The Magnificent Wilf

Representing the Earth for galactic civilization during an interstellar tour, diplomat Tom Parent and his linguist wife, Lucy, realize that their acceptance is crucial and are alarmed when Lucy is diagnosed as a Wilf--whatever that is.

Dickson's latest (after Other) is unabashed space opera, leavened with humor. The narrative rockets into action immediately, moving dizzyingly through alien contact with Earth and into a mission by diplomat Tom Parent and his linguist wife, Lucy, to save the planet by proving to the aliens that humans are civilized. Along their improbable way, the couple watch their Great Dane, Rex, begin to talk; they also travel by spaceship to an alien world and to an alien governing council that Tom inadvertently joins by sitting in the wrong chair. The headlong dash from event to event is paramount; dialogue and characterization are credible, though simple. This novel succeeds as light entertainment, but it doesn't match the complexity or vision of the Dorsai series, or for that matter much else by this Hugo- and Nebula-winning author.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Tom and Lucy Parent and their Great Dane, Rex, are sent from a future Earth to convince the other sapient races of the galaxy that Earth is civilized enough to be allowed independence. Trouble begins when Lucy is mistaken for a Wilf, a life-form that tries to motivate its companions toward ethical behavior. Nor does trouble end there, for the ambassadors encounter more weird and wonderful aliens than ever found at the Mos Eisley Cantina, and intrigues, plots, and counterplots, too, before they succeed in their mission. Dickson, one of sf's genuine masters of comedy, discloses all the humorous possibilities in his story with polished skill. He obviously had fun writing this book. Be confident that readers will have fun, too. Roland Green