Retief: Cultural Exchange

By Keith Laumer

It was a simple student exchange—but Retief gave them more of an education than they expected! Keith Laumer was a best selling author who was nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Before becoming a science fiction writer Laumer was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the Foreign Service, adding a note of realism to many of his stories. One of science fiction’s true luminaries

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781515444343

Keith Laumer

John Keith Laumer (June 9, 1925 – January 23, 1993) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz (also mentioned in Laumer's The Other Side of Time). Frank Laumer, their youngest brother, is a historian and writer.

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Retief: Cultural Exchange

by Keith Laumer

©2020 Positronic Publishing

Retief: Cultural Exchange is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or institutions is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only.

ISBN 13: 978-1-5154-4434-3

Table of Contents

Cultural Exchange

Cultural Exchange

It was a simple student exchange—but Retief gave them more of an education than they expected!

I

Second Secretary Magnan took his green-lined cape and orange-feathered beret from the clothes tree. I’m off now, Retief, he said. I hope you’ll manage the administrative routine during my absence without any unfortunate incidents.

That seems a modest enough hope, Retief said. I’ll try to live up to it.

I don’t appreciate frivolity with reference to this Division, Magnan said testily. When I first came here, the Manpower Utilization Directorate, Division of Libraries and Education was a shambles. I fancy I’ve made MUDDLE what it is today. Frankly, I question the wisdom of placing you in charge of such a sensitive desk, even for two weeks. But remember. Yours is purely a rubber-stamp function.

In that case, let’s leave it to Miss Furkle. I’ll take a couple of weeks off myself. With her poundage, she could bring plenty of pressure to bear.

I assume you jest, Retief, Magnan said sadly. I should expect even you to appreciate that Bogan participation in the Exchange Program may be the first step toward sublimation of their aggressions into more cultivated channels.

I see they’re sending two thousand students to d’Land, Retief said, glancing at