The Cosmic Pirate and Other Short Stories

By Andrew Barker

"Confirmation Bias"starts the collection off when struggling folk singer Oaks starts an interview, unaware of his soon crashing worldview.
"The Cosmic Pirate" follows Jack. After the funeral of his father, Jack must come to terms what kind of father he wants to be towards his own child.
"Newshound" starts in a future rife with overpopulation a journalist seeks a story to reveal the government's underhanded fixes to the problem, while hiding his own hypocrisies.
In the story "TKO" after an undesired outcome, two boxers with a secret pact face the wreckage of their life's choices.
Walking blindly into a deal for his wife's life, mob head Harry has no clue as to what's coming next in "Cocaine Blues."
Two friends face their anxiety and mediocrity after just another work week in "Attempt."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Barker
• Release date: Apr 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463020272

Andrew Barker

Andrew Barker is an emerging screenwriter and a student at Full Sail University earning a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in Creative Writing. In addition to an education he has been published by the Scarlet Leaf Review and has a special interest in psychological or political dramas. Through his writing, he seeks to explore the human condition through a more sardonic lens.

Book preview

The Cosmic Pirate and Other Short Stories

By Andrew Barker

Copyright 2018 Andrew Barker

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents:

Title Page

Table of Contents

Confirmation Bias

The Cosmic Pirate

Newshound

TKO

Cocaine Blues

Attempt

About the Author

Confirmation Bias

Next question, Mr. Oaks. With all that’s happened within the world what have you been up to recently? said the reporter.

The most recent action of relevance would be that of a benefit concert to raise awareness for the recent atrocities committed in Chile, said Oaks.

I’m aware of the benefit you threw. But it was my understanding that you threw that back in seventy-three.

I, um.

The question was more to ask what you’ve been up to a little more recently. From the time frame since the Vietnam War ended, preferably.

Before Oaks could have found a usable deflection a loud squawk breaks from a conjoined room in the apartment.

I could answer that question of yours but that noise from the other room is distracting, said Oaks.

That isn’t anything to worry about. It’s my pet parrot.

A pet parrot, might I see? If it is no problem to you?

Of course, you can. Let me just stop the recording for a moment.

After she stopped the recording, the reporter guided Oaks through her small apartment to the source of the noise. Inside one of the rooms, the