We read you the conclusion to Rudyard Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King. Find out how Peachey and Dan fare, whether they win the crowns they sought. India isn't big enough them, but is Afghanistan?

SYSR 034: The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling

Apr 18th, 2012 45m 59s

We read part one of The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling, complete and unabridged. Two loafers head out for a remote corner of Afghanistan. Like an old-time radio drama with the music and foley, but none of the breathless corniness, see

SYSR 33b: Notes on A Modest Proposal

Mar 18th, 2012 25m 17s

Notes, summary, analysis and synopsis of A Modest Proposal. We discuss child-rearing with Dr. Jonathan Swift, Juvenal, Stephen Colbert, Monty Python and other satirical descendants of Swift.

SYSR 33a: A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

Mar 18th, 2012 25m 48s

A Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift read to you in its entirety. Originally published in the early 1700s, this biting satire still has the ability to shock.

SYSR 32b: Notes on Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Mar 8th, 2012 21m 27s

Summary, notes, commentary, and analysis of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce. The Twilight Zone wins at the Cannes Film Festival, the French perform a blues number in a crazy, syrupy forced American accent, and Flanagan renam

SYSR 032a: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

Mar 8th, 2012 30m 39s

We read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce. Originally published in the collection of Tales of Soldiers and Civilians in 1891, it is likely Bierce's most widely-read work. Listen in or, at the very least, read it, so you can en

SYSR 031b: Notes on James Joyce's Araby

Mar 2nd, 2012 20m 39s

Summary, notes, commentary and analysis of Araby by James Joyce. How is Araby like Flanagan's adventures at the Aloha Roller Skating Rink? Is Mangan's sister a stand-in for the Catholic Church?

SYSR 031a: Araby by James Joyce

Mar 1st, 2012 20m 50s

Araby by James Joyce read to you in its entirety. Part of the collection published in the Dubliners, and perhaps not as widely read as The Dead or Eveline, Araby holds up as a classic, stuff you should read.

SYSR 030: Treasure Island, Ch 33-Last

Feb 24th, 2012 38m 17s

Treasure Island wraps up, as we read chapters 33 and 34, the last chapter. Where’s the treasure? Which side will Long John end up on? And, of course, some thoughts about it all.

SYSR 029: Treasure Island, Chapter 31-32

Feb 16th, 2012 47m 6s

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, chapters thirty-one and thirty-two. Which side is Silver on? As we go hunting for treasure this episode, we need to remember to heed the doctor's warnings about squalls. We also take a behind the scene

SYSR 028: Treasure Island, Ch 28-30

Feb 9th, 2012 1h 2m

We stay the course on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, reading chapters twenty-eight, twenty-nine and thirty, and learning that mutiny breeds further mutiny. Where's the loyal crew? We finish with some thoughts about courage, rum and d

SYSR 027: Treasure Island, Ch 25-27

Feb 2nd, 2012 55m 50s

Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, chapters twenty-five through twenty-seven. Jim strikes the Jolly Roger, takes command and may have to deal with Israel Hands - settle his hash. We talk over Treasure Island!!!, lessons learned and the w

SYSR 026: Treasure Island, Ch 22-24

Jan 26th, 2012 39m 52s

Treasure Island summary, synopsis, analysis, commentary? Not this episode, matey. This episode we turn matters over into the capable hands of Robert Louis Stevenson, alone, as we read chapters 22-24, adding only breathless music, scintillating

SYSR 025: Treasure Island, Ch 19-21

Jan 19th, 2012 49m 33s

We read Treasure Island, chapters 19 - 21, with only a brief, breathless pause for a truce before soldiering on. At the end, summary, analysis and notes on this section of Treasure Island. Almost forgot, impromptu poetry slam.

SYSR 024: Treasure Island, Chapters 16 - 18

Jan 12th, 2012 40m 30s

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson continues, as we read chapters 16 - 18. Music, sound effects, foley, we bring it all while we try to discover what's become of the doctor, the captain and the squire. It's like the old-time radio progra

SYSR 023: Treasure Island, Chapters 13 - 15

Jan 5th, 2012 51m 20s

We continue Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island: Jim and the loyal hands prepare for mutiny; but can anyone steal the wind of a man like Long John Silver? We put in our two cents, explaining, summarizign, but mostly discussing pirate finan

SYSR 022: Treasure Island, Chapters 9 - 12

Dec 29th, 2011 50m 28s

More Treasure Island from Robert Louis Stevenson, as we read you chapters nine, ten, eleven and twelve. All RLS all episode, so no time for our inane commentary. (But if you're in the UK listening each week, this'll be your last chance to hear

SYSR 021: Treasure Island, Chapter 6 - 8

Dec 22nd, 2011 43m 26s

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson continues with our rendition of chapters 6, 7, and 8. Of course, as it’s a book club, we chew it over afterwards.

SYSR 020: Treasure Island, Chapter 3-5

Dec 15th, 2011 52m 22s

To continue our serialized audio book of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, we read chapters three, four and five. The Captain's problems mount and maybe we'll get a peak in the dead man's chest. Black spots, Doctor Who and oatmeal night

SYSR 019: Treasure Island, Chapter 1-2

Dec 5th, 2011 38m 51s

This episode we embark on our serialized audio book of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, reading chapters one and two. We meet young Jim Hawkins, the "Captain," or Billy Bones to Black Dog and mates. As it's a book club, we give it a ch

SYSR 018: Young Goodman Brown

Nov 20th, 2011 54m 7s

This episode we read you Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne. We also make a lame attempt at the end of figuring out what it all means.

SYSR 017: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Final Thoughts

Oct 14th, 2011 21m 39s

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn came to a close last episode, but we were so busy reading you the book that we didn't get to put in our two cents. So, this episode: Our Two Cents.

SYSR 016: Lightin' Out

Oct 7th, 2011 1h 7m

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, chapter 39 through the end; we finally put Huck and Jim's adventures to bed. as we read the concluding chapters and find out if Jim and Huck can find their way back to freedom.

SYSR 015: Written in Tears and Rust

Sep 30th, 2011 57m 39s

Our serialized audio book of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn marches on in chapters 36, 37 and 38. Will Huck and Tom find a way to free Jim in the high style that Tom Sawyer is accustomed to? Then, we weigh in with our two cents.

SYSR 014: Climbing the Lightning Rod

Sep 23rd, 2011 59m 6s

Our serialized audio book of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continues on for chapters 33, 34 and 35. Will Huck reach Tom before Tom comes waltzing in at the Phelps' farm? Can they find Jim and get him out of there?