Book Information
ALIEN MEETINGS ...
A wavering image formed on the tube. "I outrage! I do not endure! You are gave one minutes, Eastern Standard Time, for total abandon of vicinity!"
"Gentlemen, don't get carried away," Magnan called out over the hiss of static. "I'm sure this can all be worked out equitably—"
"Such indignant my language lack! My goodness! Drat! Other obscenity as required!"
"It will not avail you to rant," Slith whispered. "My guns stand ready to answer your slurs."
"My frustrate!" Okkyokk yelled and brandished a pair of limbs tipped with shredding devices. "Gosh, such wish to know sensation of plait all five eyes into single superocular, followed by pluck like obscene daisy—"
"To wait in patience until the happy moment when I officiate at your burial, in the ceremonial sandbox," Slith countered.
... AND TERRAN DIPLOMACY
"Well, at least they're still speaking to each other," Magnan said as the exchange raged on. "That's something."
It's a good thing Relief was there!
RETIEF
AT LARGE
KEITH LAUMER
ACE SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS
NEW YORK
"Cultural Exchange." copyright © 1962 by Digest Productions Corp.
"Saline Solution." copyright © 1963 by Digest Productions Corp.
"The Castle of Light." copyright © 1964 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.
"Wicker Wonderland." copyright © 1964 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.: first published in If under the title "The City that Grew in the Sea."
"The Brass God." copyright © 1964 by Galaxy PublishingCorp.: first published in If under the title "Relief. God-Speaker."
"Mechanical Advantage." copyright © 1966 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.; first published in If under the title "Relief, the Long-Awaited Master."
"Dam Nuisance." copyright © 1966 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.
"Grime and Punishment." copyright © 1967 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.: first published in If under the title "Clear as Mud."
"The Forbidden City." copyright © 1967 by Galaxy Publishing Corp.: first published in If under the title "Retief. War Criminal."
"The Piecemakers." copyright © 1970 by Universal Publishing and Distributing Corp.
"Ballot and Bandits." Copyright © 1970 by Universal Publishing and Distributing Corp.
"Pime Doesn't Cray." copyright © 1971 by Universal Publishing and Distributing Corp.
RETIEF AT LARGE
An Ace Science Fiction Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
First Ace Printing / August 1978
Sixth printing / May 1985
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1978 by Keith Laumer
Cover art by Bob Adragna
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016.
ISBN: 0-441-71507-9
Ace Science Fiction Books are published by
The Berkley Publishing Group,
200 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10016.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
* * * * * *
Back cover
COSMIC
DIPLOMACY AND
MACHIAVELLIAN
INTRIGUE
The official accounts of Terra's efforts in the field of interstellar diplomacy during the 29th century are available for the dialing to anyone willing to pore through the records of the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne.
For those of sufficient discernment, however it will be evident that the Corps' records, incredibly voluminous though they be, fail to tell the whole truth—indeed to some degree must obscure it. Surely if it had been guarded solely by the efforts of such persons as Ambassadors Magnan, Thunderstroke and Grossblunder; Terra's Sphere of Influence would have crumpled instantly before the diplomatic assaults of the Groaci. That it did not demonstrates that other factors were at work.
One such factor was a career diplomat named Jame Retief. Contained here are several accounts of his achievements, illustrating how a few able men were able to save the galaxy for Man.