The first collection of stories in the Retief series also includes a couple of the best, so certainly a good starting point.

Envoy To New Worlds : PROTOCOL - Keith Laumer
Envoy To New Worlds : SEALED ORDERS - Keith Laumer
Envoy To New Worlds : CULTURAL EXCHANGE - Keith Laumer
Envoy To New Worlds : AIDE MEMOIRE - Keith Laumer
Envoy To New Worlds : POLICY - Keith Laumer
Envoy To New Worlds : PALACE REVOLUTION - Keith Laumer

Evil Soft Ones? Guess who they might be?

3 out of 5

Armed Baggage MEDDLE.

3.5 out of 5

Gambling on it.

3 out of 5

A lost cruiser to find.

4 out of 5

No pet food for us, Ambassador.

4 out of 5

"I suggest we use Tennessee rules," said Retief. "They're very liberal: biting, gouging, stomping, kneeling, and, of course, choking, as well as the usual punching, shoving, and kicking." "Hmmm. These gambits seem geared to forms employing rigid endo-skeletons; I fear I shall be at a disadvantage." "Of course," Retief said, "if you'd prefer a more plebian type of contest . . ." "By no means. But perhaps we could rule out tentacle-twisting, just to even the balance."

3.5 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/12... ( )

Best Sci-Fi Ever Written!

By far the greatest sci-fi series ever written. Follow James Retief and Ben Magnun on thier action packed, tounge-in-cheek adventures across the galaxy.

The Retief series started out as a series of short stories published the various science fiction pulps during the 1950's through to the 1960's. These are classic sci-fi as it was written before the days of the moon landing. All together there were more than 60 stories about Retief's space adventures.

After the death of Keith Laumer, editors began to compile collections of these classic pulp fiction stories into a book series. Each collection contains 3 to 5 or more stories.

Of the series Retief and the Warlords is my fave!

If you like Douglas Adams' Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy than you're sure to love Retief. ( )