Publisher's Note: The stories and novel herein have previously appeared in parts in Envoy To New Worlds, Galactic Diplomat, and Retief's War. This is the first unitary edition.Contents:p. 1 • Extraordinary Diplomats (Retief!) • (2002) • essay by David Drakep. 5 • Diplomat-at-Arms • (1960) • novellap. 57 • Protocol • (1962) • shortstory (aka The Yillian Way) p. 75 • The Brass God • (1965) • novelette (aka Retief, God-Speaker) p. 111 • Sealed Orders • (1962) • shortstory (aka Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain) p. 131 • Palace Revolution • (1961) • novelette (aka Gambler's World) p. 155 • Cultural Exchange • (1962) • shortstoryp. 175 • Saline Solution • (1963) • shortstoryp. 195 • Native Intelligence • (1963) • novelette (aka The Governor of Glave) p. 229 • Policy • (1962) • novelette (aka The Madman from Earth) p. 257 • Ultimatum • (1963) • novelette (aka Mightiest Qorn) p. 278 • The Prince and the Pirate • (1964) • novelettep. 302 • The Castle of Light • (1964) • novelettep. 333 • Retief's War • (1966) • novelp. 493 • Wicker Wonderland • (1964) • novelette (aka The City That Grew in the Sea) p. 521 • Courier • (1961) • novelette (aka The Frozen Planet) p. 549 • Protest Note • (1962) • shortstory (aka The Desert and the Stars) p. 570 • Aide Memoire • (1962) • shortstoryp. 591 • Afterword (Retief!) • (2002) • essay by Eric Flint