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.
Inspired by the Byzantine commander Belisarius, the series shares numerous common elements with the more recent Belisarius series by Drake and Eric Flint.
Books Original series Bellevue series Centering on Raj Ammenda Halgern da Luis Whitehall, written by S. M. Stirling and David Drake. The Forge (1991) The Hammer (1992) The Anvil (1993) The Steel (1993) The Sword (1995) The first two books were also published as an omnibus Warlord (2003), which was reissued as Hope Reborn (March 2013). The last three in another omnibus as Conqueror (2003). The second two books were published as an omnibus Hope Rearmed (March 2014). The final novel was published with The Chosen in an omnibus as Hope Renewed (July 2014).
Follow-on series Visigar series The Chosen (1996) written by S. M. Stirling and David Drake. This was republished in an omnibus with "The Sword" as Hope Renewed (July 2014).
Hafardine series The Reformer (1999) written by S. M. Stirling and David Drake. The Tyrant (2002) written by Eric Flint and David Drake. These were republished in an omnibus as Hope Reformed (November 2014).
Duisberg series The Heretic (April 2013; Tony Daniel & David Drake) The Savior (September 2014; Tony Daniel & David Drake)
Bellevue series
Plot The first five books are set on the planet Bellevue, previously part of a high-technology galactic civilization (the Federation). Interstellar civilization collapsed during "The Fall", when extensive civil war greatly reduced the planet's technology level. Technology has redeveloped only slowly: the most advanced groups have reached the level of single-expansion steam engines, wrapped-brass-cartridges, breech-loading rifles (Martini-Henry lock or very similar) and lever-action carbines, cast-steel breech-loading cannon, simple revolvers, etc. Progress is slow: the breech-loading rifle design has not changed for over two hundred years, and other groups still use flintlock or percussion cap weapons.
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. This religion is split into two competing sects: The Spirit of Man of the Stars, the state religion of the Civil Government, and Spirit of Man of This Earth, which is more popular among the barbarian Military Governments. The people of Bellevue speak various evolved dialects, including Sponglish, Spanjol, Namerique and Paytoiz, with elements of English, French and Spanish apparent. At the time of the Fall the planet had no horses, so now cavalry is mounted on thousand-pound dogs of various breeds.
The books begin in the Year of the Fall 1103, when the protagonist Raj Whitehall and his friend Thom Poplanich stumble on a still-working remnant of the old technology, the quantum supercomputer "Center", which Raj and Thom regard as an angel. Center describes itself as a "sentient artificial entity of photonic subsystems tasked with the politico-military supervision" of Bellevue. 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. Raj couples these assets with his own charisma and skill to become an extremely effective military leader. 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. As Raj acknowledges (and Center's projections confirm), he would not be an effective civilian leader, but Thom—the legitimate heir, with the assistance of Raj and Center—will.
True to their historical model, the campaigns of Belisarius, the books focus on the convoluted "strategic offensive, tactical defensive" campaigns of General Whitehall around the Midworld Sea and his fraught relationships with his paranoid but capable 'emperor' –- Governor Barholm Clerett—and Clerett's avaricious and corrupt chancellor Tzetzas.
Whitehall's nation calls itself the Civil Government, and it is centrally located between the rival nations of the Military Governments—The Brigade and The Squadron—and the Muslim Colonists.
Characters
Civil Government
Raj Whitehall The protagonist of the story, Raj (Raj 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. On his campaigns, he collects a group of Companions: able commanders who form the ad hoc overall command group of the Whitehall's armies. His campaigns begin on the border of the Civil Government with the Islamic Colony at Sandoral, then go on to the barbarian-controlled Southern Territories of The Squadron and the Western Territories of the Brigade, and culminate in his defense of the Civil Government once more at Sandoral against the Colony's main army. Throughout the series, Raj Whitehall is doubted and suspected of treason by Governor Barholm Clerett, despite continuously proving his loyalty—even after he thwarts an attempt on Clerett's life by ending a coup staged by Thom Poplanich's brother Des and troops led by Colonel Stanson. Also throughout, it is unclear whether he is oblivious to or accepting of his wife's various infidelities.
Suzette Whitehall Raj Whitehall's exceptionally intelligent, strong-willed, and resourceful wife, who accompanies him on his campaigns. (Messa Suzette Emmenalle Forstin Hogor Wenqui Whitehall, Lady of Hillchapel) The Wenqui family goes back to the Fall, poor but proud. Suzette is also close friends with Barholm's wife, Lady Anne Clerett, who started out as a child-whore near the Canidrome. Suzette uses any means necessary to convince those potentially harmful to her husband to actually help him, except sleeping with those individuals. She relies on a cadre of devoted servants and spies to gather intelligence in support of her husband's career.
Companions The Companions, men loyal to General Whitehall, form the de facto overall command group of Whitehall's Expeditionary Forces, as the Army does not have a structure of command higher than battalion level. Most of them are of the Messer class, the nobility of the Civil Government. 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. Captain Stanson calls them The Loyal Companions in a half-serious jest, and the name sticks.
Colonel Gerrin Staenbridge (becomes Companion in The Forge) Second in overall command, Raj Whitehall's right-hand man; directly commands 5th Descott Guards (later "Raj's Own"). Before the series begins, the boredom and idleness of garrison duty had dulled his edge, but he quickly regains it during action in the field. He often acts as Raj's executive officer, shoulder to shoulder with his commander, while directing what amounts to the General's bodyguard regiment. Colonel Jorg Menyez (becomes Companion in The Forge) Overall infantry commander, directly commands 17th Kelden County Foot. 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. This is first due to not disregarding them as broken peons with rifles, as most of the cavalry-oriented officer corps does, instead demanding the same excellence as is expected for dog-soldiers. 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. Colonel Grammeck Dinnalsyn (becomes Companion in The Hammer) Overall artillery commander. Dinnalsyn, like most artillerymen in the Gubernio Civil, is somewhat of an engineer, as he is knowledgeable on matters concerning fortifications and weapons development. Muzzaf Kerpatik (becomes Companion in The Forge) 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. Major Kaltin Gruder (becomes Companion in The Forge) Commands: 7th Descott Rangers. Beginning the series as a company commander of the 5th Descott, he was promoted to command of the 7th Descott after the Valley of Death battle in The Forge. He strongly disapproves of Suzette Whitehall's apparent infidelity to her husband, even after her true devotion is revealed to him by Staenbridge. His personality, never what one might call 'passive', becomes markedly darker after his brother's death and his own facial scarring by the same Colonist shell. Notably, he is also the man Raj trusts most for missions involving independence and speed, often sending him behind enemy lines or out to the flank. Major Ehwardo Poplanich (becomes Companion in The Hammer) Commands: Poplanich's Own. This battalion is recruited from the Poplanich family's estates around East Residence. Ehwardo is cousin to Thom and Des Poplanich, and is killed in The Steel by the Brigade under the walls of Old Residence. Captain Evrard Gruder (becomes Companion in The Forge) Younger brother of Kaltin Gruder. Killed in The Forge by a shell from a Colonial pom-pom, a light field gun with a higher rate of fire and smaller shells than the Civil Government's. His personality was very similar to Kaltin's, both of them quick to violence in Raj's service, with a taste for women and the finer things. Captain Barton Foley (becomes Companion in The Forge) Commands: A Company, 5th Descott Guards. Loses his left hand in The Forge to a pom-pom shell; he replaces it with a sharpened hook. Foley is Gerrin Staenbridge's protege-cum-boyfriend, and is fond of literature. 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. Senior Captain Antin M'lewis (becomes Companion in The Forge) Commands: 5th Descott Guards' Scout Unit (The Forty Thieves). Hailed from Bufford Parish, the most lawless part of not-so-lawful Descott County. Distinguished by his wire garrote and the skinning knife he carries on his left side, both of which are quick to his hands whenever a point needs to be made. M'lewis meets Raj Whitehall when he is brought before Raj concerning a farmer's pig (or a shoat) gone missing despite a no-foraging order. 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. Major Mekkle Thiddo (becomes Companion in The Hammer)