Vladimir Makanin's stories are deep and quite laconic - quite suitable for the modern reader, who is always in a hurry and does not tolerate tediousness. Makanin is translated a lot. But German critics called the stories in this particular volume “piano sonatas.” Vladimir Lakshin called the story “The Man of the Retinue” a masterpiece. The famous St. Petersburg philosopher Alexander Sekatsky charges his students with studying the story “Anti-Leader.” The play “River with a Fast Flow” has been running for the fourth year at the Moscow Art Theater. . Chekhov. The book is published in the author's edition.