Story where diplomats use codes for emotions

Question

I am trying to remember the name of a book I read mid-to-late 1990s. I don't remember it being either a really small or massive paperback book. It was from a second hand shop (I think), so probably published late 1970s or early 1980s.

Things I remember about the book:

• Humans were the universe's diplomats
• We introduced the galaxy to red tape
• There were aliens involved in the stories, normally asking us to help resolve some issue (one was around a long running war/dispute)
• All looks/actions/emotions could be described using codes

The codes caused conversations between characters like:

"Did you just give me a XX103 (Mild Shock) look?"

"No it was a XX103a (Mild Shock with an understanding glance), why would I give you a XX103?"

The book was centered on a particular person who started off as a junior diplomat but was the one solving all the problems - often with indirect threats of (or direct application of) violence.

I thought it might be "Stainless Steel Rat" series, but it isn't, but I think it was around that era of publication.

Answer 1

This sounds like the Retief series of books by Keith Laumer.

Jame Retief begins the series as a junior diplomat working for the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne (CDT). His boss is Ben Magnan, a stuffy, cowardly, paper-pusher who is usually aghast at Retief's more muscular approach to "diplomacy."

The usual antagonists were the Groaci, semi-insectoid creatures whose empire was the equal of, and invariably opposed to, the CDT. I remember it being noted on more than one occasion that the nose-flute was one of their cultural treasures.

The Wikipedia page linked above gives an example of the CDT catalogue of facial expressions:

"A most perceptive observation, Chester," Earlyworm said, bestowing a 24-w (Gracious Condescension) leavened with a hint of 7-y (Expectation of Great Things in Due Course) on the lucky bureaucrat, at which his fellow underlings around the table were quick to bombard him with approbation, ranging from Faintlady's 12.7-x (Knew You Had It In You, Fella) to Felix's more restrained 119-a (We're All Pulling For You, Lad), to which he responded with a shy 3-v (Modest Awareness of Virtue).

"In fact," Earlyworm interjected a Cold Return to Objectivity (91-s) into the lightning interplay of ritual grimacing ...