The Workshop

by Volker G. Fremuth

Jason Pelham is a senior manager whose talents propel him toward the top of the food chain of one of the largest corporations in the world; but with his ascension he becomes aware of the corruption and predation that inherently seems to cast its shadow over even the most virtuous when given access to ultimate power and money. The company, also known as the Workshop, offers its service at the pleasure of the people who, due to their own desires for it, become the unwitting pawns in a game of power, politics, exploitation, and greed. Enter into a world where lore has become history, fantasy becomes fact, magic becomes resource, knowledge becomes the technology of espionage, and a fanciful legend takes on a new and sinister twist when forced to fit the mold of cold, hard reality.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2014

About the author

Born in Germany and well-travelled, Volker Fremuth grew up in Europe before moving to Connecticut where he demonstrated his creative talents. His training ranges from a woodcarving apprenticeship in the Black Forest to a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as studying business at the MIT Enterprise Forum and the graduate program at Rensselaer. But his most valuable experiences, and thus the material from which springs many of his literary inspirations, are his years of employment working for a variety of firms from small businesses to Fortune 100 multinational corporations.

An accomplished filmmaker, commercial artist, communications and marketing professional, Mr. Fremuth has done business across the globe in both the private and public sectors and it is precisely this combination of creative prowess and business acumen which was instrumental in his creating a plausible storyline around a fantastical concept as in his debut novel, “The Workshop”.

Holding to some of the themes in his first book, the author takes a darker turn in his second novel, “Nachash’s Narrative”, which continues to highlight the author’s fascination with the combination of power and technology and how it can be leveraged to exploit the people without their knowledge. This becomes instrumental in the new book’s exploration of the sinister side of our political and multimedia-fed environment.

Beyond his professional life Volker holds a pilot’s license and has a passion for art, science, technology, history and politics which all worked their way into the pages of his writing.

Reviews

[Christine Crandall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic journey and a real eye-opener! I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single page of this exciting and thought provoking novel. The author has captured our fascination with and reliance upon technology and our constantly "upgraded" devices. He has real insight into human behavior and how easily we are swayed in our thought process. Do you ever feel like someone is telling you how to think and feel? There is a reason for that. We are encouraged to react in a certain way. But to what end?

A brilliant concept using our beloved Christmas holiday as the backdrop for something so nefarious. However, it is only nefarious from our point of view. The masterminds behind this plot only see how they are doing the world a favor. Making us all "good."

I'm recommending this book to all my friends and family.

[Gregory Anastasiou · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do industrial espionage, murder, romance, and the toy business have in common? This book is as contemporary as it gets when exploring the corruption from power with an Orwellian perspective on the trust we place on technology. Fictitious reality or factual literature? Although a work of fiction, as the story of this page-turner unfolds it becomes more and more thought provoking with succeeding “what ifs” and a totally unexpected ending! Highly recommended!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an enjoyable summer read. Fast paced with a combination of old world style with high tech technology. Imaginative with a plot so realistic it will leave you wondering... if not yet; then when?

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! Couldn't put it down and basically read it in a single sitting, funny thing was as I was reading it I couldn't help but think how eerily similar it was to the world around us present day and it had been written long before! Great job!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Workshop is a sharp, imaginative corporate thriller that blends power politics with dark fantasy. Volker G. Fremuth follows rising executive Jason Pelham as he climbs the ranks of a global giant—only to discover that its influence is built on corruption, exploitation, and ancient forces repurposed as modern “technology.” As magic becomes machinery and mythology becomes weaponized, the novel explores how ambition, greed, and human desire can twist even the most extraordinary resources into tools of control. Smart, unsettling, and ambitious in scope, this is a gripping read for fans of conspiratorial intrigue and fantasy woven into real-world systems of power.

[Virginia Boylan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This clever twist on a favorite folk legend needed trimming and streamlining. Though the story was studded with marvelous gems, they were dulled by repetitive narrative. The author's academic voice was a poor fit for this fun, fanciful, and outrageous tale.