Name the book? Ambassador from Earth goes to a distant planet to try to avert war

[spoonman]

Read this years ago but can't recall the title/author.

As i recall, the story follows a single human sent on a diplomatic mission to a planet on the edge of Earth's empire. He gets knocked about quite a bit by the aggressive local despot and ends up vastly empowered and calling in a massive invasion fleet.

Any ideas?

 

[Ian Whates]

Could be way off the mark here, but it reminds me of one of Poul Anderson's early Dominic Flandry books...

 

[spoonman]

Names that seem to ring a bell, thanks Ian, not sure but i'll check it out.

... ... ...

...and having done so don't reckon it's that, but thanks anyway.

 

[Ian Whates]

Yes, on checking myself, I think it was actually a short story in the series I was thinking of: "Honourable Enemies". Sorry, worth a shot. Good luck with identifying the book.

 

[northernexposure]

Maybe something by Lloyd Biggle?

 

[J Riff]

Reteif by Keith Laumer?

 

[Pyan]

Not exactly as the FP remembers, but could it have been a story from Med Ship, by Murray Leinster?

 

[AE35Unit]

Wouldnt be a Dumarest book by ECTubb would it?

 

[spoonman]

Thanks for the suggestions - i've been on the road lately, will check 'em out when i have a minute.

- i think not a Dumarest though - the guy was representing Earth's government, not looking for it

 

[spoonman]

...and probably not Retief, it was straight up, not a synical tale

 

[northernexposure]

OK, one last guess. It has been a few decades, but it seems to me that Frank Herbert's "The Godmakers" had an opening episode similar to what you described.

 

[MartG]

It isn't 'No Man's World' ( aka Earth's Long Shadow ) by Kenneth Bulmer, is it ?

 

[spoonman]

Thanks again, sorry for delayed reply, been on the move for a month with limited time online.

I was reading a lot of Frank Herbert back then, that's a possibility.
Will check out that and the Bulmer book once i get properly linked up again, thanks MartG & northernexposure.

 

[Foxbat]

There's a section in Frank Herbert's The God Makers where the protagonist goes to investigate a seemingly peaceful planet but finds subtle signs of aggresion and calls in an invasion force. I'm wondering if it might be this that you're thinking of?