Cultural Exchange

"Cultural Exchange" by Keith Laumer is a science fiction story that cleverly uses a student exchange program to shed light on the tricky world of intergalactic relations. The story focuses on a resourceful diplomat named Retief, who finds himself in charge of an exchange with the Bogans, a group with a history of aggression and a valuable wine crop. Retief soon discovers that the Bogan students' arrival is tied to a convoluted plot involving a suspicious shipment of tractors aimed at undermining Lovenbroy's agricultural economy, threatening their grape-growing industry and society. With ample humor, Retief juggles diplomatic hurdles, manages the Bogan students, and cleverly ensures a successful wine harvest, creating surprising bonds and resolving the conflicts between the cultures.