Cries from the Earth: The Outbreak of the Nez Perce War and the Battle of White Bird Canyon June 17, 1877

Once again, Terry takes into the bloody jaws of hell with his wonderful mix of storytelling and history. Well researched, this book, like his others carries us into the shoes of the soldier, Nez Perce, and the civilian alike during this start of the Nez Perce War. There is no author that can keep pace with Terry, the best western novelist of our time. Cries from the Earth makes little known places come to life with great significance. This book is a must read when looking at the events of the Nez Perce War.

Terry Johnston does a blockbuster job of letting history unfold in a "you are there" style that puts the reader in the center of the action. This is a novel that is all about misunderstanding. Chief Joseph on the Nez Perce side and General Oliver Otis Howard as the American in charge are portrayed as real men caught in an impossible situation. Neither can serve his own cause and his own conscience at the same time. While Joseph and Howard emerge as sympathetic figures, Johnston doesn't hesitate to portray folly, incompetence, and malice on both sides that eventually leads to a U.S. Army debacle at White Bird Canyon. While the history is fascinating and meticulously researched, the most powerful sections of Cries from the Earth deal with the terrifying reality of being attacked. Johnston has a remarkable ability to get inside the heads of women and children and imagine pain, fear, and helpless rage. Be warned: the Indian attackers here are not the gentle New Age plainsmen of Dances With Wolves. Johnston doesn't hesitate to portray murder, rape, and arson in a way that will leave you feeling shocked and vulnerable. Cries from the Earth is not a novel in the sense of following character arcs or a structured plot. Instead, it is a dramatization of actual events, in the style of Jeff Shaara's war novels or the movie United 93. As such, it sometimes gets a little confusing or repetitive. However, events unfold quickly in this novel and I found that it was well worth it to be patient. My understanding of what happened in Idaho in 1877 and why has been greatly deepened by this uncompromising novel.

The history of the Nez Perce Indians has been one of my favorite study and reading topics for many years. So, it is only natural that I read, and enjoyed, "Cries From the Earth". I think I learned more new important and intriguing details in reading this novel than any other book on the subject. My only criticism is simply that I felt the story would have been more interesting to me if it were presented in more of a non-fiction documentary format than in the novel format. Many people, perhaps most, will disagree with me--it is just a matter of personal taste. Be warned that Terry C. Johnston depicts history exactly as he sees it. His vision is probably as accurate as anyone's too, as it is based on a huge amount of research. Furthermore, he doesn't concern himself with trying to be politically correct. Readers who are only casually familiar with this history may encounter some unpleasant revelations. As good as the book itself was, for me the best part was actually the Afterword in which the author describes some of his experiences, insights, and thoughts that he had while doing on-site research for this book. I wished the whole story had been told by the author in the same way. This is the first Terry C. Johnston book that I have read. I am looking forward to reading others. I highly recommend this book.

Terry C. Johnston makes the Indian Wars come to life in his novels, injecting a human element and action into stodgy historical fact. He's done it again in this first volume of his projected trilogy covering the Nez Perce war. While this is included in his Plainsman series, regular readers may be disappointed that his hero Seamus Donegan is nowhere to be found in this first novel. And this is what puts Terry at the top of the heap among historical novelists--he refuses to inject his character in a story where realistically he cannot be. When we last saw Seamus, he was still involved in the Lakota/Cheyenne wars down in Wyoming and Montana. It would be physically impossible, and a transparent writer's ploy to put him in Idaho for the sake of keeping Seamus the focus. Too many writers have their main character involved in every frontier fracas possible. But Terry sticks to history melded to crackling good adventure. "Cries From the Earth" sheds light on the long-ignored start of the Nez Perce conflict, and doesn't sugarcoat the facts. There is NO political correctness in this volume, my friend. Terry stays true to the times and the attitudes and foibles of all the participants of this shameful chapter in our history. If you think you know all about the Nez Perce conflict, think again. Terry C. Johnston has read all the histories, talked to all the experts, and he has read between the lines of these volumes and words. He has a practiced knowledge of the frontier, and reaches conclusions based on common sense that others have lacked. Read "Cries From the Earth" and learn, friends. And be entertained as well. A master Storyteller has written!

So many of us use US 95 and drive down the White Bird Pass and only take a second glance at the monument and what has transpired. Terry Johnston has taken a somewhat unknown battle and if all of his fans take the time to read the novel and assorted readings, I think you will find US 95 a busy tourist area.I hike in the Salmon river country since 1972. Every year I head down White Bird Pass and quickly look at the monument and drive on.I am looking forward this year to one week in this area to walk the hills and drink in the atmosphere that Terry has done again. Looking forward to the second book.