The General series
The General (also known as the Raj Whitehall series, after the lead character) is a set of military science fiction books written by S. M. Stirling from an outline by David Drake.The concept of computer technology has become the basis of religion throughout the world, the Spirit of Man, with priestly Hierarchs, Sysups, and an Inquisition called the Anti-Viral Cleansers.The people of Bellevue speak various evolved dialects, including Sponglish, Spanjol, Namerique and Paytoiz, with elements of English, French and Spanish apparent.Center charges Whitehall with uniting Bellevue and provides him, through a constant mental link, with predictive visions that simulate probable situational outcomes, historical data, eidetic memory, and minor enhancements to physical abilities including accuracy with firearms.Meanwhile, his wife Suzette quietly uses her own highly developed court intrigue skills to neutralize Raj's political foes and obstacles behind the scenes, compensating for his more direct tactics.Center keeps Thom in suspended animation within its sanctum, explaining that he will otherwise probably be the victim of political assassination before long, and begins to educate him in matters more related to civil administration.The protagonist of the story, Raj (Raj Ammenda Halgren da Luis Whitehall, Whitehall of Hillchapel, Hereditary Supervisor of Smythe Parish, Descott County) is "chosen" by the Sector Command And Control Mk-XIV Computer he calls Center to unite Bellevue to restore civilization on the planet and save it from a downward spiral that, according to Center's projections, might last as long as fifteen thousand years.The Companions are formed in The Forge when Whitehall is called to an incident in a farmstead during the march to Komar, and Staenbridge, Foley, the Gruders, DaCruz, and M'lewis volunteer to accompany him.Forced into the less-prestigious infantry due to being severely allergic to dogs, Menyez is possibly the foremost expert in their training and doctrine the Civil Government has.Much of his service to Raj involves taking just such browbeaten peasants and turning them into soldiers who will stand against frothing barbarians and riding dogs alike without a backward step.Non-military: a Komarite (Arab) trader who swears loyalty to Raj Whitehall after coming to feel shame for taking part in the dealings of Chancellor Tzetzas, which had led to the weakening of Komar's defenses.He is Raj's main logistics man and the chief steward of the Whitehalls' wealth, as well as brokering information through his commercial contacts in much the same way Suzette uses her political skills.Before every major battle in the field, Foley gives the following toast to end staff meetings: "He fears his fate too much, and his desserts are small, he who will not put it to the touch --- to win or lose it all.".Foley's interest in literature will garner him an award for his book, Raj Whitehall and His Times, which he writes after Thom Poplanich is enChaired as Governor and Center declares the Fall to be ended.He gains Raj's confidence and eventually heads a special team of similar characters known as the "40 Thieves", leading them through intimidation and example through scouting missions into enemy territory.On Bellevue most people are peasants, the bottom rung in the agrarian economies, due to the mostly feudal and autocratic forms of government; this greatly limits their ability to achieve their full potential.Other Muslims also exist; Abdullah Al'aziz is a Druze whose life and family are saved by Suzette Whitehall, and who repays her by serving as her chief spy.The Brigade, having moved from south their original lands, referred to as the "Base Area", has ruled the former Civil Government Western Territories for six hundred years.The Brigade, unlike the Squadron, maintains a standing army with a system of compulsory service, as well as requiring nobles to contribute household troops in time of war.Armed with flintlock muskets, blunderbusses, axes and broadswords, Squadron warriors traditionally fight under household banners or associations and are noted for delivering frenzied charges into close combat with their foes.The Squadrones can be likened to the Germanic or Norse berserkers, both from physical appearance (they are described as large, pale-skinned and well-built and some with Suebian knots) and from their apparent love for combat; it is shameful in their culture to shun or flee from battle.In Raj Whitehall's campaign in the Southern Territories, the Squadrones literally charge into the fire of the Civil Government field guns and are comprehensively defeated.Little is known of the Zanj City States or its people, other than that Tewfik ibn'Jamal lost his eye while campaigning there, and that it is the source of kave (coffee) and the extremely valuable torofib silk.In the follow-up novel The Chosen, a copy of Center, along with the recorded mind of Raj Whitehall, is sent to the planet Visager to help boost that society to the point where it too can join what has now become Bellevue's multi-world Federation.Standing in their way is a nation of eugenically bred warriors called the Chosen, the strongest, most technologically advanced military force on the planet, who believe that all non-Chosen are merely slaves who haven't been caught yet.Center & Raj assist Abel Dashian, the son of a military officer, in his attempt to take down a supercomputer that suppresses societal advancement.[5][6] The authors of Canadian Fantasy and Science-Fiction Writers write that the books in the series are not repetitive and characters are imaginative, although they criticize the plot for being somewhat predictable and lacking originality.They note that "In spite of the lack of originality in the plot, most reviewers, in light of the superb battle scenes as well as the highly detailed presentation of military tactics, say that this series will appeal to military-science buffs".