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The Fourth Consort
A new standalone sci-fi novel from Edward Ashton, author of Mickey7 (soon to be a major motion picture from Director Bong Joon Ho).Dalton Greaves is a hero. He’s one of humankind’s first representatives to Unity, a pan-species confederation working to bring all sentient life into a single benevolent brotherhood.That’s what they told him, anyway. The only actual members of Unity that he’s ever met are Boreau, a giant snail who seems more interested in plunder than spreading love and harmony, and Boreau’s human sidekick, Neera, who Dalton strongly suspects roped him into this gig so that she wouldn’t become the next one of Boreau’s crew to get eaten by locals while prospecting.Funny thing, though—turns out there actually is a benevolent confederation out there, working for the good of all life. They call themselves the Assembly, and they really don’t like Unity. More to the point, they really, really don’t like Unity’s new human minions.When an encounter between Boreau’s scout ship and an Assembly cruiser over a newly discovered world ends badly for both parties, Dalton finds himself marooned, caught between a stickman, one of the Assembly’s nightmarish shock troops, the planet’s natives, who aren’t winning any congeniality prizes themselves, and Neera, who might actually be the most dangerous of the three. To survive, he’ll need to navigate palace intrigue, alien morality, and a proposal that he literally cannot refuse, all while making sure Neera doesn’t come to the conclusion that he’s worth more to her dead than alive.Part first contact story, part dark comedy, and part bizarre love triangle, The Fourth Consort asks an important how far would you go to survive? And more importantly, how many drinks would you need to go there?
- GenresScience Fiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 25, 2025
About the author
Edward Ashton
22 books674 followersEdward Ashton is the author of the novels Mickey7, Three Days in April and The End of Ordinary. His short fiction has appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Escape Pod, Analog, and Fireside Fiction. He lives in upstate New York in a cabin in the woods (not that Cabin in the Woods) with his wife, a variable number of daughters, and an adorably mopey dog named Max, where he writes—mostly fiction, occasionally fact—under the watchful eyes of a giant woodpecker and a rotating cast of barred owls. In his free time, he enjoys cancer research, teaching quantum physics to sullen graduate students, and whittling. You can find him online at edwardashton.com or on Twitter @edashtonwriting.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2024
Wow, this was truly intriguing. I had doubts going into this if I'd like it or not.. but wow, this story was so compelling, emotional, and interesting. Breaker will forever be my favorite character. Dalton's moral decisions and character development were truly amazing to watch. This sci-fi book truly had me on the edge of my seat, unlike anything I've ever read before. I love that they had translators. It was truly hilarious when the translator and Dalton would bicker back and forth. I even giggled a bit about it and when Breaker made jokes or sarcastic comments. So many great parts of this story, I was in awe and amazed. I felt so deeply for Dalton, the Counselor and Breaker in different moments. I loved this thoroughly! Thank you for sharing your talent with the world Edward Ashton, this was a truly remarkable book!
I received this ARC from St. Martin's Press to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from St. Martin's Press to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
August 22, 2024
** I received a digital review copy from the publisher, because I am a librarian and librarians are awesome **
I will be up front about it: this was not my favorite Edward Ashton book. That comes with a caveat: I haven't yet read an Edward Ashton book that I didn't enjoy. He writes the kind of books that I actively appreciate during the reading of them. He's the kind of author I can easily recommend to Sci-Fi fans. ("Oh, you've read Andy Weir and you want lighthearted first person sci-fi dudes? Edward Ashton. Sure bet.") I download the ARCs and actually read them before the release date.
So *why* don't I proclaim widely and loudly that Edward Ashton books are some of my faves, like I do with The Martian and Project Hail Mary ?
Let me sum it up as such:
When I first started dating my husband, I enjoyed a variety of sci-fi shows. Some, like Battlestar Galactica, he dubbed "Good Space."
Others, like Stargate Atlantis, he dubbed "Bad Space."
Conversations went like this:
::TV ON, SELF ON COUCH::
Husband: *walks by for a second and notices a space show*
Husband: Is this Good Space or Bad Space?
Me: Bad Space
Husband: *keeps walking*
Edward Ashton is Bad Space in all the best ways. I have a fond spot in my heart for Bad Space. The Fourth Consort is exactly like a Stargate Atlantis fanfiction where John Sheppard ends up on a planet and becomes the consort of an alien queen, EXCEPT in this case the alien queen is an actual insectoid being with mandibles that could slice his head off instead of a shapely female who is humanoid in all aspects except with bioluminescent dots painted above her eyebrows and across her cheekbones.
Fun, improbable, and in desperate need of a sequel featuring INTERPLANETARY FRIENDS IN SPACE. Do it, Edward Ashton. You know I'm gonna read it.
I will be up front about it: this was not my favorite Edward Ashton book. That comes with a caveat: I haven't yet read an Edward Ashton book that I didn't enjoy. He writes the kind of books that I actively appreciate during the reading of them. He's the kind of author I can easily recommend to Sci-Fi fans. ("Oh, you've read Andy Weir and you want lighthearted first person sci-fi dudes? Edward Ashton. Sure bet.") I download the ARCs and actually read them before the release date.
So *why* don't I proclaim widely and loudly that Edward Ashton books are some of my faves, like I do with The Martian and Project Hail Mary ?
Let me sum it up as such:
When I first started dating my husband, I enjoyed a variety of sci-fi shows. Some, like Battlestar Galactica, he dubbed "Good Space."
Others, like Stargate Atlantis, he dubbed "Bad Space."
Conversations went like this:
::TV ON, SELF ON COUCH::
Husband: *walks by for a second and notices a space show*
Husband: Is this Good Space or Bad Space?
Me: Bad Space
Husband: *keeps walking*
Edward Ashton is Bad Space in all the best ways. I have a fond spot in my heart for Bad Space. The Fourth Consort is exactly like a Stargate Atlantis fanfiction where John Sheppard ends up on a planet and becomes the consort of an alien queen, EXCEPT in this case the alien queen is an actual insectoid being with mandibles that could slice his head off instead of a shapely female who is humanoid in all aspects except with bioluminescent dots painted above her eyebrows and across her cheekbones.
Fun, improbable, and in desperate need of a sequel featuring INTERPLANETARY FRIENDS IN SPACE. Do it, Edward Ashton. You know I'm gonna read it.
July 30, 2024
The beginning is hilarious, humans and another alien race get stranded on a planet (with low technology) that they are trying to convince join them. Above in the sky the ships from booth visitors fight and explode each other. Now the two envoys are stranded on a planet that they must win to their side before their backups arrive.
I had a lot of fun with this book because the author created a situation where two humans are left alone to deal with an entire planet of aliens (different types), but only one has to deal with diplomacy and a very funny sentient translator. I like Neera a lot. She is like a dragon left undisturbed in a cave until she's not and makes her appearances (not very diplomatic ones) occasionally giving her partner a hand.
At the same time, this futuristic setting is highly tainted with an elevated sense of honorable acts to follow rules (their alien rules). It's a very cool mashup of ideas from court intrigue and honorable duels (very French and British regal times vibe), but at the same time, we never know if our main character is going to be assassinated in the next paragraph (he, too, fears it). There are plenty of attempts, lots of political moves, decisions, games to play, and badass action with humor in writing and character personalities, which is characteristic of the author's style.
I had a lot of fun with this book because the author created a situation where two humans are left alone to deal with an entire planet of aliens (different types), but only one has to deal with diplomacy and a very funny sentient translator. I like Neera a lot. She is like a dragon left undisturbed in a cave until she's not and makes her appearances (not very diplomatic ones) occasionally giving her partner a hand.
At the same time, this futuristic setting is highly tainted with an elevated sense of honorable acts to follow rules (their alien rules). It's a very cool mashup of ideas from court intrigue and honorable duels (very French and British regal times vibe), but at the same time, we never know if our main character is going to be assassinated in the next paragraph (he, too, fears it). There are plenty of attempts, lots of political moves, decisions, games to play, and badass action with humor in writing and character personalities, which is characteristic of the author's style.
September 2, 2024
The Fourth Consort is my fourth read by the author, who has quickly become one of my sci-fi favorites. Much like Scalzi, Ashton's approach to science fiction is comedic, which this reader highly appreciates. And this story might be his funniest yet.
It isn't actually much of a story in retrospect. More like a Star Trek episode than a movie. But it's so fun, that it doesn't matter.
The novel is essentially an epic interspecies bromance wrapped in court intrigue of a strange planet.
The planet belongs to a matriarchal culture that is somewhat underdeveloped by intergalactic standards, therefore Dalton, our intrepid protagonist subcontracted by a another, highly advanced alien culture to be their in-person representative, and another being in the same position, working for a competing alien advancement company end up courting the same species. Some of this courting is rather literal, hence the title.
Overall, though, it's a comedy of misunderstandings, heavy on dialogue, which in turn is heavy on logistics (delightful logistics!) of first contact and last rites.
Who will survive? Who will rule? And, more importantly, will Dalton, contrary to all the other aliens' opinions, prove himself to be an honorable being? Read on to find out.
The book goes by quickly, entertains plenty, and is perfectly poised for a sequel. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
It isn't actually much of a story in retrospect. More like a Star Trek episode than a movie. But it's so fun, that it doesn't matter.
The novel is essentially an epic interspecies bromance wrapped in court intrigue of a strange planet.
The planet belongs to a matriarchal culture that is somewhat underdeveloped by intergalactic standards, therefore Dalton, our intrepid protagonist subcontracted by a another, highly advanced alien culture to be their in-person representative, and another being in the same position, working for a competing alien advancement company end up courting the same species. Some of this courting is rather literal, hence the title.
Overall, though, it's a comedy of misunderstandings, heavy on dialogue, which in turn is heavy on logistics (delightful logistics!) of first contact and last rites.
Who will survive? Who will rule? And, more importantly, will Dalton, contrary to all the other aliens' opinions, prove himself to be an honorable being? Read on to find out.
The book goes by quickly, entertains plenty, and is perfectly poised for a sequel. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
July 21, 2024
In "The Fourth Consort", Ashton brings back two things I loved about the Mickey7 duology. A tongue-in-cheek survey of ethical theory, and a deep dive into the social order of other beings. It also builds on themes of foreign exploitation and conquest, with a lot of wry humour that doesn't pull its punches in real world parallels. But on top of all that, it's just a super fun read. Highly recommend.
August 19, 2024
What I liked most about the author’s previous book was the personality he injected in all his characters. The lack of that is what disappointed me the most in this book. I didn’t care about anyone in the story, especially the minarchs who all seemed interchangeable. Also, the plot dragged on and became really tedious after the half way mark. This book just wasn’t for me.
ARC from NetGalley
ARC from NetGalley
August 19, 2024
Wonderful reading
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews