Pretty Quadroon

"Pretty Quadroon" by Charles L. Fontenay is a thought-provoking science fiction story set during a second American civil war, diving into complex issues of love, race, and the power to change destiny. The main character, General Beauregard Courtney, finds himself caught between his feelings for Piquette, a woman of mixed race, and the harsh realities of a nation torn apart by conflict. When Beauregard encounters Adjaha who offers him a way to rewrite history through manipulating time, he learns he is central to the future's direction, holding either peace or further conflict in his hands. Through hypnotic journeys and the incorporation of African mysticism, Beauregard is prompted to confront his past decisions and their far-reaching consequences, and causes readers to consider how deeply love, racial prejudice, and historical events influence one another.