Stories for the Road

Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s a rebroadcast of our Christmas Special from last year where we read a couple of timeless classics by Willa Cather and O. Henry, and talk about the myths and origins behind our Christmas traditions.

L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, loved Christmas. His short story A Kidnapped Santa Claus is a wonderfully innocent yet clever children’s tale exploring contentment and repentance, while exploring some familiar characters and adding some new ones. We also talk about […]

A popular high school selection, The Triumph of the Egg tells the story of a family in pursuit of the American dream. What will it cost them? And will they succeed? Join Dan and Ning as they read and analyze this masterpiece by Sherwood Anderson.

Truly a master of weird fiction, H.P. Lovecraft’s iconic stories never cease to thrill and amaze readers to this day. Meet the bizarre personality behind Cthulhu and listen to the stories from his life which we find just as fascinating. *Parental discretion advised.   Ning’s […]

An author described by H.P. Lovecraft as “the absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere”, Blackwood’s tales of the supernatural have influenced many horror writers after him. In this episode, we read a story where nature acts as a portal to the next dimension and […]

Two light-hearted tales by Mark Twain– One about an infectious jingle that drives men to the end of their wits, and another about a haunting which Twain wrote as a satirical response to a fraudulent exhibit of the Cardiff Giant in New York.

Alright everyone, SFTR is officially on the road and temporarily nomadic, so we apologize for the audio quality in this episode. (In fact, if one listens carefully, one might even hear a truck backing up at the very end.) However, this will not take away […]

Identity crisis, unrequited love, loneliness– the themes in this Andersen’s adult fairy tale parallel his own struggles. Join us as we get deeper and darker into this beloved children author’s life! *May not be suitable for young kids. Parents’ discretion strongly advised.   Recommended reading: […]

Aaaaand we’re back! Starting our new season is a dark fairy tale about a traveler and his mysterious companion who turns out to be one hack of a wingman. Magic, mystery, friendship, a beautiful and cruel princess… truly, Andersen does not disappoint. And of course, […]