Galactic Effectuator by Jack Vance

It is an extremely well constructed PI type of adventure set in the far distant future, told in his typically highly literate style. The depth of the universe it is set in is ostensibly his usual Gaian Reach, although it smacks somewhat of an earlier model. The proponent, Miro Hetzel, charms, scams and thinks his way through violent but gentlemanly primitives and strange effete cultures to solve the "case" he was originally given - that, strangely, hardly told him what he was in for. Classic Vance, told with his usual brilliance and erudition.I have read it many times, and still have the original copy I bought nearly twenty years ago.

Paperback Ace Books First Edition New