Retief! (A Collection of Stories)

Publisher's Note: The stories and novel herein have previously appeared in parts in Envoy to New Worlds , Galactic Diplomat , and Retief's War . This is the first unitary edition. "... into the chaotic Galactic political scene, the CDT emerged to carry forward the ancient diplomatic tradition ... Corps diplomats displayed an encyclopedic grasp of the nuances of Extra-Terrestrial mores as set against the labyrinthine socio-politico-economic Galactic context..." -- Official History of the Corps Diplomatique , AD 2940 NOT! What they really had was Retief ! Ignore the official version--in these pages is the real story of how Retief tied the bad guys' eye-stalks in knots, and made the Galaxy safe for humanity. Contents: * Diplomat-at-Arms * Protocol * The Brass God * Sealed Orders * Palace Revolution * Cultural Exchange * Saline Solution * Native Intelligence * Policy * Ultimatum * The Prince and the Pirate * The Castle of Light * Retief's War * Wicker Wonderland * Courier * Protest Note * Aide Memoire A collection of short stories and novellas--originally published in parts in Envoy to New Worlds, Galactic Diplomat, and Retief's War--chronicles the zany adventures of galactic diplomat James Retief as he worked to foil the nefarious plots of alien enemies to make space save for humans. Original. The cold white sun of Northroyal glared on pale dust and vivid colors in the narrow raucous street.