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| − | {{merge|The Mercenary Life}}
| + | #REDIRECT [[The Mercenary Life]]}} |
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| − | | image = MW5 Origins cover.jpg
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| − | | name =
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| − | | type = Anthology<br />Novel
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| − | | author = [[Randall N. Bills]]
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| − | | development =
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| − | | primarywriting =
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| − | | pages = 528
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| − | | cover = [[David Kerber]]
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| − | | interiorart =
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| − | | illustrations =
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| − | | publisher = [[MechaPub Inc]]
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| − | | productioncode =
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| − | | year = 12 December 2019
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| − | | MSRP = Free
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| − | | content =
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| − | | era = [[Succession Wars era]]
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| − | | timeline = 5 December [[2991]] - 21 October [[3013]]
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| − | | series =
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| − | }} | |
| − | A self-described anthology, '''''MechWarrior 5: Origins'''''–otherwise referred to as the ''MechWarrior 5 Origins Series''–is a collection of eight original [[BattleTech]] [[short stories]] (called novellas by the publisher) penned by [[Randall N. Bills]]. These stories were first offered individually just prior to the launch of the ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'' computer game as free tie-in fiction in electronic format, and then also in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch.
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| − | The individual stories narrate the backgrounds of important characters from the game and the genesis of the [[Nik's Cavaliers]] [[mercenary unit]]. As they are interconnected, they can arguably be regarded as individual chapters of a single story, and the anthology can thus arguably be described as a novel. (The stories' combined wordcount in the anthology significantly exceeds 40,000 words.)
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| − | The stories of ''MechWarrior 5: Origins'' would be reissued in a new [[Catalyst Game Labs]] produced anthology '''''[[The Mercenary Life]]''''' in digital format and Print on Demand on 13 April 2021. This enhanced release features a new introduction and postscripts for the eight stories of ''Origins'' from the author as well as a new ninth story - ''[[The Sun Will Rise]]'' - exclusive to that anthology.
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| − | ==Individual short stories==
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| − | *''[[The Calm of the Void]]''
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| − | *''[[Vision's Hunger]]''
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| − | *''[[Endless War]]''
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| − | *''[[Contested Dreams]]''
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| − | *''[[Dissimulate Wanderer]]''
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| − | *''[[Knives in the Dark]]''
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| − | *''[[A Skein of Schemes]]''
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| − | *''[[Obligation's Forge]]''
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | * Released as promotional material for the ''MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries'' game, it was believed at the time that ''MechWarrior 5: Origins'' was also derived from [[Piranha Games]]' license to BattleTech video games instead of the (distinct) "mainline" BattleTech license held by Catalyst Game Labs, rendering the stories [[Apocryphal]] on Sarna. This may not have been the case, while the covers to each stories used MW5 assets, the interior artwork at the rear of each story used CGL assets, including new 'Mech art developed as part of the [[2019 Clan Invasion crowdfunding campaign]], muddying the waters. This and the later CGL release of ''The Mercenary Life'' anthology with the stories of ''Origins'' effectively re-released unchanged indicates the stories may have always been canon, though this does not automatically extend to the events that occur exclusively in ''MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries''.
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| − | ==External Links==
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| − | *[https://mw5mercs.com/novellas Download link] on MW5 website
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| − | [[Category:Anthologies]]
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| − | [[Category:Novels]]
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| − | [[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]
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