A Rebel in Time

by Harry Harrison

Can history be changed? Can the South still win the War Between the States? Colonel McCulloch thinks so, even though the war ended more than a hundred years ago. With gold, an automatic weapon, and some very special blueprints, he plans to go back in time and reverse the outcome of the Civil War.

Genres: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Alternate History, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, American

315 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Treasure of the Rubbermaids 21: The Great Dixie Machine Gun Time-Mowing Adventure Crossover!

At long last! Because I need a gimmick to drum up some votes to keep Patrick Rothfuss from passing me on the all time reviewer’s list the people of Goodreads demanded it, I proudly present the first crossover of two of my most popular features: The Treasure of the Rubbermaids and The Time-Mower Adventures!

The on-going discoveries of priceless books and comics found in a stack of Rubbermaid containers previously stored and forgotten at my parent’s house and untouched for almost 20 years. Thanks to my father dumping them back on me, I now spend my spare time unearthing lost treasures from their plastic depths.

1859 - Richmond, Virgina

“Hey, you just appeared out of thin air. You must be a time-traveler.”

“Yeah, after my laptop fused with my lawn mower by a freak lightning strike, I can use it to move through time. My name’s Kemper, and I’m from 2014. And since you immediately knew what was going on, I’m guessing that you’re a member of the club?”

“That’s right. I’m Sergeant Troy Harmon of the US Army. I’m from 1983. I‘m here on a mission that‘s vital to the future of America.”

“I’m just dicking around myself. So what’s the problem, Sergeant?”

“In ’83 I was brought in to a small secret government group that watchdogs classified projects. They were concerned that that a colonel named McCulloch in charge of the security of one of these operations started exhibiting odd behavior. He was buying large amounts of gold. When I interviewed him, he exhibited angry racist tendencies and was extremely uncooperative. Then he vanished suddenly after committing several criminal acts, and I learned that he had also stolen blueprints for an easily manufactured machine gun from the government archives.”

“Oh, shit! That crazy bastard was going to come back and give machine guns to the South in the Civil War!”

“Wow…. You figured that out remarkably fast. It took me a lot longer.”

“Really? I thought you when you put racist, time travel, machine guns and gold together it’s pretty obvious. But since the Union still won the war, and I never heard about any Confederate machine guns, it must never have happened, right?”

“That’s what we thought initially, too. One of the scientists working there told me that it could be that McCulloch started an alternate time line, but I wondered if the reason he failed was because I came back and prevented it. Plus, I hated the idea of his plan succeeding even if it was in a parallel universe. So I volunteered to come back and stop him.”

“You volunteered? Uh…Sergeant, forgive me for stating the obvious, but you’re African-American.”

“I’m not familiar with that term.”

“Oh, right. 1983... What I mean is that you’re black.”

“I am.”

“And you volunteered to come back in time when slavery was still legal and American society was incredibly racist?”

“I did.”

“Well, Sergeant, I gotta give you credit. That’s a brave thing you did.”

“Thank you. I admit that I have a few regrets about leaving 1983 forever.”

“You can’t go back?”

“No, our time travel method is one way…. Uh, that time-mower of yours, you can use it to go back to the future?”

“Yep. Once you settle McCullouch’s hash, do you want a ride?”

“Yes, please. This time sucks ass.”

*****

This particular Rubbermaid treasure is the result of Jeff's review of The Guns of the South which sounded incredibly familiar to me with it’s story of a time traveling racist giving machine guns to the Confederates in the Civil War, but I didn’t think I’d ever read any Harry Turtledove books. A little digging in the basement unearthed this paperback which I'd almost completely forgotten about, and I see that it was released almost a decade earlier than The Guns of the South. I don’t know what the story is there, so I won’t say that Turtledove completely LaBeoufed his book, but the plots sound more than a little similar.

This isn’t bad as far as time travel stories go. It’s fast paced with a light breezy style that doesn’t get too bogged down in any timey-wimey aspects. However, there’s a frustration to reading it that may not be entirely the author’s fault.

My copy of this has a picture of a Confederate soldier holding a machine gun on the cover along with the picture of a man in a modern suit with a Confederate flag as the background and the tag line “The South Will Rise” under the title. On the back, there’s a drawing of Robert E. Lee along with the schematic of a machine gun with this little blurb that asks what if the North could still lose the Civil War.

Then you start reading it, and there’s this racist colonel hoarding gold while working on a top secret project. Then he murders some people and vanishes when he realizes he’s being investigated. Troy Harmon learns about the time travel and the machine gun plans, and yet he still doesn’t figure out that he’s gone back in time until halfway through the book.

So any reader probably knows where this was going the entire time, but the first half of the book plays out like it’s a giant mystery. Anyone hoping for extensive action in the past will probably be disappointed because all of the 1859 stuff happens after that. The whole thing ends up feeling pretty lightweight and thin.

Maybe Harry Harrison intended for the book to start out as a modern mystery that took a sci-fi turn but the marketing gave it away. The book might play better if you didn't know what was coming. But when you’ve got Robert E. Lee and Confederate soldiers with machine guns on the cover, it feels like a huge let down when you don’t get more of that.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed reading about history--and that got me into alternate history...For some reason, I've long been interested in such questions as: What if the South had won the Civil War? When I was a kid, I got a hold of a book titled "If the South Had Won the Civil War" by Mackinlay Kantor ( published in book form in 1961). I found it interesting, especially as it was written as a history text (set in an alternate universe). Kantor has Lee winning the Battle of Gettysburg, but also it took another alteration of history to achieve the Confederate victory--the death of US Grant (due to a fall from his horse) during the Vicksburg campaign. It's an accident that leads to the defeat of the Union forces outside Vicksburg. Another AH book about the Civil War is considered a classic-"Bring the Jubilee" by Ward Moore, pub. in 1953. In this one, an historian goes back in time to study Lee's great victory at Gettysburg--and changes history so that the Rebels lose the battle and the war.. Harry Harrison's "A Rebel in Time"(1983) also involves a time-traveler who goes back to the time of CW- in order to change the outcome of the war. In this case, a racist Southerner goes back in time to the 1850s, before the war actually begins, to help the Southerners win when the war comes. An American soldier-an African-American-volunteers to go back to thwart the Southerner's plans. Interestingly, history is changed--but the Union still wins. It's really a so so story and I was not very impressed by it. But there was a fairly good idea in there...

[Tyrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been struggling to finish a number of books recently. Been falling asleep almost as soon as I've read a page. Enjoyment of the book seemed to change nothing so I thought I'd opt for one of my comfort reads in the hope it would kick start my reading again.

Not even a book I've loved since my early teens and have read probably about 10 times (normally in one or two sittings max)could break through my fatigue and to complicate matters I came down with a nasty head cold stretching this out to 7 days form beginning to end.

OK so I've scored this as a 4 when perhaps it is only really a 3 like many of Harrison's shorter novels, but I did read it early and it gave me a love of time travel stories for which I am eternally grateful. It also gave me a desire to find out more about the American Civil War and any book that has that effect is a winner in my mind. It also doesn't wrap everything up nicely but has an open ending where you can decide for yourself what happens.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit vexed on this one. Within the narrative, the time-travel was teased at for *far* too long to be so central an element of the text as to be mentioned in its very title. Also, the paralyzing fear of altering the past that so suffuses the actions of the 'good guys' made many of the late-game decisions cause me to be unable to suspend disbelief.

That said, it wasn't a *bad* book. I was intrigued enough to keep reading, and even though the mystery of the the noir-esque murder-subplot at the beginning is completely undermined by the basic premise of the text, I still was engaged in the storytelling.

Whilst I must say that Turtledove's _Guns of the South_ did the modern-weapons-in-the-Civil-War thing better, I think that the decision to have a Brother be the one to disrupt the aims of white supremacy here was definitely a nice touch!

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never read this 1983 book till now?
Time travel, Civil War, and strong characters are all here. Be aware that there is un-politically-correct language used because of the time.
An ultra-secret lab is guarded by stiff security run by an obsessed colonel who has delusions of grandeur. He wants to change the outcome of the Civil War by providing the South with advanced weapons. Can he time-travel? Who will stop him?
Top notch!

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Harrison’s *A Rebel in Time* is a peculiar, almost hypnotic ride through history, a collision of moral urgency, speculative daring, and the relentless momentum of action, yet what sets it apart is the way it folds human conscience into the machinery of temporal mechanics.

Published in 1983, the novel is ostensibly a time-travel adventure, yet Harrison uses that conceit not for escapist thrills alone but as a prism through which to examine slavery, courage, and the moral weight of choices that ripple across generations. It’s one of those rare science-fiction novels that doesn’t merely show what could happen if history were altered, but rather interrogates what *should* happen and the responsibilities of the individual when confronted with the immense inertia of systemic evil. From the first pages, there is an electric tension: the past is a living thing, and Harrison treats it with both reverence and ruthless precision.

The protagonist, Logan Mountstuart, is a man of restless determination, a Civil War enthusiast who finds himself thrust into an impossible mission: travel back to 1860s America to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and thereby alter the timeline to save countless lives. But Harrison, as always, complicates the familiar narrative.

The novel is not merely a triumphant “fix the past” story. Logan confronts the moral and ethical complexity of time itself — the knowledge that intervening in history is tantamount to playing God, that even a single choice can cascade into consequences beyond comprehension. This tension is what animates the novel, giving it an undercurrent of philosophical gravity beneath the surface of its adventure-driven plot.

Harrison’s prose is deceptively straightforward. There is a crispness to his sentences, a precision that mirrors the clarity with which Logan navigates the perils of antebellum America. Yet beneath the surface, the language carries an urgency, a pulse that propels the reader forward while simultaneously invoking reflection.

Every interaction with the past is fraught with danger — social, ethical, and physical — and Harrison never allows the thrill to overshadow the moral weight of Logan’s mission. Even a seemingly minor act, such as speaking to an enslaved person or resisting the norms of Southern hierarchy, carries the tremor of potential historical upheaval. Harrison’s writing captures this delicate balance between narrative propulsion and philosophical meditation, keeping the reader both on edge and reflective.

A notable feature of *A Rebel in Time* is its engagement with the machinery of time travel as a moral device rather than a technological one. The novel’s time travel is not an excuse for spectacle; it is a crucible in which the character’s ethical mettle is tested. Logan’s journey forces readers to confront the human cost of slavery and the inertia of systemic injustice. Harrison does not allow historical horrors to remain abstract; they are immediate, visceral, and unavoidable.

The South is depicted with unflinching realism — its social hierarchies, the casual cruelty, and the pervasive complicity of ordinary people. In this landscape, Logan’s moral clarity stands out not as a fantasy but as an extraordinary act of courage, the light of conscience piercing a society built upon darkness.

Characterisation in the novel is finely tuned to the narrative’s ethical concerns. Logan is simultaneously everyman and heroic ideal, relatable in his doubts and admirable in his resolve. His interactions with historical figures, including Lincoln, are imbued with authenticity, grounding the speculative elements in human emotion. Lincoln himself emerges less as a mythologised saviour and more as a figure of immense moral responsibility, a man whose historical decisions carry consequences that resonate through both the narrative and the reader’s conscience. Harrison manages to depict historical figures with fidelity without flattening them into mere symbols, allowing their humanity to illuminate the story’s moral stakes.

Thematically, the novel grapples with the interplay of destiny, morality, and human agency. Harrison suggests that history is not a fixed tableau but a continuum of choices, each imbued with moral significance. Logan’s interventions in the past are heroic precisely because they require ethical discernment: he must decide when to act, when to refrain, and how to balance the survival of the individual against the needs of generations to come. The narrative continually reminds readers that courage is not only physical but moral, that heroism is measured as much by ethical conviction as by daring action. In this, Harrison elevates his adventure narrative to a meditation on the responsibilities of conscience and on the inescapable weight of choices when they reverberate through history.

Harrison’s treatment of antebellum America is nuanced and textured. The South is depicted not simply as a place of cruelty but as a society whose structures and hierarchies are embedded in daily life, in ritual, and in expectation. The novel conveys a sense of suffocating inevitability, of social systems that resist change and punish defiance.

This enhances the tension of Logan’s mission: he is not merely navigating physical dangers but social, psychological, and ethical ones as well. Every misstep carries consequences, and Harrison ensures that the stakes feel both immense and immediate. The narrative rhythm, tight and controlled, mirrors the tension inherent in operating within a morally compromised society, highlighting the courage required to act rightly under oppression.

The novel’s structure reinforces its thematic concerns. Time travel is cyclical, iterative, and fraught with paradox, and Harrison uses these narrative loops to explore the unpredictability of cause and effect. Actions in the past ripple forward in unforeseen ways, reinforcing the idea that morality cannot be divorced from consequence.

The novel’s tension derives not merely from Logan’s struggle against historical forces but from the ethical uncertainty inherent in the act of intervention. In this way, Harrison transforms what could have been a conventional thriller into a meditation on the responsibilities of action, the fragility of justice, and the ethical dimensions of historical change.

Underlying the narrative is a reflection on memory and historical consciousness. Harrison encourages readers to inhabit a world that is both alien and familiar, to perceive history not as a series of abstract events but as lived experience, imbued with ethical weight. The past is not inert; it is active, challenging, and demanding moral engagement.

Logan’s journey becomes a lens through which readers reconsider the relationship between individual choice and collective destiny, between moral courage and historical inevitability. The novel’s speculative framework amplifies these concerns, allowing readers to confront the consequences of inaction as vividly as those of intervention.

Harrison also foregrounds the theme of personal courage in the face of systemic evil. Logan is, in many ways, an ordinary man confronted with extraordinary circumstances, and it is precisely the ordinariness of his bravery that gives the novel its resonance. Courage is not a matter of physical prowess alone; it is an ethical stance, a refusal to acquiesce to injustice even when the cost is immense.

The narrative repeatedly underscores the difficulty of acting rightly when the structures of power are overwhelmingly hostile, when society itself seems to conspire against morality. In this, *A Rebel in Time* becomes not only a speculative adventure but also a study of ethical fortitude, a testament to the enduring importance of conscience.

The novel’s climax is both thrilling and philosophically satisfying. Harrison resolves the narrative tension not through deus ex machina but through the sustained exercise of character and judgment. Logan’s decisions resonate across time, reinforcing the novel’s meditation on cause, consequence, and moral responsibility.

The resolution underscores a subtle but profound truth: history is shaped not only by armies and politicians but by the ethical convictions of individuals willing to act with foresight and courage. Harrison leaves readers with a sense of both exhilaration and reflection, the dual pleasure of narrative closure and philosophical contemplation.

In stylistic terms, Harrison’s writing is crisp, energetic, and lucid, but it is far from simplistic. His prose carries a rhythmic momentum that mirrors the narrative’s temporal leaps and the urgency of moral choice. Dialogue is authentic, occasionally laced with irony, and the pacing of scenes alternates between taut suspense and reflective calm, allowing readers to absorb the ethical dimensions of the unfolding events. The novel’s accessibility is deceptive; beneath its adventurous surface lies a rich web of philosophical, historical, and moral inquiry that rewards attentive reading.

*A Rebel in Time* also resonates in its contemporary relevance. By forcing readers to confront the realities of slavery, the responsibilities of moral action, and the unforeseen consequences of intervention, Harrison’s novel transcends the conventions of genre fiction. It is not merely a thrilling “what-if” scenario; it is a meditation on the enduring ethical dilemmas faced by humanity. The speculative premise amplifies these concerns, inviting reflection on the choices that shape our own historical moment and on the courage required to act rightly even when history seems immutable.

In conclusion, Harrison’s *A Rebel in Time* is a rare fusion of speculative ingenuity, moral meditation, and narrative drive. It is an adventure story that never loses sight of ethical stakes, a time-travel novel that interrogates the nature of courage and conscience as much as it explores paradox and chronology.

Logan Mountstuart’s journey reminds readers that history is never neutral, that the past is always alive, and that the act of moral engagement — even across centuries — remains both demanding and necessary.

Harrison’s novel endures because it challenges readers to consider not only the mechanics of history but the responsibilities of those who inhabit it, and it does so with a rhythm, clarity, and intensity that make it a quietly profound work of speculative fiction.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Rebel in Time by Harry Harrison is a time travel / alternate history story that starts as a straight up mystery. Sergeant Harmon is sent to investigate a large amount of missing gold and some violent crimes all tied to a missing Colonel McCulloh.

Eventually Harmon learns of a secret government time machine project. To everyone's surprise, McCulloh has managed to make the machine work well enough to transport himself and his stolen gold back in time, a few years before the start of the Civil War.

The exciting bit of the book is supposed to be Sergeant Harmon going back in time at great personal risk both from the time travel itself and because he's a black man going into the South. Unfortunately the situation felt so contrived that it left me cold.

There was too much attention paid to making McCulloh EVIL and Harmon GOOD that neither character was all that credible or interesting. The good parts of the book (the time travel, science fiction bits) get lost in an otherwise humdrum Civil War re-enactment.

[D.J. Cowdall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago, simply because I used to read 2000AD comic, and in it was Slippery Jim DiGriz, and from that I began to read more and more of Harrison's works. It was then that I borrowed from the library a copy of this, and read it, and then read it again.
I found its impact on me to be a very strong one, not just from the nature of the book, but from the moral nature of its author. Harrison clearly was a very good man.
In time family members bought me a first edition signed hardback copy of this book, and later I acquired a first edition copy of the paperback.
As a novel, it is an easy and enjoyable read. Like most of Harrison's works, they stand the test of time well, and always remain contemporary. As always, Harrison handles the conflict over race and ethnicity well, and of course I would love to see this made into a film one day, but I doubt anyone could do justice to the book.
Get a copy, read it, and I guarantee you will see this the same way I do. A first class novel from a first class writer.

[Ian Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically we have a present-day racist military commander who leverages a top secret time machine to travel back to pre-Civil War America to bolster the Confederate cause by introducing modern weaponry and a stash of gold. He's fittingly pursued in present and past by a black man who precariously has to navigate 1860 Dixieland in order to bring the commander to justice. It's a fucking absurd premise, but a guilty pleasure read. Probably not worthy of 3 stars but why not?

[Theo Logos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[John Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book (second hand) c. 2000, and I remember comparing it to The Stainless Steel Rat Saves The World; in particular, I remember thinking that this book takes a more in-depth look at time travel logic, to avoid plot holes. That makes sense, because this book was published 12 years later (1983 vs 1971), so Harrison had time to improve as a writer.

Re-reading it, the main thing that struck me is how long it takes to get going! I don't think it really counts as a spoiler to say that this book involves time travel and the American civil war, because that should be obvious from the title and the cover illustration. However, that "mystery" takes up half of the book! My copy has 315 numbered pages, although the story starts on page 7; the protagonist goes back in time on page 182. There are some important plot points here: McCulloch needs to meet Harmon in the present day in order to recognise him in the past, and it establishes why McCulloch chose this particular weapon to take with him. It's also good to see the preparations that Harmon made, e.g. learning to ride a horse and fire a Colt revolver. However, it's frustrating when we (as the audience) are waiting for the characters to catch up with us.

Ishmael had a similar premise, but it alternated between the two time periods. Maybe it would have been better to start this book in media res? Night Watch is another example, where they get to the point very quickly, although that has the advantage that the main character (Vimes) has been introduced in prior books of the series.

Looking at other genres, if I read a murder mystery story then it's not a surprise when someone gets murdered, but the events leading up to that should serve a purpose by establishing motives etc., i.e. giving information that you need in order to appreciate what happens after the murder. In this case, I honestly think that the present day scenes could have been condensed down to a single chapter.

In universe, it's an odd choice to send a black man back to a time of slavery. The plot justifies that to some extent by saying that it's a one-way trip (implying that most people wouldn't want to volunteer), but the real-world reason is to show what he experiences. The second half of the book is where it gets good, with the descriptions of life in the 1850s.

Some of the dialogue feels a bit stilted, but it serves the purpose of conveying the necessary information to the reader. There's an interesting mixture of present tense and past tense in the book (separate from the time travel aspects), e.g. chapter 1 starts by describing the area around Washington DC (present tense) but then describes what the characters did (past tense). I think that works well, and I definitely prefer that over the whole book being written in present tense (a modern trend).

All in all, I'd say this isn't quite as good as I'd remembered, but I still enjoyed reading it.

[David Robert Bloomer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel and very well executed.

I'm going to write here that you should read this book and underneath there'll be a few spoilers; however you can just read this first paragraph to see if you should invest time in reading this book. The answer is yes you should. It's a book of 2 halves and works really well to build up tension and has a great narrative. It was written in the early 80's but that doesn't date it. It does tackle some heavy issues but these( at times may seem harsh, especially in some of the language) are dealt with in a well written way. Highly recommended.

Now the slight spoilers.

As I said above the story is in 2 halves. The first is well crafted and doesn't drag in getting our protagonist to wear he needs to be. Troy is a character that grows during the story and is well rounded. The villain of the piece is a b*stard to be honest. His prejudices coming out little by little to show what a nasty piece of work he is. The set up works fine. Even the second half is well crafted and brings that world to life. A couple of times though the narrative changes to other perspectives, obviously to show us what our lead cannot be seeing/involved in. These pop up out of nowhere and are gone as quick. It seems a bit odd with it not happening till so late and I find it strange. It doesn't take away from the story but seems a bit tacked on to keep the narrative clear. Miner quibble though. I enjoy the works of Harrison and can't wait to experience more by him.

[Jürgen Defurne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading some of the other reviews, I was actually afraid to be disappointed in this book. However, my opinion is that this is probably one of Harrison's best works.

His writing discipline is impeccable here. He starts from a very contemporary reality, and the first part is more a detective story, without any SF- or fantasy frills, except the existence of a time machine. Even if the main character travels back in time to 1864 to follow someone who wants to change history, he is confined to what can be done with the things from that time.

Harrison has a broad range, from the satiric and outrageous to the very well researched, almost documentary. This book is very much an example of the latter.

[David Haddon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double time travel story.

First, flash back to the early 80's when it was written, and when I first read it. Reminded me how much has changed in everyday life since then. Besides some of the basics on things like computers, there was also the societal changes on race, sexism, drinking at work, dating, etc.

Second, the time travel story itself in the book, which is fun.

The writing is aged some. You can tell Mr. Harrison was educated in the first half of the 20th century. But good, solid writing - sort of like Alistair MacLain or Alfred Hitchcock.

Fun, quick, easy read and trips through time were entertaining.

[Al "Tank" · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mixed bag. The first half of the story is a "who done it" and the science fiction part kinda sneaks in and then becomes the vehicle for the pursuit of the bad guy in the Antebellum South. The best part of the struggle is that our intrepid hero is black and has to pursue the murderer in an area where he's likely to be picked up as an escaped slave and perhaps killed on the spot.

I'm not a big detective story reader, so the first half, although well done, moved kinda slow for me. The second half of the book woke me up and the story came alive.

[Mark Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book many years ago (30+?) and looked forward to reading it again. It didn't disappoint. A fantastic story with a very engaging central character. I admit to being fascinated by time travel and this is one of the good ones for me. Admittedly it is dated now by scientific and technological advances but that fails to take away from the story itself. If you like time travel you will love this I think.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An African American Vietnam vet pursues a criminal time traveler bent on helping the South win the Civil War. The villain wants to build simple machine guns for the Confederate army. The story includes effective details on the Underground Railroad and John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. The novel exemplifies Harrison’s skill at writing unpretentious science fiction adventures.

[Adam Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time travel adventure takes a while to get going, but is a lot of fun once it does.

The plot is similar to the much later Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove, but unlike that novel, A Rebel In Time has no sympathy for the Lost Cause and centers around a Black cop sent back to stop the plot to supply the South with powerful weapons from the future.

[Tim Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this - but it's not Harry Harrison at his best. There are some interesting questions, and I have to say I enjoy the fact that 'can you imagine what life is like in 2015' has now become a dated line!

[C.B. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pulpy time travel sci-fi adventure. The modern (1980s) segment is the weakest but once they get to the 1860s it becomes a fun romp with a very satisfying ending for any civil war history fans tired of the lost cause narrative.

[Serge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, as usual. But another case of bad cover design spoiling almost half the book. All the characters puzzled why that guy is doing that weird stuff? Oh, right, I saw the cover, I know why.

[Stanislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why go in time to the point you can't return, if you can go a few weeks back, when time machine was used for the first time, and prevent everything..?

[Ismael]

I'm just going to quote Cody from AlternateHistoryHub on this one: "This is like Back to the Future but with racism".
There.
That's the review.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading

First book I read in the Army in the mid eighties. Entertaining then as it was now. Good choice for those looking for science fiction with a bit of history.

[Brian Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of Harry Harrison's alternative history stories, something he does well.
I thought the choice of protagonist was a nice touch (no spoilers)

[lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great time travel yarn

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you do not like (i) time travel stories (ii) alternate history and (iii) historical fiction, you are unlikely to be fond of this novel. Harrison combines these three (admittedly, not dissimilar) genres into one crime novel. Sherlock Holmes here is an FBI agent named Troy Harmon, and the antagonist is a modern-day racist and white suprematist who got hold of a one-way time machine and blueprints of the WWII British submachine gun, STEN, famous for its simplicity (one gun could be produced in less than 5 man-hours at a cost of ¾ pound). Notoriously low quality compared to other WWII submachine guns, STEN would be deadly in the Civil War. Troy Harmon is charged with investigating several mysterious events around Washington, D.C., and eventually uncovers Col. McCulloch plot… But it is too late, the villain has escaped into the antebellum U.S. and started building secret STEN factories to supply the Confederates in the imminent Civil War. The only course of action still open to Troy is to pursue the scoundrel into the 19th century. One “but” though: Sgt. Harmon is African-American… The hot pursuit ends in Harper's Ferry, the time-criminal is killed and the factories destroyed – and Troy joins a USCT regiment to continue to contribute to the victory of the Union, now as a foot soldier. Many say that Harry Turtledove’s “Guns of the South” is a better variation of the theme “Rebs acquire modern arms”. I tend to agree, but the two books are sufficiently different and both are interesting in their own right.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent science fiction detective yarn about a black intelligence officer who follows a bigoted army colonel bak to pre Civil War Virginia. The colonel has brought gold coins to build an arms manufacturing plant. He plans to manufacture the Sten submachine gun and supply the confederate cavalry. The intelligence officer must prevent the colonel from creating an alternate history without creating time paradoxes.

[Sean Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the hallmarks of an enjoyable story but none of the pace or tension one would expect. The introduction of the time machine was far too delayed and the final import of its operating possibilities mentioned briefly but utterly ignored for far too long. The lead is almost too good, except for his clear fanaticism for the US. Still, it's a part of history...

[Gmackster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great concept: a white supremacist who also happens to be head of security for a government lab in DC developing a time machine steals it and goes back to the days before the Civil War with a fortune in gold and blueprints of how to manufacture a machine gun. An African American FBI agent goes after him: back to the old south where slavery is rampant.