On the planet Dynak, diplomacy is more dangerous than warfare. One careless misunderstanding has trapped Earth diplomat Boccaccio di Vino inside the royal family of Oassi, a proud alien city-state ruled by women whose ancient marriage laws leave no room for mercy. If his alien bride fails to produce fertile eggs, the punishment is swift, permanent, and perfectly legal by Oassi standards.
Lieutenant Donald Newhouse arrives with orders to solve the problem quietly. Storming the city could destroy years of fragile negotiations and threaten Earth’s access to a priceless anti-cancer serum harvested from native livestock. Every move must preserve peace while keeping one terrified diplomat alive. Inside the towering stone citadel of Oassi, Newhouse faces suspicious nobles, rigid customs, and a queen who already suspects her son-in-law wants to escape. The deeper he digs into Oassi law, the clearer it becomes that force will only make matters worse. To save di Vino, Newhouse must find a solution clever enough to satisfy both alien tradition and human desperation.
The Price of Eggs blends planetary adventure, sharp humor, and diplomatic intrigue into one of Randall Garrett’s most entertaining science fiction tales. Garrett balances tension with wit while building a fully realized alien culture whose customs feel strange, believable, and dangerously logical. The result is a fast-moving story packed with clever reversals and memorable characters.
Randall Garrett published extensively in Astounding Science Fiction, Galaxy, Amazing Stories, and Fantastic Universe during the 1950s and 1960s. He later became widely known for the Lord Darcy mysteries, which fused fantasy with detective fiction, and for collaborations written under shared house names such as Robert Randall and Mark Phillips. The Price of Eggs showcases Garrett’s talent for combining hard science fiction ideas with social satire and razor-sharp dialogue.
