Is diplomatic thriller simply an oxymoron? Can the ambiguous and cautious world of international relations serve as the backdrop for a novel that is fast-paced, gripping and accessible? Matthew Palmer explores this question as he discusses both his career as a Foreign Service officer and the novels he writes featuring American diplomats as the protagonists and, yes, the heroes. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Senior Foreign Service serving currently as Director of the Office of South Central Europe. Earlier tours included Belgrade, Nicosia, the U.S. Mission to the UN, and various positions in Washington. He is the author of a series of novels featuring American diplomats as protagonists, two of which were selected by National Public Radio as being among the best books of their respective years. His latest, Enemy of the Good, is set in Kyrgyzstan and copies will be available for purchase. This event costs $25 and includes lunch.