THE FOURTH CONSORT

Barrie Kreinik narrates a sci-fi story that mixes alien politics with communication mishaps. Dalton is the first representative to join Unity--a galactic confederation of various species--but he fumbles through his first assignment with an alien soldier known as "Stickman." Kreinik moves smoothly through the varied accents of characters. Conversations between Dalton and the alien soldier are both comical and heartbreaking, with Kreinik imbuing the back-and-forth miscommunications with surprising depth. The story moves fast, but Kreinik's narration commands the ear, shifting between distinct characters that sound almost like different actors. A fascinating performance of a heartbreaking and endearing story of communication and connection. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]