The Fourth Consort is sci-if that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Two humans (Dalton and Neera) stranded on a planet while trying to make first contact with an unreceptive host and a more honorable alien adversary (Breaker) who is trying to do the same.
Dalton constantly brought to mind Mark Watney of the Martian. Humorous and self deprecating I frequently laughed out loud. Honor, morality and humanity or lack of come into play here. While Dalton finds himself in constant untenable situations with Breaker as his unlikely ally. Really enjoyed this story and wished I could read more of this friendship. Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for this early edition.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I really liked The Forth Consort, it was an easy to read sci-fi that I feel like would be easily digestible for those who are new to the genre. I liked the premise, the writing was to the point, and I genuinely enjoyed the characters! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

I'm going to be the odd one out and it's my fault - I'm not a huge sci-fi fan and this novel of first contact hit me at about my limit. That's on me not Ashton who does a good job with the characters. I appreciated the worldbuilding but I would have like more of it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

DNF. Very plain, blunt prose, minimal worldbuilding, not terribly interesting characters. I'm not sure this is a bad book, so much as, it's not the kind of sci fi I like to read and that I hoped it was - but I do have a hard time imagining who might love it. (Not like, love.)

The Fourth Consort is, at its heart, a novel of first contact with an alien species, although it's more than that - it's about learning who you are, and how that fits in with others. Dalton Greaves is an ex-soldier with no family and no real prospects, when he's contacted by Neera, the human assistant to Boreau, an alien most closely resembling a very large snail. Boreau is a member of the Unity, a multi-species organization that exists to bring more species into its community, in competition with the Assembly, which exists, effectively, for the same purpose. The two groups are in competition for new members - a competition in which they both attempt to gain the insectoid minarchs, the inhabitants of a newly-discovered world, as new members.

Throughout his time on the minarchs' world, Dalton navigates the honor codes of humanity as well as that of the minarchs and Breaker, as he calls the representative of the Assembly, a species known to humanity as stickmen, for their long limbs, exoskeletons, and generally similarity in appearance to walking sticks (the insect). Dalton and Breaker, as polite enemies each courting the minarchs, converse often about the aims of their respective organizations, and attempt to navigate the complex honor code of the minarchs' society while not truly understanding it. This is a novel with serious themes, but also a lot of appropriate humor - appropriate in that it enhances the characters and the plot. Recommended for older teens and adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Edward Ashton’s The Fourth Consort is a remarkable addition to the first-contact science fiction genre, delving into the intricate realms of language, culture, and the inevitable miscommunications that arise when two vastly different civilizations collide. I absolutely loved this book! Ashton, known for his sharp wit and compelling storytelling in Mickey7, has once again crafted a world that feels immersive and thought-provoking.
In The Fourth Consort, humanity encounters an alien species so different from our own that even their ways of thinking are almost incomprehensible. Ashton masterfully illustrates how difficult (and often absurdly frustrating) true communication can be, especially when there is no shared cultural context. Ashton’s use of misunderstandings and mistranslations cleverly highlights how language is not just words but a vast cultural web that shapes how we see the world—and each other.
One of the most compelling aspects of the story is how Ashton tackles the common tropes in first-contact stories with a fresh perspective. Instead of relying on standard science fiction stereotypes, Ashton digs deeper into what happens when both sides genuinely strive to understand one another, even when faced with what seems like insurmountable differences. The story is as much about what it means to be human as it is about the aliens themselves, and that makes it resonate on a profound level.
Speaking of Mickey7, fans of that novel (like me!) will be thrilled to know that Ashton’s knack for blending action, humor, and philosophical musings continues here. After Mickey7 was picked up for a movie, I'm even more excited to see how his unique storytelling style will translate to the screen, as this book feels cinematic in scope and richly layered in themes.
Overall, The Fourth Consort is a must-read for science fiction lovers, especially those interested in stories of first contact that explore language, culture, and the inherent messiness of trying to understand the unfamiliar. Ashton’s thoughtful exploration of communication and culture clash is as entertaining as it is enlightening.

2.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Abandoned around the 40% mark.
The premise seemed great and the book started out strong, but the scope of the story quickly narrowed down into one I just found fundamentally uninteresting. On top of that none of the characters seemed realistic or fleshed out, and everything had a layer of meta humor on top of it that I just find annoying.

I love Edward Ashton’s sci- fi novels! The Fourth Consort was a fast- paced , humor filled tale of “first contact” with two separate factions, Unity and Assembly, both arriving on the primitive Minarch planet vying to win over allegiance to their federations and trying to gain the upper hand to secure the Minarchs’ allegiance. As the two envoys are greeted by the sentient planet -bound Minarchs, the two Mother ships belonging to Unity and Assembly, blow each other out of the sky effectively stranding the Unity team (Dalton & Neera) along with the Assembly representative (an alien “stickman” Breaker). What transpires is a three way cultural struggle to communicate amid a Minarch political coup with Daltons’ snarky AI translator getting the best lines. Loved this story !

Highly Recommended for fans of Becky Chambers and John Scalzi.

The Fourth Consort is a very creative book centered on interplanetary diplomats. Earth has been visited by a superior species, but life hasn't changed that much other than a few people get employed to be emissaries with the aliens to visit other sentient life. The few who come back alive are fabulously wealthy and reticent to discuss what they saw or did.
Dalton gets recruited to this bizarre role immediately after getting dumped at a bar. Free of attachments or purpose, he signs up. Earth's boss is in a race against the Assembly, and each group thinks the other is pure evil. Both are racing to get to civilizations before they kill themselves, which many do.
Dalton and his human recruiter Mira land on a planet inhabited by insectoids and get separated by their alien minder, when the Assembly show up and have a space battle. Dalton decides to go on with the mission to try to make relations, and so does the Assembly's emissary, who he comes to call Breaker.
They get involved in the internal politics of the female=dominated culture, with lots of intriguing twists and turns, threats, confusion, and critical gaps in AI translation.
Descriptions of the various species and how their worldviews do or don't help them understand each other are excellent, although more of Earth's relations and why they are needed to do this would be helpful.
Overall, great reason to think about cultural assumptions, how they evolve, and bias for what we know -- while also entertaining!

"Still you think that the fact that we descended from the goddamned sky would get us some kind of respect, wouldn't you?"

I'll write more tomorrow when I am feeling better. Suffice to say that I like this one better than Mickey7, and that was a great book!

A very sci-fi read that is not at all book to cozy up with to relax. I was hoping for something more on the lines of Mickey 7 and its sequel, but this was more about alien-human relations.

This is a 'first contact' story but has so many layers. Earth has been invaded by a company named Unity that hires humans to travel space and make first contact with new species. The goal is to bring them under the Unity fold for peace and prosperity. There is a major competitor, The Assembly, that arrives at the same time as our main characters. Dalton is the muscle, Neera is the support person and an alien is in charge of the ship. There is intrigue, translation issues, misunderstandings of the alien society as well as misunderstandings of their true purpose. Overall an enjoyable read.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ashton's The Fourth Consort. Like Mickey7, the book offers a humorous representation of work; our character is an expandable "ground-pounder," working off-Earth to escape his troubles and make it to a big payday. The book's also a clever take on the first contact plot. Here, first contact involves humans working for an interstellar agency recruiting planets into its federation: How do you convince other sentient species that your vision of progress is the right one? How do concepts of honor square with the overwhelming forces of technology?

Ashton makes compelling use of the problem of translation, as the protagonist's AI companion can't always fully or accurately translate the speech of non-human characters. Sometimes the results are funny, but they also end up being moving, as progressively better translations reveal not only new threats but also surprising intimacies.

Overall, The Fourth Consort is a relatively fast-paced story about cultural difference and communication, well-written with pointed (not quite slapstick) humor. As a point of criticism, I will say that the human characters are directly from central casting, even the details of the protagonist's personal history reading like the equivalent of a prepackaged frozen meal.

Edward Ashton is quickly becoming one of my favorite sci-fi authors. This is a good read if you have enjoyed his other books. I was intrigued by the first contact style story with some alien politics thrown in. This book is humorous and quirky. If you enjoy John Scalzi, you should give this one a try.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

Having already experienced Ashton’s writing through Mickey7, I had a modicum of expectation for the dark, sardonic humor The Fourth Consort possesses in abundance. Mixed with a touch of weirdness, even for the Scifi genre, the story of Neera and Dalton goes down in my reading repertoire as creative, a bit disturbing, and just plain fun—but with a grimace. A bit like the old rides at pop-up fairs, such as The Zipper, Ashton’s writing should always be given a go at least once for the experience but never on a full stomach.

Dalton begins the story with a sarcastic disposition, a sullen attitude, and a bleak outlook on everything in existence. He’s a representative for humanity and a type of planetary confederation, Unity, on a mission to establish contact—and, of course, beneficial trading agreements—with previously undiscovered lifeforms in the ever-expanding known universe. His sidekick, Neera, shares a remarkably similar personality, excepting a moral compass.

With these two space hoppers, readers travel to a planet populated with warrior insect-type beings, which I interpret to be some resemblance to praying mantises, given the matriarchal structure of their society and their tendency to kill and eat the males (all off-page allusions) after mating. I’ll leave the details of what the title means to readers, should any decide to pick the book up and give it a read. It’s certainly very Ashton-like.

For a book that doesn’t quite hit the 300-page mark, this one packs an awful lot in a smaller space Ashton’s writing is both dense and concise, making The Fourth Consort a great choice for those who want the genre but not the hefty investment of time. Stopping far shy of the over-the-top humor in first contact comedies like Mars Attacks or Galaxy Quest, Dalton’s experiences with the minarchs still manages to offer something deeper for him to experience.

I appreciated Ashton’s humor immensely. Not much in books can make me laugh, but the wit had an air of intellectuality about it. For all his attempts at professionalism, Dalton sinks into a few spots of familiarity with some of his contacts/counterparts and lets some idioms and exasperations slip. To my delight, the characters clap back at him, showing humanity does not have the corner market on sarcasm.

Overall, 4/5. It’s hard to find fault with Ashton, though some of the background story could have used a tad more development where Unity is concerned. A lot is left to interpretation, which I don’t necessarily like, but it does make for great literary discussions in classrooms or book groups.

Heads up—this book contains explicit language and descriptive violence.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the DRC/ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, releasing February 25th!

This was my first Edward Ashton novel and I really enjoyed it! It's sort of a first contact story (there are other elements beyond that as well) and falls into my favorite genre of sci-fi with the more anthropological elements of cultural adaptation and (mis)understanding as well. It was a quick read but stayed engaging-I liked most of the characters and the pace was brisk but not too speedy. I was initially not sure how Ashton would pull off a satisfying ending, but I liked where it ended up. A lot of the bigger ideas and implications stayed fairly surface level, and I would have been interested to learn more about the larger context of the two groups running the show who were in conflict, but I also think it wasn't a bad choice to keep the scope of this more narrow.

Simple but effective, quick pacing, likable main characters (Dalton and Breaker specifically), and a good amount of humor throughout. Recommended for a quick and enjoyable sci-fi jaunt!

The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton

I’m so glad I took a chance on this book! Ever since I joined NetGalley, I dreamed of the day when I would just be auto-approved for all of my favorite authors. So a few months back, when I got an email from NetGalley telling me I was auto-approved for a bunch of books by authors I had never heard of, I decided to say “what the heck!” And I downloaded all of them, thinking maybe I’d find something good, maybe I wouldn’t. So I was very pleased to be sucked right into The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton. I didn’t know anything about this book going in, it I quickly learned that it was a first contact style book. Humanity is linked up with a conglomeration of other species (although they are way down in the pecking order) and the protagonist is part of a first contact team for a low tech species of alien bug type people (I kept picturing them as mantis-like). There is a rival alliance of aliens who get into a shooting match in orbit with this conglomeration resulting in our protagonist stranded on this planet with one other human and a rival alien from a stronger, more violent and honor based culture. The book was a really fun page turner, hampered just a bit by the protagonist being a great guy who was pretty great at everything he tried. He read like a super-competent cis white guy Andy Weir- style main character and was the least interesting person in the story. But other than his bland super-competence, the book was a lot of fun! I would totally read something else by this author and I hope he continues these characters’ stories.

I enjoyed this book, but there were a couple discrepancies in Dalton's character. Or seeming discrepancies. Neera sees Dalton as muscle, and that is what comes across. The almost sterotypical guy in movies who is more muscles than brains. But Dalton worked in tech. Had a higher level degree. Wasn't just muscle. But he kept coming across as if he couldn't reason out results to actions. How what he did would affect outcomes. By the end, I didn't feel that way anymore and very much enjoyed how the book played out.

As with any Edward Ashton book I’ve read: I couldn’t put it down; it was engaging from the beginning to the end; I was forced to immerse myself in a different world than mine; and there was a satisfying ending.

This alien world was a stretch for me and I had a difficult time imaging the life forms with it. Not because of his descriptive writing, but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it. I liked the humor of the AI interpreter tech and unfortunately can see a future where we think the way we run our world would be beneficial to all worlds in the cosmos.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book.

‘Dalton Greaves is 3 years into having been hired as a human envoy of the “Unity” organization. His job is to make contact with and recruit new alien species for inclusion in Unity, but soon finds himself into some thorny difficulties this time. Neera is his human team-member aboard the “Good Tidings” starship and both work for their very demanding alien boss, Boreau. Unity has a competitor, the Assembly.’ That whole premise is not easily ascertained from the first few pages of this Uncorrected Digital Gallery and needs to be re-worked and clarified for the benefit of future readers. This novel takes a fascinating SciFi deep dive into alien cultures, structure and ceremonies as opposed to traditional space opera battles. The mysterious Dalton finds himself with some support from his AI-based alien language translator in a topsy-turvy, dangerous world where trust may be a fleeting commodity. The end was yet another unexpected twist. I would really like to see this engrossing stand-alone storyline continue. Four TREACHEROUS Stars! 251 pages, from a NetGalley free ARC copy provided for an honest review.