Contains Raj Whitehall series opening novels The Forge and The Hammer together in one volume.  A young hero overcomes implacable foes to lead a planet fallen into a dark age back to the high point of its lost technological civilization.  Series relaunches in April 2012 with The Heretic [Baen hardcover, 9781451638813]

Contains Raj Whitehall series opening novels The Forge and The Hammer together in one volume. 

Raj Whitehall was a young noble of the Civil Government, the last remnant of galactic civilization on the planet Bellevue, when he came across an ancient but still functioning Fleet Battle Computer named Center. With Center's vast fund of knowledge and strategic calculating abilities, Raj could defeat the barbarians threatening to engulf the Civil Government, and start Bellevue on the road back to the stars. But the Governor, to whom Raj has sworn absolute loyalty, nourishes a paranoid envy and mistrust that grows with every victory. Can even a battle computer of the Galactic Age be enough to counter the fury of Raj's enemies . . . and the treachery of his ""friends""?

A young hero overcomes implacable foes to lead a planet fallen into a dark age back to the high point of its lost technological civilization.

 About the Raj Whitehall series:

“[T]old with knowledge of military tactics and hardware, and vividly described action. . .devotees of military SF should enjoy themselves.”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] thoroughly engrossing military sf series. .  .superb battle scenes, ingenious weaponry and tactics, homages to Kipling, and many other goodies. High fun.”—Booklist

 About David Drake:

“[P]rose as cold and hard s the metal alloy of a tank…rivals Crane and Remarque…” –Chicago Sun-Times

“Drake couldn’t write a bad action scene at gunpoint.” –Booklist