A Rebel in Time

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A Rebel in Time, by Harry Harrison, 1983.

A Rebel in Time (also published as Rebel in Time) is a science fiction novel that centres around a racist colonel, Wesley McCulloch and his black pursuer, Troy Harmon. McCulloch and Harmon both originate from the modern era, the book opening with Harmon called in by a special military watchdog organisation to investigate why McCulloch has been buying large quantities of gold.

The case worsens when it is discovered McCulloch also murders three people to cover his plans. The theft of an antique Sten Gun and the plans for such also add to the mystery about what McCulloch is up to.

Before long, Harmon comes to the conclusion McCulloch has used a secret experiemental time machine to try and change the outcome of the American Civil War, giving victory to the Confederacy through the introduction of the easily produced Sten Gun. Harmon determines he must follow McCulloch into the past to bring justice. During the ensuing chase, Harmon discovers first-hand the prejudices of the people at the time.

The book has some points of similarity to Harry Turtledove's 1992 novel, Guns of the South. Harrison also revisited the Civil War in his Stars and Stripes trilogy.

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As part of his surveillance, Harmon photographs items in McCulloch's apartment. He marvels at the Japanese camera he was given to use which did not use film but rather stored photographs on an electronic card. This is a rather prophetic reference to flash memory which was in fact invented in Japan in 1984, just one year after the book's first publication.