by S. H. Jucha
Henry Stamerson – Head of the Review Board, retired mining captain
Jensen – Tech
Jorge Olas – Forensics specialist in security
Liam Finian – Major in station security
Lily Tormelli – Deceased coin-kitty
Maggie – Hostess and manager of the Miner’s Pit, ex-spacer
Margaret O’Toole – Forensics department head
Miguel Rodriguez – Sergeant in station security
Olivia Harden – YIPS engineer
Oster Simian – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Pena – Young girl who Toby likes
Terrell “Terror” McKenzie – Ex-corporal in security
Toby – Boy who received BRC surgery
Trent Pederson – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Objects, Terms, and Cantinas
Agri-dome – Dome dedicated exclusively to agriculture
Alliance – Group of races to which the Jatouche belong
BRC – Bone replacement copy, pronounced “brick”
Caf – Drink of artificially grown coffee and cocoa with a mild stimulant
Cap – Transportation capsule
Captain’s Articles – Agreement captain signs with the JOS
Coin – Reference to electronic currency
Coin-kat or coin-kitty – Male or female sex service provider
Colony – Entities exiting gate five in the Jatouche dome
Comm-dot – Communication ear wig that relays to a comm unit
Crocian – Alien race, members of the Alliance
DAD – DNA analysis device, sniffer
Deck boots – Boots that hold vac suited spacers to ship decks
Deck shoes – Shoes with patterned bottoms, which allow people’s feet to adhere to decks
Dissemination of Assets – Will recorded by a Pyrean in the event of death
Downside – Refers to the domes on Pyre
E-cart – Electric cargo transport
El – Elevator car linked between the orbital station and Pyre’s domes
Empath – Person capable of sensing and manipulating the emotional states of others
E-trans – Electric passenger transport
Gasnarians – Original race on Pyre, extinct
Green – Replenishing drink of herbs and vegetables for empaths
Hook on – Expression that means pay attention now, response is “Aye, latched on.”
Latched On – Spacer supply house
Messinants – Ancient race that genetically tinkered with species and built the Q-gate domes
Miners’ Pit – Cantina owned by Jessie Cinders
Mist mask – Makeup mask
Normals – Individuals who have no empath capability
Plumerase tree – Sweet fruit and an addictive narcotic, streak, from the nut
Q-gate – Jatouche term for transportation gate
Review Board – Judicial body aboard the JOS
Sensitives – Preferred alternate name for empaths
Skins – Preferred clothing of stationers and spacers
Sleepholds – Places for people to temporarily bunk
Slush – Generic term for frozen gases
Sniffer – DAD device
Starlight – Expensive JOS cantina
Stationers – People who live on the Jenkels Orbital Station, called the JOS
Streak – Addictive drug manufactured by the downsiders
Tikar – Jatouche length of time
Vac suit – Spacer’s vacuum work suit
Stars, Planets, and Moons
Crimsa – Star of the planet Pyre
Emperion – Pyre’s second moon
Gasnar – Jatouche term for Pyre
Minist – Pyre’s first and smallest moon
Na-Tikkook – Jatouche home world
Pyre – New home world of colonists
Triton – Pyre’s third, outermost moon
Ships and Stations
Honora Belle – Colony ship, also known as the Belle
Jenkels Orbital Station – Station above Pyre. Anchors the El car to downside, called the JOS, pronounced “joss.”
Marianne – Captain Jessie Cinders’ first ship, referred to as the Annie, willed to him by Corbin Rose
Spryte – Captain Jessie Cinders’ third ship
Unruly Pearl – Captain Jessie Cinders’ second ship, referred to as the Pearl, willed to him by Corbin Rose
Yellen-Inglehart Processing Station – Mineral and gas-processing platform, called the YIPS, pronounced “yips.”
My Books
Messinants, the second novel in the Pyrean series, is available in e-book, softcover, and audio book versions. Please visit my website, http://scottjucha.com, for publication locations and dates. You may register at my website to receive email updates on the progress of my upcoming novels.
Pyrean Series
Empaths
Messinants
Jatouche (forthcoming)
The Silver Ships Series
The Silver Ships
Libre
Méridien
Haraken
Sol
Espero
Allora
Celus-5
Omnia
Vinium
Nua’ll (forthcoming)
The Author
I’ve been enamored with fiction novels since the age of thirteen and long been a fan of great storytellers. I’ve lived in several countries overseas and in many of the US states, including Illinois, where I met my wonderful wife more than three decades ago. My careers have spanned a variety of industries in the visual and scientific fields of photography, biology, film/video, software, and information technology (IT).
My first attempt at a novel, which I’ve retitled The Florentine, was a crime drama centered on the modern-day surfacing of a 110-carat yellow diamond lost during the French Revolution. In 1980, in preparation for the book, I spent two wonderful weeks researching the Brazilian people, their language, and the religious customs of Candomblé. The day I returned from Rio de Janeiro, I had my first date with my wife-to-be, Peggy Giels.
In the past, I’ve outlined dozens of novels, but a busy career limited my efforts to complete any of them. In early 2014, I chose to devote my efforts to writing full-time. My first novel, The Silver Ships, was released in February 2015. The series, with the release of Vinium, now numbers ten.
The Pyrean series relates the tale of a third Earth colony ship and gives readers an opportunity to follow new characters, who struggle to overcome the obstacles of a world tortured by geologic upheaval. Humans are divided into camps — downsiders, stationers, spacers, and the Honora Belle’s inhabitants, which consist of empaths and the discarded.
My deep appreciation goes out to the many readers who embraced the Silver Ships and Pyrean series and its characters. I hope you’ve found the stories enjoyable!