Customer Reviews

Retief's Peace

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is all silliness and satire. Retief is the very capable straight man in a world of send-ups of various stereotypes.

If puns don't offend you, you may well enjoy this book. It certainly made me smile.

On planet B'ruckley in the Shamballa Cluster, the protests for peace are growing though the natives are not involved except as observers. The local diplomatic corps wants to make no waves against the Peace Movement that could cost a careerist their job and pension even as the evidence grows that this group wants theTerrans to leave.

Second Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne Jame Retief finds the reaction of the Terran Diplomats normal as a bureaucrat's first job is to save one's flank. He has major concerns over the concept of leaving this plant without protection from alien invaders as the Peace Movement demands. Retief begins to make inquiries to determine who stands to gain the most if the seemingly innocent student protestors succeed and the Terrans depart until he concludes that the feral Krll want this orb without any real opposition. His peers need him out of the way so they can save their butts, but that will not stop Retief.

William H. Keith captures the essence of Keith Laumer's Retief in this fine satirical action-packed science fiction thriller. The story line is fast-paced, but owned by Retief who employs his own methods to insure the job is done correct. His understanding of the Terrans is priceless especially in light of what has happened with the hurricane though in the latter case the politicos and their appointees at all levels failed leading to CYA with bush league comments of not me - the others screwed up. RETIEF'S PEACE is a strong deep outer space entry in a wonderful series that timely highlights the objectives of the top layers of the bureaucracy within a mano a Krll confrontation.

Harriet Klausner

I had my doubts when this pistache appeared, but I am now a true believer. It is the original Retief back. If you have ever read Laumer's Retief you will love it. If not you will discover a new love and likely end up buying all the originals.

William Keith's RETIEF'S PEACE presents yet another Retief story of the diplomat who returns to action to thwart invaders and dangers to Terran diplomats. Retief may even face being expelled from the Corps for his efforts - but those who would thwart him find him even more deadly operating outside the law...

Sort of like the author had a check list of what Laumer would do and just repeated it over and over. Did not make an effort, in my view, to take the character some where a little new. Which would really have helped.

Keith has done his homework here and it really shows. I've enjoyed his tackling of Laumer's Bolos genre.....and now he gifts us with a Retief novel! It's got all the hallmarks of a Retief Yarn. Humour, pacing, style & the like.....It's like Laumer the Master was standing at Keith's elbow as he sits at the word processor. Keith even tackles the little things that made the Retief stories just sparkle.....the use of catalogued CDT expressions (Retief fans know what i'm talking about), the distinct syntax of Groaci speed in Standard.....it's all there! I had to decide how to file this in my SF collection (with the Keith books or Laumer's). Ultimately, I filed it right next to the rest of my Laumer Retief novels.....It's *that* good! I hope to see more of the same.....Keep Up The Good Work Mr. Keith!

This book is great. William Kieth retains the style of the late Kieth Laumer, but adds some of his own humor as well. This really is political satire at it's finest. This book is truly a Retief story.

I started reading the original Retief books in the '70's or maybe the 60's. I really liked them from the start and it was fun to go back for a walk down memory lane. Senior Foreign Service Officers can be a naive as those depicted in the book. Many of them were always ready to see the good side of the Soviets and the dark side of any American ally. That's what happens in this book with intergalactic races standing in their Earth counterparts. It's a fun read.