The Fourth Consort

A new standalone sci-fi novel from Edward Ashton,author of Mickey7 (the inspiration for the major motion picture Mickey 17). Dalton Greaves is a hero. HeΓÇÖs one of humankindΓÇÖs first representatives to Unitya pan-species confederation working to bring all sentient life into a single benevolent brotherhood. ThatΓÇÖs what they told himanyway. The only actual members of Unity that heΓÇÖs ever met are Boreaua giant snail who seems more interested in plunder than spreading love and harmonyand BoreauΓÇÖs human sidekickNeerawho Dalton strongly suspects roped him into this gig so that she wouldnΓÇÖt become the next one of BoreauΓÇÖs crew to get eaten by locals while prospecting. Funny thingthoughΓÇöturns out there actually is a benevolent confederation out thereworking for the good of all life. They call themselves the Assemblyand they really donΓÇÖt like Unity. More to the pointthey reallyreally donΓÇÖt like UnityΓÇÖs new human minions. When an encounter between BoreauΓÇÖs scout ship and an Assembly cruiser over a newly discovered world ends badly for both partiesDalton finds himself maroonedcaught between a stickmanone of the AssemblyΓÇÖs nightmarish shock troopsthe planetΓÇÖs nativeswho arenΓÇÖt winning any congeniality prizes themselvesand Neerawho might actually be the most dangerous of the three. To surviveheΓÇÖll need to navigate palace intriguealien moralityand a proposal that he literally cannot refuseall while making sure Neera doesnΓÇÖt come to the conclusion that heΓÇÖs worth more to her dead than alive. Part first contact storypart dark comedyand part bizarre love triangleThe Fourth Consort asks an important question: how far would you go to survive? And more importantlyhow many drinks would you need to go there?