«Mercenary» by Mack Reynolds

Mercenary is a science fiction novella by American author Mack Reynolds, first published in 1962. It is the first in a series about Joe Mauser, a soldier in a rigid, caste-based society that makes it very difficult to better oneself.

Every status-quo-caste society in history has left open two roads to rise above your caste: The Priest and The Warrior.

But in a society of TV and tranquilizers–the Warrior acquires a strange new meaning…

Mercenary is one of a series Reynolds did under the general title 'Frigid Fracas'. The US and the Soviet bloc have recognized common interests and become much like each other. A world peace has been imposed, and weapons development strictly limited.

The US has what is called 'People's Capitalism', with everyone issued Basic shares at birth and able to earn Variable shares in various manners. The social structure has stratified into Lowers, Middles, and Uppers based on shares held.

The protagonist is a Major in Category Military, hiring out to fight in various clashes. Corporations which cannot resolve differences by other means hire mercenary troops to fight for them. Combat is restricted to use of weapons designed before 1900, and the clashes are televised for the entertainment of the masses.