RETIEF OF THE CTD

Retief, that supersmooth representative of the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrial, is back winning friends for the homefront in the face of much opposition from blundering Ambassadors, ambitious Representatives, etc. In these new adventures, he is as casually sharp as ever, at one point explaining the intricacies of the democratic processes to a gang of disbelieving savages -- ""first there are a few rituals to be gotten past. There's Whistle-stopping, Baby-kissing, Fence-sitting, and Mud-slinging, plus a considerable amount of Viewing-with-Alarm."" This is one of the funniest satiric scenes in S.F. to date.