I’ve read Edward Ashton’s Mickey 7 (you can read my review here) and its sequel Antimatter Blues (you can read my review here). Ashton’s new SF novel, The Fourth Consort (2025), introduces a new series of characters in a First Contact tale with some surprises.

Dalton Greaves, a former soldier, is recruited by an alien organization calling itself Unity to make contact with sentient species. Dalton is paired with a woman called Neera, who seems to have her own agenda. After their starship is destroyed, Dalton and Neera find themselves marooned on an alien planet until a rescue ship arrives.

Unity has a competitor in another alien federation that calls itself The Assembly. Dalton has to deal with a deadly alien he calls Breaker who is also trying to recruit the aliens on this planet to reject Unity and come to the Assembly for membership. As the title suggests, Dalton finds himself selected by the alien Queen as her Fourth Consort. This is not an appealing prospect as Dalton learns the Queen has just eaten the First Consort.

I enjoy Edward Ashton’s droll humor and clever plotting. If you’re looking for an entertaining SF novel with thrills and surprises, give The Fourth Consort a try. GRADE: B+