Main description: Im ersten Teil des Buches wird eine systematisch begründete Typologie der möglichen Formen narrativer Selbstreflexion entworfen. Der zweite Teil macht diese Typologie fruchtbar und untersucht unterschiedliche Formulierungen einer narrativen Poetik in der deutschsprachigen Literatur. Am Beispiel einer Reihe von detaillierten Werkanalysen, die mit den Anfängen neuzeitlichen fiktionalen Erzählens beginnt und über dessen erklärtes Ende hinaus bis in die unmittelbare Gegenwart reicht, werden schließlich die historische Entwicklung der narrativen Fiktion und ihre besondere Situation im >Zeitalter der Simulation< diskutiert. Main description: The first part of the book presents a systematically reasoned typology of the various forms of narrative self-reflection. The second section draws on this typology for a discussion of the various formulations of narrative poetics to be found in the literature in German. A number of detailed analyses of literary works ranging from the beginnings of modern fictional narrative and taking us beyond its self-declared demise up to the immediate present serve as a basis for the discussion of the historical evolution of narrative fiction and its special situation in the 'age of simulation'. The first part of the book presents a systematically reasoned typology of the various forms of narrative self-reflection. The second section draws on this typology for a discussion of the various formulations of narrative poetics to be found in the literature in German. A number of detailed analyses of literary works ranging from the beginnings of modern fictional narrative and taking us beyond its self-declared demise up to the immediate present serve as a basis for the discussion of the historical evolution of narrative fiction and its special situation in the 'age of simulation'.