxt door to each other in the 2nd IRAQ war!....

[@lesterlesoine9225]

Thanks Jack for bringing mr. Morrell on. It is very interesting how he relates his childhood, current events into the development of the characters in rambo. I went to very few movies growing up. Going to the theater was a special thing, a treat, i think i saw srar wars, star trek in the theater. I distinctly recall my parents were going to surprise me with going to return of the jedi at the local drive in. I got in trouble that day probably having a bad attitude at school or mouthed off to mom. Needless to say I never got to see return of the jedi with my folks. I am amazed to, get a glimpse of behind the curtain of iconic movies that i grew up with. I wish you well on your book signing tonight in Doylestown, pa. I believe that you are about 90 minutes away from where I live. I am so sorry that I will miss an opportunity to meet you in person....thanks again for all you do. I must say that i am having a knot in my stomach reading in the blood thus far. It is fiction but like mr. Morrell you have masterfully woven current events to really make me think about the future since meeting "Alice " in the book reminds me of cbs series, person of interest on steroids.

[@Nick_Hafey_83]

At your recommendation I listened to First Blood on Audible. What a fantastic book. It adds so much richness to the character of Rambo that the film did not portray. I’m now onto the novelisation of Rambo First Blood Pt 3. Thank you Jack and thank you David Morrell. PS My copy of In The Blood arrived 2 days ago and I’m rationing it. Brilliant so far.

[@PrimordialEconomics]

Coming here after finishing up #6 and listening to your authors note.

[@YouDontKnowMe2011.9]

I didn't read the book until several years after I saw the movie. The book and movie are different sides of the same coin, and anybody who has read the book and seen the movie knows what I'm talking about. The character and movie changed my life. I decided I wanted to join the military, which I did. Best decision of my life.

[@JoeDiLillo]

Wow over 4 hours long! felt like 20 mins! Amazing interview!

[@Robertlynschultz]

Dude, nice catch with Morrell! I really enjoyed his "Creepers" and his follow-on work " Scavangers". Have fun, Be safe, Roll forward!

[@BushcraftWoodsDevil]

Incredible interview. What a fascinating gentleman Mr. Morrell is. This was excellent.

[@rhapsody5876]

Great interview . i think my favorite David Morrell book is Last Reveille.. the setting is the U.S. Army horse cavalry going down into Mexico after Pancho Villa ..

[@FreeAmericanUSA]

Loved this. Writers are my favorite people. I read a lot and really enjoy these conversations. I have read First Blood twice, I'll read it again. Jack's writing is amazing, gritty, and crafty.

[@stevemassie2395]

I enjoyed listening to this great conversation, well done to both authors.

[@sandraa.lelacheur3001]

Phenomenal interview 📖 👏 👏👏

[@frankbijnens929]

Thank you sir. You introduce me AGAIN to this great writer. Did not know about the book only the great legendary movies! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@fountainofyouth5]

I absolutely love the Rambo saga, both film and the novels. But, I thought the end of the 4th movie would have been a perfect place to end it. Mirroring the opening scene in First Blood, with Rambo walking down the 'long road' back home, finally finished with the war and violence that took him away from home as a young man.

[@danielsimpsonday7627]

Jack....Thank you for having this legend on. Absolutely great! Lets get Evan to give him that poster.

[@zalalapant]

Great interview

[@JasonSmith-sc3wm]

I love your pod cast. Always positive even going over negative reviews.I like how you always canel the positive from negative. Inspiring thanks. I have bought several books that you introduced from your book collection. Thank you. I have been a serious book collector on American history since I the 80s. Iam pushing close to 2000 thousand books, nonfiction, history, biography on the Presidents of the US. I hope in one of your pod casts you can show us your library. It's inspiring seeing book lovers, shelves of books.

[@TheBloodyLibrary]

I have so many questions about The Totem & Creepers!

[@Zosima45]

Let's go!!!!!!

[@jerryoshea3116]

I haven't watched all of Jack's interviews,but the ones I have seen are really interesting & enjoyable! .U feel like ur just sitting in on 2 Guys having a Chat!..

[@jcomp4207]

The protector is another good Morrell book if you haven't read it yet.

[@paulgallagher1882]

Jack I love your books thanks for your service

[@bradyblackburn4863]

The apple story slays me every time. How different would things have been had his wife brought home Granny Smiths?

[@musashi-san____1409]

Woah. He's a legit fan. I see a signed numbered edition. Cool.

[@mytake7436]

I wish the Hardcover of First Blood was still being published. I know that many people would buy it.

[@Anonymous18817]

Hi, I’m a 21 year old woman and I’m training for a SEAL contract. How should a woman prepare for BUD/S? How are women treated in BUD/S? Do you have any advice for preparation? According to what some BUD/S dropouts told me, one female SEAL candidate broke her legs in Basic Orientation (BO) which is the first three weeks of BUD/S, another female SEAL candidate broke her legs in BUD/S Prep and a third female SEAL candidate got rolled back in BO for stress fractures. None of them made it. In November 2021, a woman made it to first phase of BUD/S for the first time in history but she quit on day one after the first hour.

[@Dekead1930]

I’ve loved Rambo my whole life! But didn’t read the book until like 2009 and I wish I’d read it sooner, I absolutely love that book

[@wolvesdawn]

You should read "The Forgotten soldier" by Guy Sajer. It's not a novel, rather a first hand account of a frech/german young guy that was drafted into thr whermacht. Beautifully written. An absolute classic.

[@johnmac333]

I think Testament is his greatest novel .

[@jamesowens2781]

Hey Brother sell me on salomon shoes. I began my battle against my own poor lifestyle in February. I go from the ground up after loosing 34 lbs so any thoughts on an all around shoe. Love the podcast

[@mstritzin]

Love seeing Jack going full fanboy!

[@johnnyjohn-johnson7738]

I just finished the First Blood novel and I find it interesting how in this interview, he describes Teasel as a moderate Eisenhower Republican and Rambo as a radical leftist, because the impression I got was that Teasel was a Dixiecrat of some sort (as evidence by him being from the south and comparing Rambo to a black man in the beginning) whereas Rambo I had the impression of being someone who's become so brutalized and nihilistic from his experiences that he's devolved to a modern day caveman who's apolitical and cares about literally nothing beyond his immediate survival and punishing his recently made enemies. Crazy how the audience can have different interpretations than the creators, personally I can see Rambo and Teasel as being analogies for those two archetypes representing the establishment and counter culture, but not literal representations.

[@JasonSmith-sc3wm]

Should try to get David Morrel to sign the picture that Evan Cofer wife bought him on ebay that he has framed.

[@unluckytourist]

Interesting they mentioned Quentin Tarantino without discussing his recent comments regarding David Morrell and "First Blood".

[@seanhastings4432]

I *finished* the first draft of my novel right before I spilled beer on my laptop and lost everything saved there. But I saved 4/5 of the novel on a flash drive and printed a lot of it out, like Mr. Morrell said. I lost a poorly-written ending instead of an entire novel, doing that.

[@jameshinton429]

I had a friend in school named John Rambo, no shit. He was not stoked about it.

[@Taylor-ks9ru]

Mr Morell my name is Taylor Rambo we settled in Delaware st In 1600.the apple you loved came from my ancestorel cousin Peter gunnerson Rambo I have much to inform you about

[@smithaz1981]

I HAD THIS ON IN THE BACKGROUND AND DID A BUNCH OF SHIT

[@tjwill1990]

Go Hawks!

[@ninkd0311]

WE ARE

[@rockyhays8448]

Jack ryan another J R

[@dionthomas5418]

The 50th anniversary of Rambo, the Real American Patriot Special Forces Warrior and badass legend novel character, I love Rambo for having a impact on my life time