Retief is the main character in a science fiction book series written by Keith Laumer. As a member of the CDT, or Corps Diplomatique Terrestriene, his job is to negotiate various forms of treaties between Earth and not-so-diplomatic otherworldly races. Retief's style of diplomacy, while fitting into the general bureaucratic rules of the CDT, is more akin to the Korben Dallas "anyone else wanna negotiate?" method. He is usually accompanied by Undersecretary Magnan, a man who makes up for lack of fortitude with a genius for official-sounding excuses - nevertheless, he usually finds himself unable to jump the tracks of Retief's Wild Ride.