Rebels of Mindanao: A Novel

By Tom Anthony

Al Qaeda terrorists are spreading silently throughout the globe wreaking violence on all who oppose them. Their newest target: the small Philippine island of Mindanao. On the brink of civil war,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825305144
• ISBN13: 9780825305146
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Beaufort Books
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Review of Rebels of Mindanao

Review of "REBELS of MINDANAO" by Tom Anthony, Beaufort Books, $24.95 This is a contemporary work of fiction by a 1964 graduate of West Point using fictional friends, classmates from West Point to set the stage for an Islamic revolutionary takeover and the interdiction thereof on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is a well written `page turner' built around an attempt by al Qaeda to move five million US dollars in cash from the Middle East into Mindanao, an island unique unto itself for having been a colony used by the Spanish as a handy place to send their troublemakers - akin to the British sending the Irish to Australia - in an effort to unite all of the guerilla resistance groups, some of which have been in rebellion for generations, so they can take over the Island and turn it into an Islamic Republic. They almost succeed! In the opinion of the reviewer, a book such as this, where the story, the action takes place in a continually, ever changing geographical environment, a map of the general area should be a basic requirement; here that requirement is fulfilled. I was able to constantly refer back to the geography of the Island of Mindanao with its relationship to the rest of the Philippine archipelago, containing more than 7,000 islands, and the surrounding seas which enabled me to relate the on-the-ground action to the proper geographical setting just by flipping back to the map page in the front of the book. The plot revolves around a semi-official US Embassy clandestine group led by a West Point Grad and comprised of a former Army Sgt and several Filipino family members. The group is charged with thwarting the use of the five million dollars, which they can keep if they find it, while they play `tag' with the legitimate Philippine Army who are also trying to eliminate the Abu Sayaf insurgents through military force and capture the money in the process. The action is straightforward, logical, beginning with a terrorist bombing during a Holiday celebration, the escape of the terrorist group, their trek throughout the southern portion of Mindanao to a central point where numerous rebel groups gather to unite in the ultimate goal of creating an Islamic empire in the South Pacific. As the rebel forces unite they become increasingly visible to the Philippine Army which in the end manages to destroy them as an effective military force, but is still unable to unite all of the splinter factions under the established government. Along the way several sub plots are introduced, kept alive to retain the reader's interest, to his credit the author does not let the reader presume the ultimate outcome until the very end. The reviewer, Thomas W. Leo, CPP, is a 1959 graduate of the U S Military Academy at West Point.

Insightful action adventure

Rebels of Mindanao is an action adventure "fiction" novel wrapped around what is a very serious present day situation in the Philippines. The recent kidnapping in Mindanao is testament to this author's insight. Looking forward to Tom Anthony's next book?

Read it for a number of reasons

The story line is simple: try to grab the funds,suppress the insurgency, and keep the change. And along the way see if there is a way to make the Turkish warrior disapear. It is the implimentation of the story that is great. Anthony knows the Philippines and uses this knowledge to build a moasic of threads of history, culture, and geography that provides a rich background for the story. Read it to learn about one of those other parts of the world where budding terroristts are establishing relations with Al Quaida, or read it because it reminds us of the long term partnership between the US and the Philippines, or read it because it is just a good story. But read it. Dick Puckett

Would make a great action movie!

A fast-paced page turner, I could not put it down. Great character developement. Tom Anthony sure knows his stuff when it comes to the Philippines, I learned so much. Is there perhaps going to be a sequel? Mr. Anthony has written an excelent book. Be sure to read it.

Excellent Read

Anthony tells an absorbing story with excellent attention to dialogue and description. As a person who has studied the subject and traveled to the areas described in the book I would have to say that I am very impressed with the research and the insight Anthony provides. This is a must read for anyone wants edge of their seat entertainment while also being informed.