These seven stories present the careers of winners and losers, as well as people positioned at less clearly-defined points along the spectrum of human success that runs from triumph to shipwreck.

Sinister Nazis, shy physicists, bumbling climatologists, tormented artists, stunning stewardesses, lovesick space-tourists, gun-happy CEOs and some familiar figures out of Cervantes all feature in these comic little commentaries on our ultra-competitive, often unforgiving world.