Pocket Books 3rd? printing 1979? paperback (their first was 1978, original hardcover was in 1968.) Cover by Ochagavia, 175 pages. Condition is Fine-: very tight and square with flat spine, age tanning is mild and uniform, bare trace of overall wear - the edges still have some of that "new book" crispness. No stamps, marks, or writing - a clean copy that is obviously unread.

Retief and the Warlords - the second "Retief" novel by Keith Laumer. I find the backcover blurb on this copy to be a little generic, so I'm quoting from the back of the first paperback and the flap-copy of the original hardcover. Any of the first 3 collections and first 2 novels were quite enjoyable (and funny) - I highly recommend them.

HATRACKS IN THE GOOBER
The lobster-like Haterakans - "Hatracks" to their enemies (they had no friends) - were infiltrating human-held planets in the Goober Cluster - and Earth's response was to offer them lots of foreign aid! When things get that skewed, there's only one man for the job - that perpetual holder of the short end of the stick, Jame Retief...

[from the HC flap copy]: Earth's Panel for Alien Uplift, Protection, Enlightenment, and Relief - or PAUPER - was determined to extend alien-aid to the Haterakans. Unfortunately, their last envoy to the lobster-like aliens returned "coated with a substance remarkably similar to tar, to which adhered a layer of what appeared to be feathers of some sort." Therefore, it was only natural that PAUPER should call on Jame Retief, 27th century diplomat extraordinaire and well-known champion of the underdog, to negotiate with the aloof "Hatracks."

Meanwhile, the Haterakans were busily implementing some plans to help themselves - to a nice earth-like planet in the Goober Cluster where they could build ranches and raise humans for food. As the human settlers in the Goober Cluster were building up an illegal space fleet to defend themselves against being put out to pasture and the Haterakans were gathering their forces for an assault, Retief found himself embroiled in the most violent and dangerous assignment of his career.

Not only did he have to save himself from the Haterakan V.I.P. torture chambers and their gladiatorial ring, but he had to rescue the beleaguered settlers - both from the alien ranchers and from the 2 slightly money hungry politicos, Foulbrood and Bloodblister.