Need a light read? Want to see bureaucracy befuddled? You might enjoy Retief!

Retief is a diplomat, but he doesn't play by the usual rules. He plays by his own and is highly successful, despite the efforts of his superiors. 

This isn't a single novel; rather, it is a collection of some of the Retief short stories. However, some of the stories are connected in many cases.

There aren't many competent people in this book aside from Retief and some of those on his side. I don't mean his fellow diplomats who are more concerned with status and doing things by the book than with getting the job done right.

All you have to do is take a look at modern international diplomatic relations to wish there were a Retief to make it all make sense.

For Retief fans, you'll be glad to hear that Retief! include many of the stories that were previously hard to find. That's a delight to any fan of short stories.