In this book Rolf Esser tries his hand at the special subject of the "short story". In doing so, he does not necessarily to the classical definitions of the short story that are mentioned from time to time. However, there is no generally valid form of the short story. The short story is lively and versatile. It adapts, changes with the times, and also deals with current problems from the political, social and human spheres. As a genre, it can only be defined as a genre by its distinction from other forms of literature.