Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain

By Keith Laumer

Retief knew the importance of sealed orders—and the need to keep them that way! 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: 9781515444367

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 of the Red-Tape Mountain

by Keith Laumer

©2020 Positronic Publishing

Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain 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: 978-1-5154-4436-7

Table of Contents

Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain

Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain

Retief knew the importance of sealed orders—and the need to keep them that way!

It’s true, Consul Passwyn said, I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post. But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year. Instead, I’m zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers. And not for one world, mind you, but eight! He stared glumly at Vice-Consul Retief.

Still, Retief said, it gives an opportunity to travel—

Travel! the consul barked. I hate travel. Here in this backwater system particularly— He paused, blinked at Retief and cleared his throat. Not that a bit of travel isn’t an excellent thing for a junior officer. Marvelous experience.

He turned to the wall-screen and pressed a button. A system triagram appeared: eight luminous green dots arranged around a larger disk representing the primary. He picked