2176: The Birth of the Belt Republic

Just before graduating high school, Gil Klanz loses his appointment to the Belt Corporation Naval Academy thanks to a stupid prank. Since the incident unexpectedly involved the Belt Corporation director, Gil finds himself thrust out of BC society and into the harsh world of the non company belters. To add insult to injury, the friend he covered for and the one who put him up to the prank, Vance Turen, ends up with Gil's slot at the academy. Having once been BC, Gil is not trusted by the belt-born but he can't go back and must earn a place among the outsiders. Gil has heard rumors of BC oppression; now he learns the truth of Belt Corporation policy first hand. Life in near free fall among the belters is a constant struggle but when the few friends he does have start to disappear, (taken by the Belt Corporation) Gil has had enough and joins the revolution. Ted Butler brings home a coming-of-age story with plenty of space combat action. Although set in the year 2176, the technology of the belters is rather twentieth century, but it is consistent and well thought out. The reader really gets the feeling of life in zero gravity. Other elements are not as believable, like raising cattle on asteroids, and the dialog for Martin (the four year old) reminded me of Elmo from Sesame Street. The introduction of minor characters also leads to a little confusion keeping track of who is who, but it is not excessive. What Ted does best in this short novel is space combat and there are plenty of action sequences to keep readers satisfied. The fish-skeleton freighter No Body, converted to ship of war, is a highlight of the story and brings home the underdog role of the belter revolution. Anyone who has ever considered taking a stand against oppression will enjoy this book and I recommend it for readers from 10 to 100. [...]

Once asked how he wrote such great young adult novels Robert H Heinlein explained that he wrote a good adult novel, and made the protagonist 16 years old. Ted Butler has done the same for his new novel 2176: Birth of the Belt Republic. While marketed as a young adult novel it can be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good old-fashioned space opera. Set against a revolution in the asteroid belt in 2176 that is obviously modeled after the American Revolution, he follows the adventures of Gil Klanz, his 16-year-old protagonist, as the people fight the oppressive Belt Corporation for their freedom. There is lots of dare-doing and believable action, including a full-blown space battle.