Difference between revisions of "Kell Hounds Ascendant"

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| name                = Kell Hounds Ascendant
 
| name                = Kell Hounds Ascendant
 
| type                = Anthology
 
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| pages              = 324
| cover              =  
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| cover              = [[Florian Mellies]]
 
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| publisher          = [[Catalyst Game Labs]]
 
| publisher          = [[Catalyst Game Labs]]
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| productioncode      = 35835
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| year                = 2019
 
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| ISBN13              = 978-1942487890
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| MSRP                = 13.95 (print)
 
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| era                =  
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| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
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| timeline            = 3 October - 23 December [[3010]]
 
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'''Kell Hounds Ascendant''' is a collection of three novellas about the [[Kell Hounds]] by [[Michael A. Stackpole]] that was announced by [[Catalyst Game Labs]] in 2015, but has not been published yet.  It starts in 3010 with the previously published "[[Not the Way the Smart Money Bets]]" and continues with two new novellas "[[A Tiny Spot of Rebellion]]" and "[[A Clever Bit of Fiction]]".
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'''''Kell Hounds Ascendant''''' is an omnibus collection of three novellas by [[Michael A. Stackpole]] about the [[Kell Hounds]] (of which the first had been published in 2008 already via [[BattleCorps]]). The three stories narrate the inception and early days of the famed [[Kell Hounds]] [[mercenary unit]]:
 +
*''[[Not the Way the Smart Money Bets]]''
 +
*''[[A Tiny Spot of Rebellion]]''
 +
*''[[A Clever Bit of Fiction]]''
  
==Overview==
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The three novellas are also available separately in EPUB format, and are sold as a package as the '''''Kell Hounds Trilogy'''''.
While there are hundreds of mercenary units throughout the Inner Sphere, only a handful have risen to galaxy-wide fame. The Gray Death Legion. Wolf’s Dragoons. The Northwind Highlanders. And the Kell Hounds.
 
  
Founded by brothers Morgan and Patrick Kell, the Hounds’ beginning was fraught with tension, intrigue, and danger, which they’ve found ever since. And now Michael A. Stackpole takes us back to the beginning of one of Battletech’s most storied mercenary units in three short novels that tell of the Hounds’ first days.
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==From the Back Cover==
 +
{{quote|NEVER BET AGAINST THE KELL BROTHERS...
 +
 
 +
''The Kell Hounds are one of the most storied mercenary units in the [[Inner Sphere]]. Now, ''New York Times''-bestselling author and Kell Hounds creator Michael A. Stackpole goes back to the Hounds' beginnings in these three short novels, when [[Morgan Kell|Morgan]] and [[Patrick Kell]] were just two smart, ambitious brothers—with a plan to revolutionize the world of mercenaries forever...''
 +
 
 +
Not How the Smart Money Bets: ''Morgan and Patrick Kell land on the mercenary planet [[Galatea]] to start their new unit, the Kell Hounds. But a few obstacles in their way, including the biggest one, a ruthless crime lord named [[Haskell Blizzard]]. But the Kell brothers have faced long odds before, and come out on top every single time. When the chips are down, the smart money is always on the brothers Kell.''
 +
 
 +
A Tiny Bit of Rebellion: ''Galatea's capital city, Galaport, is threatened by a new enemy: Bishop [[Arlington Poore]], a religious zealot who wants to bring the entire planet under his repressive theocracy—and is willing to starve millions to do it. The Kell Hounds now have their first job: put down this uprising, and fast. But when a madman has converted thousands of civilians to his side, how will Morgan and Patrick end his misguided crusade without shedding innocent blood?''
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 +
A Clever Bit of Fiction: ''When the [[Archon]] hires the Kell Hounds to provide security for war games with Prince [[Ian Davion]]'s forces in a show of combined strength between the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]], Morgan Kell thinks it's a chance to relax while getting to know the mercurial leader of the Federated Suns. But when a powerful group of raiders lands on [[Zavijava]], he finds himself facing two threats—stopping the invaders from wrecking the planet while protecting Prince Davion. Trouble is, before the fighting is over, Morgan may have to make a dangerous choice... with the possible fate of three Great Houses lying in the balance...''}}
  
 
==Plot Summaries==
 
==Plot Summaries==
'''Not the Way the Smart Money Bets''': Morgan and Patrick arrive on the mercenary staging world of Galatea to start building their unit. But getting caught between a local general and a criminal organizing gladiatorial games on-planet puts the brothers in a perilous situation, and Patrick is forced to face the local ’Mech hero in single combat—to the death.
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'''Not the Way the Smart Money Bets''': Morgan and Patrick arrive on the mercenary staging world of Galatea to start building their unit. But getting caught between a local general and a criminal organizing gladiatorial games on-planet puts the brothers in a perilous situation, and Patrick is forced to face the local 'Mech hero in single combat—to the death.
  
'''A Tiny Spot of Rebellion''': Fresh off their victory over local criminals, the brothers Kell are faced with a growing religious rebellion led by a local bishop with a lofty goal of ruling the entire planet, and using the populace to achieve his aims. They’re assigned to put down the uprising, but can they find a way to do that without having to battle the civilians pressed into service as holy soldiers?
+
'''A Tiny Spot of Rebellion''': Fresh off their victory over local criminals, the brothers Kell face a growing religious rebellion led by a local bishop with a lofty goal of ruling the entire planet, and using the populace to achieve his aims. They're assigned to put down the uprising, but can they find a way to do that without having to battle the civilians pressed into service as holy soldiers?
  
'''A Clever Bit of Fiction''': When Morgan is tasked with scouting locations for war games on the lush world of Zavijava, he figures he’ll mix business with pleasure. But when Prince Ian Davion tags along, the stakes are suddenly raised. And when unknown DropShips land a regiment of ’Mechs intent on looting the planet’s riches, Morgan must keep Ian alive long enough for them to be rescued. But Prince Davion has other plans — involving kicking the raiders straight off the planet…
+
'''A Clever Bit of Fiction''': When Morgan is tasked with scouting locations for war games on the lush world of Zavijava, he figures he'll mix business with pleasure. But when Prince Ian Davion tags along, the stakes are suddenly raised. And when unknown [[DropShip]s land a regiment of 'Mechs intent on looting the planet's riches, Morgan must keep Ian alive long enough for them to be rescued. But Prince Davion has other plans—involving kicking the raiders straight off the planet...
  
[[Category:Stub]]
 
 
[[Category:Novels]]
 
[[Category:Novels]]
 
[[Category:Works by Michael A. Stackpole]]
 
[[Category:Works by Michael A. Stackpole]]

Revision as of 05:20, 8 August 2019

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Kell Hounds Ascendant
Product information
Type Anthology
Author Michael A. Stackpole
Pages 324
Cover Artwork Florian Mellies
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
Product code 35835
First published 2019
ISBN-13 978-1942487890
MSRP 13.95 (print)
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 3 October - 23 December 3010

Kell Hounds Ascendant is an omnibus collection of three novellas by Michael A. Stackpole about the Kell Hounds (of which the first had been published in 2008 already via BattleCorps). The three stories narrate the inception and early days of the famed Kell Hounds mercenary unit:

The three novellas are also available separately in EPUB format, and are sold as a package as the Kell Hounds Trilogy.

From the Back Cover

NEVER BET AGAINST THE KELL BROTHERS...

The Kell Hounds are one of the most storied mercenary units in the Inner Sphere. Now, New York Times-bestselling author and Kell Hounds creator Michael A. Stackpole goes back to the Hounds' beginnings in these three short novels, when Morgan and Patrick Kell were just two smart, ambitious brothers—with a plan to revolutionize the world of mercenaries forever...

Not How the Smart Money Bets: Morgan and Patrick Kell land on the mercenary planet Galatea to start their new unit, the Kell Hounds. But a few obstacles in their way, including the biggest one, a ruthless crime lord named Haskell Blizzard. But the Kell brothers have faced long odds before, and come out on top every single time. When the chips are down, the smart money is always on the brothers Kell.

A Tiny Bit of Rebellion: Galatea's capital city, Galaport, is threatened by a new enemy: Bishop Arlington Poore, a religious zealot who wants to bring the entire planet under his repressive theocracy—and is willing to starve millions to do it. The Kell Hounds now have their first job: put down this uprising, and fast. But when a madman has converted thousands of civilians to his side, how will Morgan and Patrick end his misguided crusade without shedding innocent blood?

A Clever Bit of Fiction: When the Archon hires the Kell Hounds to provide security for war games with Prince Ian Davion's forces in a show of combined strength between the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns, Morgan Kell thinks it's a chance to relax while getting to know the mercurial leader of the Federated Suns. But when a powerful group of raiders lands on Zavijava, he finds himself facing two threats—stopping the invaders from wrecking the planet while protecting Prince Davion. Trouble is, before the fighting is over, Morgan may have to make a dangerous choice... with the possible fate of three Great Houses lying in the balance...

Plot Summaries

Not the Way the Smart Money Bets: Morgan and Patrick arrive on the mercenary staging world of Galatea to start building their unit. But getting caught between a local general and a criminal organizing gladiatorial games on-planet puts the brothers in a perilous situation, and Patrick is forced to face the local 'Mech hero in single combat—to the death.

A Tiny Spot of Rebellion: Fresh off their victory over local criminals, the brothers Kell face a growing religious rebellion led by a local bishop with a lofty goal of ruling the entire planet, and using the populace to achieve his aims. They're assigned to put down the uprising, but can they find a way to do that without having to battle the civilians pressed into service as holy soldiers?

A Clever Bit of Fiction: When Morgan is tasked with scouting locations for war games on the lush world of Zavijava, he figures he'll mix business with pleasure. But when Prince Ian Davion tags along, the stakes are suddenly raised. And when unknown [[DropShip]s land a regiment of 'Mechs intent on looting the planet's riches, Morgan must keep Ian alive long enough for them to be rescued. But Prince Davion has other plans—involving kicking the raiders straight off the planet...