The Masters Workshop Collection by James Bryan Cornelius unflinchingly examines the essence of the human condition. These works of short fiction explore the dichotomies that define the nature of both morality and mortality.

Readers encounter a variety of conflicted characters who must confront the uncertainties of modern society in stories such as "Atonement Circle," about a home burglary gone terribly awry, "Decent Men," the aftermath of a well-executed bank robbery, "Yucatan Shakedown," depicting the extortion of an American tourist in Mexico, "Masters Workshop," chronicling the exploitation of three brilliantly gifted children in a modern-day trinity tale, and numerous other intriguing circumstances.

The masterful storytelling within these slices-of-life challenges the margins between the admirable and the despicable, appearance and perception, trust and contempt, virtue and corruption, and prosperity and ruination. Through it all, the author maintains his signature style-whether wringing absurd humor out of the most distressing situations or reflecting the sometimes painful realities of a character's epiphany back on ourselves, Mr. Cornelius provides a dynamic glimpse into the duality of mankind.