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John Ayliff
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Belt Three Paperback – February 28, 2017

by John Ayliff (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 146 ratings
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Worldbreakers do not think, do not feel and cannot be stopped.

Captain Gabriel Reinhardt’s latest mining mission has been brought to a halt by the arrival of a Worldbreaker, one of the vast alien machines that destroyed Earth and its solar system long ago. As he and his crew flee they are kidnapped by a pirate to be mind-wiped and sold into slavery, a fate worse than death in this shattered universe.

But Captain Reinhardt is hiding a secret. The real Gabriel Reinhardt died six years ago, and in his place is Jonas, one of the millions of clones produced for menial labour by the last descendants of Earth.

Forced to aid the pirate Keldra’s obsessive campaign against the Worldbreakers in exchange for his life, Jonas discovers that humanity’s last hope might just be found in the very machines that have destroyed it.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperVoyager
  4. Publication date
    February 28, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    5.08 x 0.75 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0008120463
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0008120467
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Read this book. It’s got one of the best characters in years, and you’d be crazy to miss out on her’ Rob Boffard, author of TRACER

‘Belt Three is an intriguing and intense sci-fi novel … Worth reading if you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic science fiction universe, with some great character relationships, and some interesting musings on what makes us human, and how far we’re willing to go, both for ourselves and for others’ SciFi and Fantasy Reviews

‘An enjoyable first instalment with a good ending. We have a decent plot, savage baddies and an evil scheming snake in the grass living amidst them all. I would say it has a YA feel and is a good start to an action/adventure/hero type story’ Lynn’s Books

About the Author

John Ayliff grew up in the south of England and was educated at the University of Durham. He honed his writing skills while working in the computer games industry, and still sometimes calls his protagonist the ‘player character’ by mistake. Belt Three is his first novel. He currently lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperVoyager
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 28, 2017
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Digital original
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008120463
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008120467
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 0.75 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 146 ratings

About the author

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John Ayliff

John Ayliff

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John Ayliff honed his writing skills while working in the computer games industry, and still sometimes calls his protagonist the 'player character' by mistake. He enjoys interesting character drama against a backdrop of hard science fiction. Outside of writing, his interests include computer games, tabletop roleplaying games, and going to the opera. He grew up in the UK but currently lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
146 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a highly enjoyable read with a complex storyline and twist ending. The writing is beautiful, and the pacing is very fast. They appreciate the rich character development, with one customer specifically noting the focus on the two main characters.

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Story qualityEnjoymentCharacter developmentPacingWriting quality
12 customers mention "Story quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's complex plot and twist ending, with one customer particularly appreciating the end-of-the-world setting.

"I devoured this in a day. It's a fun read with a fast-moving, complex story line, and complicated characters...." Read more

"...While what characters we met were interesting and well developed, the fast pace of the novel left me wanting a little more room to explore the..." Read more

"...But it is perfect as a stand-alone novel. What a great story and great characters. They weren’t always likable, but that made it more realistic...." Read more

"This book has a great premise for a story. I just couldn't get past the bad science used for space travel...." Read more

11 customers mention "Enjoyment"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly enjoyable, with one noting it works well as a stand-alone novel.

"I devoured this in a day. It's a fun read with a fast-moving, complex story line, and complicated characters...." Read more

"...But it is perfect as a stand-alone novel. What a great story and great characters. They weren’t always likable, but that made it more realistic...." Read more

"...I found this to be a highly enjoyable read...." Read more

"...Sure. But it's a nice, solid story in and of itself, and a satisfying read. I'll read it again." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one noting how the author effectively focuses on the stories of two characters.

"...It's a fun read with a fast-moving, complex story line, and complicated characters...." Read more

"...But it is perfect as a stand-alone novel. What a great story and great characters. They weren’t always likable, but that made it more realistic...." Read more

"...It has a good core SF idea, believable characters, and real threats. It provides original takes on all of these...." Read more

"...Interesting scenario that was new to me. Characters who felt real. The first ending genuinely surprised me...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fast-paced and easy to read.

"I devoured this in a day. It's a fun read with a fast-moving, complex story line, and complicated characters...." Read more

"...The story is very, very fast paced. It is a rather short read, could have even used a little fluffing up...." Read more

"...For $2.99 it was a bargain. A fast read, I heartily recommend it to me crew." Read more

"...I read fast, it took me about four hours. It was really excellent. Interesting scenario that was new to me. Characters who felt real...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, describing it as very beautiful.

"...there is a lot of room for very beautiful writing...." Read more

"...Sure. But it's a nice, solid story in and of itself, and a satisfying read. I'll read it again." Read more

"...Terrific writing." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • E. Yeager
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, fast-paced and complex
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I devoured this in a day. It's a fun read with a fast-moving, complex story line, and complicated characters. The story is set in a future that is at once fantastically imaginative, and terribly believable. The dystopian setting brings out the complicated nature of humans: heroes can be cruel, good people don't know their own worth, and respect is given to people who don't deserve it.
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  • Alex C.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lesser Known Author... A Mostly Specific Information Free Review
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Originally, I had played this author's Android game, Seedship. I thought the game was so far above all the other games on the Playstore, and so well written compared to others, that I decided to check out the creator's only novel, Belt Three. Very impressed.

    I do not like to write any spoilers/specific information about the book, stories, characters, etc. in any of my reviews. I prefer to pick something up based on "it was great and worth a read" rather than anything else. So, I will be doing that in my review:

    Story: 9/10
    I found myself quite frequently on the edge of my seat. The story is very, very fast paced. It is a rather short read, could have even used a little fluffing up. There was not a single boring part of the story I felt, and had a few minor plot twists thrown in. If you are someone who usually enjoys Sci-Fi which skews closer to fantasy (think Star Wars) rather than a more hard Science Fiction (think The Martian), you will greatly enjoy the story.

    Characters: 8/10
    While what characters we met were interesting and well developed, the fast pace of the novel left me wanting a little more room to explore the characters, and see them in unique situations. Also a strike against the novel, since it is short, there are not very many characters we meet. I'd rather read a novel with a few interesting well developed characters, than many boring ones, so at least Belt Three has that.

    Universe: 7/10
    The universe REALLY made sense to me. A lot of little things here and there that you just accept as a fact will, over time, click and make more sense. I've docked three points only because of the length of the novel. I really wish we had more time to see more things, meet more people, and get a greater glimpse into such an interesting universe. I will say, what is there to see in Belt Three, I greatly enjoyed.

    Writing Style: 8/10 (Adjusted) 6/10 (Unadjusted)
    I have never read a Sci-Fi that has beautiful language. I still don't think it's really possible to create a capital L literature Sci-Fi. I have read Vonnegut and that's the closest I've felt that beautiful, or capital L literature. For Sci-Fi it was on the mid-higher end of the spectrum. Compared to other genres (fantasy especially comes to mind, with authors like John Connolly and Pat Rothfus) there is a lot of room for very beautiful writing. With Belt Three, you'll find, like most Sci-Fi, there's a lot of telling you what's happening in a straightforward way. Some nice parts are mixed in, which makes it better than an average Sci-Fi.

    Overall: 8/10
    I was surprised how much I liked this novel. It really spoke to some parts of my humanity, and brought an emotional response out of me on a speciesist level. The real critique here is that it left me wanting more, wishing I could have more of a look into the universe that Mr. Ayliff created. A minor critique would be the some of the science. There's a little bit of a flub, which didn't really take me out of the suspense of disbelief he had created, but upon reading other reviewers, I must admit they do bring up a good point, which is why I made my comparison to Star Wars earlier. I hope Mr. Ayliff continues writing, because currently between Belt Three and Seedship (my only two exposures to him), he's 2/2. I would pick up a copy of his next novel in a heartbeat.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • S. Dudley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth reading
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Wow! I’m always complaining about stories being stretched out into series of three, four, and five books when there just isn’t that much to them. I would NOT have complained if this had gone into a series. But it is perfect as a stand-alone novel. What a great story and great characters. They weren’t always likable, but that made it more realistic. I was a little disappointed that the invaders weren’t too involved in the story until later on and I expected them to be more like the Borg or the berserkers, but the story was fine as they were. I’m not going to give a synopsis of the book as there already is one. It’s a good book, well worth reading.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. Martinez
    3.0 out of 5 stars This book has a great premise for a story
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book has a great premise for a story. I just couldn't get past the bad science used for space travel. It's simply idiotic that a solar sail ship can travel towards the sun. Maybe the author was thinking that solar sail ship could "track", as a ocean going sailboat can travel into the wind. It would have been simple to create other plausible means of travel and not ruin a otherwise great story.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • The Captain
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sailing to the Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Ahoy there mateys! This novel is a sci-fi standalone that I saw recommended somewhere long ago. It features a space pirate (Arrrrr!) so I picked up a copy recently as it fit me mood.

    I found this to be a highly enjoyable read. It is set in a time frame where Earth and other planets have been destroyed by unstoppable alien Von Neumann probes called Worldbreakers. Humans have colonized asteroid belt systems and are struggling to survive. A Worldbreaker has arrived in belt three and people are trying to get out of the path of destruction.

    Gabriel is a miner, fleeing the Worldbreaker with his crew. He is captured by Keldra, the female pirate, so that he and the crew can be transformed into slaves and sold. The highlight of the book was the relationship between the two main characters, Gabriel and Keldra. Initially out to destroy one another, circumstances find their lots tossed together for basic survival. The two are constantly having a battle of wits. Gabriel is out to survive at all costs. Keldra has an ultimate goal and will take down anyone who stands in her way. There is lots of character growth on both sides which is what I enjoyed the most.

    Of course this novel is also action packed with lots of space battles and trickery and plot twists. I loved the end-of-the world setting. It felt different to have the humans be facing extinction and yet still struggling against all odds. They have amazing technology concerning cloning and mind control. Yet for all the tech, humans seem to have hardly evolved at all. The technology is also used as a plot device concerning memory and I loved it.

    For $2.99 it was a bargain. A fast read, I heartily recommend it to me crew.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Michael W Lucas
    5.0 out of 5 stars A complete SF story, in only one novel!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a delightful rarity in modern SF: a one-book story. It's not an epic multivolume SF saga. It has a good core SF idea, believable characters, and real threats. It provides original takes on all of these.

    And everything gets wrapped up in a single book. Could it be expanded to a 12-volume epic, like so much other SF we see? Sure. But it's a nice, solid story in and of itself, and a satisfying read.

    I'll read it again.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Malcolm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters and imaginative story well-told
    Reviewed in Canada on April 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was a dense, complicated story with complex characters. Not that you get lost. Ayliff draws and plots well. You can sit back and enjoy the movie, as it were. I particularly liked the play between the two main characters, Gabriel Reinhardt and Keldra, and their interesting back stories. The Worldbreakers were interesting "characters," too, though... Even if you're not a die-hard sci-fi fan, you'll enjoy this book. 5 stars!
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  • G Talboys
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sci fi with a heart.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an excellent combination of the big ideas and epic sweep of the best of science fiction with the rarity that is finely drawn characterisation. This is especially gratifying as the two elements are integral to the story and work so well together as to lift this book into the realms of science fiction that I have not only enjoyed but know I will read again.

    The background story, the science, and the specific ways in which the world of the story is built are all handled with great skill. When information comes (as it inevitably must in describing a world that is different from our own), it is part of the story. The flashbacks were particularly ingeniously done. And best of all, for me, is that at the heart of it all is a convincing relationship between two flawed, believable, and likeable characters – people you care about whose lives and motives are never fully explained and are all the more realistic for it.

    As the story centres on these two characters and their increasing involvement, the sense of peril is never far from being personal. It pulls the reader into the heart of the story. It certainly kept me reading late into the night.

    I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a solid bit of science fiction. And I live in hope that I’ll one day see this on the TV as I’m sure, given the right casting, it would make an excellent short series.
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  • Christian Laroche
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    looking forward to other books by John Ayliff
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  • Larry
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Belter!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I’m so glad I came across this novel, it has reminded me of all the things I love about great science fiction: big ideas in an exciting new original universe, plus a properly scary threat and some interesting characters too. Recommended.
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  • Nick Brett
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting ideas
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A lot of interesting ideas in here. Earth has been list and mankind survives in the "belts". Planet destroyers of unknown origin are working their way across the system and what remains of mankind has nothing to stop them,
    The story is about a couple of misfits, their backstory and their forced partnership to try and make sense of it all,
    It's not bad, the world building is of more interest than the story which lacks a little something, but it ain't bad.
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