Book named "Someone"'s War, in which complex technology is outlawed with religious fervor

Question

I've been racking my brain all week trying to remember the name of this book so I can go back and finish it. It's been almost a decade, so I may remember some of the details wrong.

The setting seems to be in a future version of Earth where complex technology is outlawed with religious fervor. It hints at a near apocalyptic event that brought this about, but I didn't learn the details. The technology level is roughly early industrial. The vibe is almost steampunk vibe mixed with American military tradition and British aristocracy.

The book starts off with the main character in military school, eventually being deployed to Australia, I think. It talks a lot about his correspondence with his girlfriend through letters, and I think I remember something about a campaign in India.

The "someone"'s name is a male name that feels familiar because it's also the name of a prominent historical figure, and is the name of the main character's friend/rival at the beginning of the book.

Answer 1

I believe you are seeking the 2004 book Fitzpatrick's War by Theodore Judson. It was first published by Daw Books.

Points that match:

Book named "Someone"'s War.

Yep.

The setting seems to be in a future version of Earth

Match. 25th century Earth

which complex technology is outlawed with religious fervor

Partial Match. It is not so much just religious, but an electrical damping field that is preventing technology use. "At the same time the Timermen, their hidden technological elite, began developing means of rendering their enemies' electronic technology unusable through development of portable electromagnetic pulse generation technology."

The book starts off with the main character in military school, eventually being deployed to Australia, I think.

Match. "The novel takes the form of an autobiography by a twenty-fifth century soldier, Brigadier General Sir Robert Mayfair Bruce, of the Yukon Confederacy, The history of Judson's world is revealed in the form of an oral history exam given to cadets at the Yukon War College, While a student at the Yukon War College, Sir Robert Mayfair Bruce, ......"

eventually being deployed to Australia, I

Partial Match. Not a deployment. But does end up in Australia. "Bruce flees with a few survivors for Australia, where he is met by Dr. Murrey."

The "someone"'s name is a male name that feels familiar because it's also the name of a prominent historical figure, and is the name of the main character's friend/rival at the beginning of the book.

Match and Match: "Bruce's story chronicles (and criticizes) the career of Lord Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick, a consul of the fictional Yukon Confederacy whose life closely parallels that of Alexander the Great."

"While a student at the Yukon War College, Sir Robert Mayfair Bruce, decorated veteran of the Mexican War of 2412, is selected by Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick the Younger) to join his inner circle."