Mr. von L'oreot on silent wheels - A pointed miniature about modern progress

With his latest satirical short story "Herr von L'oreot orders an e-scooter", author and publisher Markus Schall opens a new series of cultivated observations of everyday life - set between Darjeeling, the daily newspaper and the promise of technology. With affectionate mockery and a touch of Loriot-esque serenity, the text tells how the fictional Mr. von L'oreot tests progress - and falls back on what has stood the test of time for centuries: his legs.

In lovingly classic black-and-white illustrations, this fine miniature tells of the pitfalls that arise when an elderly gentleman, blessed with life experience and slight skepticism, encounters an electrically powered two-wheeler - and not only falters on the sidewalk.

Sustainability with a charger

The story begins with a newspaper, a perfectly prepared breakfast and a vision:

"A means of transportation with a battery... that certainly sounds forward-looking."

Shortly afterwards, Mr. von L'oreot - in "pale green", as befits an ecologically ambitious citizen - orders the EcoCruiser Urban 2.1, supposedly sustainably packaged and assembled in Europe.

Six weeks later, the good thing is in the hallway - surrounded by polystyrene, multilingual operating instructions and a plug that is reluctant to make itself at home in European sockets.

A tribute to the subtle humor of past decades

Stylistically, the story bows deeply to the great Loriot, whose ability to discover absurdity in the everyday is still unrivaled today. Author Markus Schall portrays his main character - the distinguished Mr. von L'oreot - with the same affectionate exaggeration that once brought pugs into the bathtub and yodelling diplomas onto living room walls.

The visual language is clearly influenced by the German humor of the 80s and 90s, but with a touch of the present: Instead of a tea trolley or remote control, the focus is now on an e-scooter - along with all its promises and pitfalls.

Satirical realism with attitude

"Mr. von L'oreot" is not just a character. He is a style. A tone of voice. A way of dealing with the world that has become rare: kindly observing, quietly questioning, occasionally smiling mildly. The story is the first in a series of cultivated miniatures from the pen of Markus Schall, in which big questions shine through in small incidents.

Between a visit to the bakery and a battery warning

What exactly happens between the first ring at the front door and the soft afterglow of the rear lights cannot be revealed at this point. Just this much: there is pushing, snorting - and in the end, a touch of insight is taken home with you. A short drama in five drawings, staged with a fine pen, laconic language and a certain respect for the dignity of failure.

No mockery without experience

Markus Schall didn't get the idea for the story from an aversion to e-mobility - but from his own experience. "I'm an electric driver myself," says Schall.

"I drive an electric car and actually also have a larger electric scooter. And that's exactly what I've broken down with before. I pushed it three kilometers home in the rain - it was moderately entertaining.".

With regard to current developments, Schall is not criticizing progress, but the extent of it.

"As long as batteries are still so heavy, they shouldn't be made unnecessarily large. Because as long as this energy comes from coal, the question arises as to where the real profit lies."

More than an anecdote - an invitation to a dialog

The article is part of a new series of satirical miniatures that look at current social, technical and interpersonal developments through the lens of classic caricature and narrative art. It is never about mockery - but always about the silent smile that arises when you recognize yourself in the small misunderstandings of life. In the spirit of Loriot:

"There used to be more tinsel - today there is more lithium."

The full story has been published online and will be supplemented by further episodes in the future. Anyone who enjoys classic humor with depth - somewhere between Loriot, Wilhelm Busch and the weekend edition of Die Zeit - should find something to enjoy here.

About the author

Markus Schall is an entrepreneur, developer, publisher and subtle observer of modern life. With the Lord of L'oreot, he has created a satirical alter ego to comment on current phenomena with a touch of pastel, pencil and irony. In addition to AI projects, book publications and digitalization consulting, he still has enough time to move through everyday life electrically and with slight scepticism.

Frequently asked questions

* Was Mr. von L'oreot inspired by a real person?
This question is justified - and at the same time difficult to answer. Mr. von L'oreot is a fictional character. But like any successful fictional character, he lives from reality - or more precisely: from its subtle cracks, unexpected background noises and superfluous chargers. Whether you recognize in him a certain older gentleman who goes through everyday life with glasses, decency and a touch of scepticism is up to the reader. We say: he lives in all of us. Especially when the update reports another "Unknown error".

* Is it even okay to laugh about e-mobility?
Absolutely. Not about the idea - but about its implementation. Because between idealistic aspirations and reality sometimes lies a charging station that doesn't charge. Or a range that reaches exactly to the next driveway - not to your own. If you take technology seriously, you can accompany it with humor. And those who take humor seriously know that progress needs a counterweight. For example, in the form of a pencil drawing.

* What distinguishes Mr. von L'oreot from other satirical figures?
He doesn't shout. He doesn't rant. He doesn't type on Twitter. He observes. He thinks. And sometimes he smiles. Mr. von L'oreot is not a caricature of people, but of circumstances. He doesn't magnify the face, but the absurdity. And that is precisely why he so often gets right to the heart of modern madness - in a fine tie and with the attitude of a man who drinks his tea in peace before he gets excited about Bluetooth.

* Is the story a plea against technology?
Not at all. On the contrary: Mr. von L'oreot is open to technology - just not a technophile. He orders an e-scooter, charges it correctly, even (almost) reads the instructions. What he doesn't do: cheer blind progress. What sets him apart is his ability to keep a diary even when the battery light is flashing red. In a world where technology is seen as a substitute for thinking, he is a quiet alternative - one that is not backward-looking, but simply moves forward thoughtfully.

* Why was the story published now?
Because it was time. Because the debate about e-mobility is often characterized by extremes - and it's good to pull up a chair, sit down and simply write down what it's like to go to the bakery on a scooter. Because humor is a form of analysis - and Mr. von L'oreot is not an opponent of the future, but an advocate of common sense. And because sometimes it's the little stories that show us how big our contradictions have become.

* Will we see Mr. von L'oreot again?
If the author has his way: yes. He's already sitting by the fireplace again, sorting through instruction manuals, asking questions about the necessity of the cloud and thinking about an episode on voice-controlled lamps. The first sketches for the episodes are also circulating:
"Mr. von L'oreot and the thermostat with WLAN" and
"Mr. L'oreot downloads a refrigerator"

So we can confidently say: The Lord goes on.

M. Schall Verlag
Hackenweg 97
26127 Oldenburg
Germany

https://markus-schall.de/en/
Herr Markus Schall
info@schall-verlag.de

Schall-Verlag was founded in 2025 by Markus Schall - out of a desire to publish books that create clarity, inspire reflection and consciously avoid the hectic flow of the zeitgeist. The publishing house does not see itself as a mass marketplace, but as a curated platform for content with attitude, depth and substance.

The focus is on topics such as personal development, crisis management, social dynamics, technological transformation and critical thinking. All books are the result of genuine conviction, not market analysis - and are aimed at readers who are looking for guidance, insight and new perspectives.

The publishing house is deliberately designed to be compact, independent and with high standards in terms of language, content and design. Schall-Verlag is based in Oldenburg (Lower Saxony) and plans multilingual publications in German and English.

This release was published on openPR.