DiplomatAtArms

Just read the Retief story "Diplomat-At-Arms" (downloaded from http://www.baen.com/library/, free and legal), and was struck by three things:

1. Great difference in style in this particular story. Dead serious.
2. Excellence of plot, characters, and writing
3. One quote in particular, concerning an gladiatorial contest on the world Retief is visiting:

He wondered what it was they (the spectators) really wanted to see here today. A triumph of skill and courage, a reaffirmation of ancient virtues, the spectacle of men who laid life on the gaming table and played for a prize called glory — or was it merely blood and death they wanted?

Laid life on the gaming table and played for a prize called glory ...

• RadRob

TopicLiterature

(correlates: MacaulayOnCopyright, OnComfort, FreeLibrary, ...)