Diplomatic Deep-Freeze

Goes back in time to relate John Pauley's first experiences in the US Foreign Service before his adventures described in earlier books take place.

He accompanies an official delegation from Washington on its visit to Antarctica. He falls into a crevasse of a glacier, bands penguins, meets an overbearing American astronaut, and sorts whale bones with the resident naturalist.

He also runs across what appears to be one country's research station for making nuclear weapons, strictly forbidden by the Antarctic Treaty, which has put nuclear weapons in a diplomatic deep-freeze there.