Running with Cannibals

by Robert W. Smith

What’s it like to reach out and touch history in the moment, to peel back the layers of hyperbole and political deception for yourself as a simple soldier? Try the Philippine-American War, sometimes referred to as "the first Vietnam" (1899-1902). You might find that “desertion” really means conversion to a noble cause and “enlisting” is just another form of surrender…

Genres: Novels, Historical Fiction

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2022

About the author

Bob was raised in Chicago, enlisting in the Air Force at age eighteen during the Vietnam War. Following a year of language training at Syracuse University, he served four years as a Russian Linguist attached to the NSA. He attended DePaul University and The John Marshall Law School in Chicago on the G.I. Bill while working as a Chicago Transit Authority Police Officer. Thirty-odd years as a criminal defense lawyer in Chicago ensued. His first book was Immoral Authority (Echelon Press, 2002) followed by Catch a Falling Lawyer (New Leaf Books, 2005) and The Sakhalin Collection (New Leaf Books, 2007, hardcover). Running with Cannibals (Willow River Press) was released in 2022. A Long Way from Clare (Meryton Press) was released in January, 2023. The author has no criminal history of note.

http://www.robertsmithbooks.com

Reviews

[Hanley]

Get a cup of what you are having and go to your reading spot. You are going to want to settle in for this one. Running with Cannibals, set during the Philippine-American war, checks off all the boxes. It is a rangey thriller that travels from gritty domestic backstory settings to lush tropical locales. It has a list of divergent characters with secrets to keep and Identities to escape, or remake. There is plenty of intrigue and vivid action. It a fun ride…

…but it also asks us to think hard about what being a patriot means, what being a traitor means and whether a thoughtful man can be both. In this painstakingly researched novel, Robert Smith shines a bright light on a seldom discussed incident, the Balangiga Massacre, that resulted when the mouldering and violent racism and greed driven domestic issues of the Gilded Age were exported and allowed to grow in a microcosm.
Hanley Kanar
ABD American Studies
Former President of the Love is Murder Writers Conference

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling, propulsive read, Robert W. Smith's Running with Cannibals transports us to turn-of-the-century tales set on beautiful and treacherous islands during the little-known, little-taught Philippine-American War with a comprehensive, relevant, and powerful tale of imperialism, atrocities, and personal reckoning. Smith weaves the history deftly with historical figures occasionally popping up, but his focus is a man on the run from his past. The twists and turns that Smith's protagonist takes are both exhilarating and terrifying, and the parallels to Vietnam and even more modern wars are at times astonishing and stomach-churning. Smith's prose crackles and rings true to my ear, and the stories has echoes of Tim O'Brien and Joseph Conrad, complete with a banger of an ending. Smith's storytelling is captivating, deserving of readers' attention. Lovers of historical fiction or just a damned good story should pick up Running with Cannibals. Recommended.

[May Henry]

I was sorry the story ended. Smith's characters leap from the pages, evoking a kaleidoscope of emotions. His expose of a little-known episode in American history informs, enlightens and defies conventional history-simultaneously. The book is a page turner, tense, fast moving and, in the end, heart-warming. A must read for fans of historical thrillers. It would also make for a great movie.
May Henry

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Smith weaves a compelling story of one U.S. soldier's hidden past and present exploits during the historical setting of the Balangiga Massacre in the waning months of the Philippine-American War. With plot twists and turns, this is a must-read about human conflict and humanity.

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely interesting book

This book is listed as being historical fiction, and I hope for the sake of the US Army that is has more fiction than history. It covers a subject and I don't believe I've ever read about before. The Philippine insurrection after the Spanish American War. It is very interesting, and extremely exciting. I just hope a lot of what I read isn't true but I still highly recommend this book.

[Mary Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Smith’s writing shines in this compelling coming of age story that is thought-provoking, complex, and highly enjoyable.
The central character’s growth from an idealistic young man fleeing police in a murky Pittsburgh boardinghouse to the jungles of the Philippines is a remarkable journey both for himself and the reader. The anonymity he seeks because of his crime is provided by the U.S. Army and transports him to the fight of his young life.
Set against the Philippine bid for freedom from Spanish control, those he calls friends and fellow soldiers provide enormous insights into the human condition. At the end, I loved how our character has matured beyond his years, finding the good in himself that others professed to see.

[Pat Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this well-written historical fiction novel based on the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). The three main characters enlisted in the army in an attempt to escape their demons. I found myself hoping for the best for all of them and seeing them come to where they each found their own peace. The very descriptive fight scenes kept me on the edge of my seat and moved so quickly. The author beautifully described the challenges and beauty of the jungle. It was one of those books that when I finished, I just closed the book and reflected on the contentment that I felt at the end, and the characters that I would miss.

[Bill Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Smith was successful in bringing me into Ethan's journey. I was feeling his pain, frustration and what little satisfaction he allowed himself to experience. In addition, the description of atrocities of "civilized" warfare and the subtle questions of God's presence and influence in Ethan's journey caused uncomfortable self-confrontation of these and related questions.
A powerful and moving story, based on historical facts, that may modify the reader's perspective of right and wrong depending on one's life experiences and objectives.

[Sandy Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running with Cannibals is a thought-provoking introduction to a little known episode in history. We are introduced to characters on multiple sides of the conflicts, reminding us that events might not be as clear cut, right or wrong as we might initially believe.
I can’t wait to read more from Robert W. Smith.
--Sandra Brady
Librarian, Baton Rouge, LA