The Wager and Other Stories

By Greg Sushinsky

“The Wager” is a simple story of a seemingly innocuous wager, which triggers the clash between a decorated starflyer and his planet’s powerful ruler, that leads to startling events which will have dire consequences across the galaxy.
Thus begins the saga of Jospar, the Starflyer, and Kasceto, the Ruler. Jospar is a starflyer, a space explorer of the first order. He is a discoverer of new worlds, but one world in particular intrigues him more than others. When Jospar's superior, Kasceto, insists on making a wager involving this world, Jospar's life is forever changed. He is faced with a momentous decision.
In this gripping story, you will see how a simple bet, the wager, leads to the dramatic events that force Jospar to risk everything.

“Cobalt” is the story of the starflyer Jospar’s voyage of discovery, a flight into the unknown. It is his singular exploration and part meditation on his travels through the cosmos. Share in his discovery of one very special world, one which will ultimately thrust him into danger. Join Jospar on his journey, as his story continues.

In “Roscoe,” the arrival of a celebrated visitor to Jospar's planet as Jospar is about to undertake a critical mission, sets off a series of events which once again pit Jospar against the dangerous Kasceto. Who is the visitor Roscoe and why does his arrival force Jospar and Kasceto into a deadly clash?

These three stories comprise this slim volume of extraordinary science fiction, the first in the series of Jospar, the Starflyer. Author Greg Sushinsky has brought a unique touch and originality to his work which provides an unforgettable dimension of wonder, adventure and meaning. Join the many readers who have already entered and enjoy this world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Sushinsky
• Release date: May 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463841150

Greg Sushinsky

Greg Sushinsky is a widely published prolific writer whose articles have seen print in sports magazines, health and fitness periodicals, investment magazines, sports websites, finance and invesetment websites, and more. He has a degree in philosophy and has been an amateur athlete, competing as a drug free or natural bodybuilder and powerlifter and recently as a cycling racer.He’s written for several of the health and fitness magazines, including MuscleMag International, Ironman Magazine, Natural Physique, as well as Cross-Trainer/Total Fitness and American Health & Fitness (now called Maximum Fitness). He has written commercially published digests on fitness walking and an herbal guide. He is a much sought after writer, editor and consultant in the health and fitness field.He has been a contributing editor and writer for a group of national sports magazines, the Preview Sports annuals, and has written extensively on the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball. He has written team previews, features, profiles, commentary, and humor. He was the senior writer and editor for a football website, KickoffTime.com.As a self-taught, independent investor, for several years now he has contributed in depth stock analysis articles to major investment magazines and websites. He has written for Equities Magazine, more than 75 articles for QualityStocks.net, as well as nearly 600 articles for the highly regarded educational and informational investment website, Investopedia.com. He has also ghostwritten leading investment newsletters for a private financial company, and his research and analysis is in demand in the investment world.He has also authored several works of fiction, including two novels, several short stories (literary fiction), and has recently published several science fiction stories. He lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area with his wife Marsha.

Book preview

The Wager and Other Stories

By Greg Sushinsky

Copyright © 2020 Greg Sushinsky

The Wager Copyright © 2007 Greg Sushinsky

Cobalt Copyright © 2011 Greg Sushinsky

Roscoe Copyright © 2013 Greg Sushinsky

Visit Greg’s website: www.gregsushinsky.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved: including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This book is for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Author’s Notes

The Wager

Cobalt

Roscoe

About the Author

Back Cover

Author’s Notes

The Wager & Other Stories was originally written as three separate short stories in the same order they’re presented here. The Wager was the first story featuring Jospar the Starflyer and Kasceto the Ruler, and was written first, though in the strictest chronological sense the story Cobalt took place before. Still, presenting Cobalt second seems to fit as it serves as a meaningful back story.

The third story in the group, Roscoe, probably takes place chronologically somewhere in between.

There was no attempt to fit these stories into either a strict chronology nor to place them in a strictly defined universe, as they were created individually, organically. For readers who wish a more coherent context, there should be enough coherence provided from a reasonable reading of all three stories. The three stories stand alone within what is a loose framework of a universe, with the characters and their actions central. At least that’s how I wrote them. I hope readers will be generous enough to read them that way.

—Greg Sushinsky

The Wager

Then it’s set, Kasceto said. We shall soon see who’s right.

Not so soon, perhaps, Jospar said.

Kasceto looked at Jospar, then let out a laugh. He drank from a long fluted glass with the deep blue liquid in it he and Jospar always drank when they had a meeting. It was an exotic beverage brought from a distant world named Earth, near where Jospar had once explored. The liquid was extracted, brought to Jospar’s planet, then its rich, blue color was added on their world. Jospar poured himself another glass of the blue liquid, swirled it thoughtfully, and sat back down. The talk of their wagers had always at some point stirred him to his feet.

Kasceto wore the robes of a member the High Council, with one long, red stripe down the side of his long, white uniform. His chamber was made of ornate crystal, with crystal everywhere. Light shined into the chamber with the brilliance of a close, pulsing star.

Jospar, as a Star Service Explorer, always referred to by his people as a flyer or starflyer, wore a uniform of a lesser rank than a member of the High Council, one with a small, black square near the bottom. You would have to strain to see the small square, though it belied Jospar’s high ranking among the Star Service. Civilians addressed Jospar as Commander, yet his rank was less impressive to most of them than his standing. He was an explorer. Jospar had