title: The Forge (The Raj Whitehall Series: The General, Book 1)
author:  S.M. Stirling 
description: Military officer Raj Whitehall is roaming through catacombs ofthe planet Bellevue when he discovers the computer Battle Central, arelic from the Golden Age before the planet's fall a thousand yearsearlierp. 171 . Central decides Raj is the one to carry out a mission,and by showing him what will happen to the planet withoutintervention, Central convinces Raj to save the stet caps/pk CivilGovernment from corruption and bandits. With the computer's guidance,Raj proposes a battle plan and soon sets out to conquer the enemieswho would destroy Bellevue, while others plot against him fromwithin. Central gives Raj advice from time to time by demonstratingfor him in his mind's eye what could happen if Raj makes the wrongstrategic decision. The computer's intervention, however, confuses thestory line, especially since Central gives alternate scenarios, oneafter the other. This novel, first in a series, may appeal to militaryscience fiction buffs who enjoy puzzling out complicated battlescenes. Drake is the author of Northworld ; Stirling wrote Under theYoke.<br />Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: ## Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    1. [Praise](s001-Praise-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Title Page](s002-BookTitlePage-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Epigraph](s003-Epigraph-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Contents](s004-TableOfContents-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Introduction](s005-Introduction-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Acknowledgements](s006-Acknowledgements-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Prologue](s007-Prologue-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [JANE WELSH and THOMAS CARLYLE 1821-1866](s008-Chapter-001.xhtml)
  
  
  * [EFFIE GRAY and JOHN RUSKIN 1848-1854](s009-Chapter-002.xhtml)
  
  
  * [HARRIET TAYLOR and JOHN STUART MILL 1830-1858](s010-Chapter-003.xhtml)
  
  
  * [CATHERINE HOGARTH and CHARLES DICKENS 1835-1858](s011-Chapter-004.xhtml)
  
  
  * [GEORGE ELIOT and GEORGE HENRY LEWES 1854-1878](s012-Chapter-005.xhtml)
  
  
  * [JANE WELSH and THOMAS CARLYLE 1821-1866](s013-Chapter-006.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Postlude I: Carlyle and the Punch-and-Judy Show](s014-Other-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Postlude II: Carlyle and the Jamaica Rebellion](s015-Other-02.xhtml)
  
  
  * [A Chronology](s016-Chronology-01.xhtml)
  
  
  * [Selected Bibliography](s018-Bibliogr