Kaiya Reads

"In war, intelligence is of the essence, for it is what the armies depend upon in their every move." Sun Tzu explains why spies are the linchpin of success in all wars, and how to recruit and deploy them wisely. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Disaster, by definition, is failing to capitalize on your achievements despite victory in battle and seizure of the spoils..." Sun Tzu describes different forms of incendiary attacks and how to best utilize them, as well as dispensing advice on prudence in committing to actions that cannot be undone. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Suppose someone posed the question, 'How should we prepare for an enemy fortified with great numbers and with strict discipline, who is about to advance on us?'..." Sun Tzu describes the nine types of ground and how a prudent commander should treat each, as well as the psychology of the typical soldier in various types of circumstances and how a commander should plan to manipulate it. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Know the enemy and your own, and victory is in sight. Know the terrain and timing, and victories will be total." Sun Tzu describes the weaknesses and advantages of engaging in combat in each of the six types of terrain, as well as the six routes to certain defeat, and how a prudent commander must gauge his own forces as well as the land. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"In war, it is not numbers that give the advantage. It suffices if you do not advance recklessly, are able to consolidate your own strength, get a clear picture of the enemy's situation, and secure the full support of your men." Sun Tzu dispenses advice for positioning one's own troops - as well as what the shrewd commander can read of the enemy's situation and disposition just from looking at where their troops stationed and how they behave. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Do not count on the enemy not coming. Depend instead on your side being prepared to confront him..." Sun Tzu details nine contingencies - five actions that a wise commander will take and four targets he will avoid avoid engaging with - for best advantage when mobilizing troops. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"No task is more demanding than the contest between armies, whose difficulty lies in straightening a winding path, and turning trouble to one's own advantage." Sun Tzu details how critical pre-battle preparations can be, with special attention to army transportation, setting up communication systems, and deciding how and when to engage in combat. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"To be prepared everywhere is to be strong nowhere." Sun Tzu discusses the fine art of leveraging your own strength against an enemy's weaknesses to control his options and compel his decisions. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"In general, conventional methods engage the enemy, while surprise secures victory." Sun Tzu examines why it's less about what sort of force a commander has at their disposal, and more about how - and when and why - the wise commander chooses to employ it. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"It is you who determine your own invincibility, but whether the enemy can be conquered or not rests with him." Sun Tzu counsels the wise commander to hew closely to the prudent tactics of those who want victory for its own sake, rather than flashy victory as a means for boosting or proving their own ego. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Know the enemy; know yourself, and you will meet with no danger in a hundred battles." Sun Tzu discusses the benefits of acquiring and/or undermining your enemy rather than focusing on destruction, as a way of preserving one's own forces and resources. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Although killing the enemy is all a question of rage, wresting advantage from the enemy is something else, a question only of wealth." Sun Tzu explains the factors to consider when outfitting an army at the start of a campaign, and the key role of decisiveness and resourcefulness in ensuring that a war doesn't drag out longer than the country's ability to support it. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

"Warfare is the art of deception." In the first part of this landmark work, Sun Tzu explores the foundations for determining, at the highest level, who will emerge the victor in any given combat. [Voice: Lilissen] Intro/outro music: Eidolon by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Kaiya takes a brief look back on Beowulf in its entirety, reflecting on its structure and message - and announces what's next for Kaiya Reads. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

The Geats take stock of the challenges ahead that they must face without Beowulf to guide them, and they honor their fallen leader with a truly kingly pyre. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

As Beowulf dies, he worries about the legacy he will leave for the Weather-Geats, and requests to see the treasures for which he has traded his life. A grieving Wiglaf excoriates and exiles the faithless thanes who had abandoned Beowulf in his fight. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Age and infirmity sap Beowulf's strength as he faces the dragon. Shame, pride and obligation drive his young kinsman Wiglaf to aid the old king, and together they slay the dragon, although not without a terrible cost. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Beowulf reflects upon all the war and death that he has seen in the span of a man's lifetime - fratricide in his boyhood foster family, the feud that left the Geat throne empty for him, the war in which he won his sword Naegling - before he girds himself for battle against the dragon, an enemy beyond even the strength of men. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Fifty years after Beowulf won fame and recognition by defeating Grendel and Grendel's mother, a hapless fugitive rouses the ire of a dragon by taking a single piece of its barrow-gold. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Kaiya reflects on the first two parts of this epic poem, highlighting the culture of feud and family, the difference between fighting men and monsters, a surprising reveal about Beowulf's upbringing, and the role of the weapons of war. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Beowulf returns to his liege Hygelac and relates the story of his heroics, while foreseeing the strife and doom that will soon fall upon the Danish world. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Beowulf and Hrothgar exchange parting words and vows of mutual friendship, and Beowulf brings his Geats back over the sea to their liege Hygelac. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Beowulf returns triumphant with the head of Grendel and the hilt of the wondrous giant-sword that had slain Grendel's mother. Hrothgar, seeing in Beowulf the makings of a great king, warns him against the hubris and bitterness that have proven the downfall of legendary kings, and speaks of the wearinesses of his own reign. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Beowulf girds himself for battle and enters the monster-lair, but finds that neither the sword that Unferth lent him nor his own raw strength will avail him against Grendel's mother. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Horror returns to Heorot the night after Grendel's death, as Grendel's mother returns to take vengeance for her son. Once again Hrothgar and the Danes turn to Beowulf for aid. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Kaiya reflects on various aspects of the first part of this epic poem, including the alliterative rhyme scheme, Christianity in Beowulf, the missing cultural context needed to spot foreshadowing, and the role of women in Beowulf's society as presented. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

During the celebration feast for Beowulf's victory over Grendel, Hrothgar's minstrel recounts the tale of an ancient blood-feud between the Frisians and the Danes. In another parallel of ironic foreshadowing, Queen Wealhtheow publicly names her nephew Hrothulf as regent for her young sons should anything happen to King Hrothgar, unaware that in a few years Hrothulf would slay them in his own treacherous bid for the throne. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Hrothgar's minstrel tells the story of the dragon-slayer Sigemund, foreshadowing Beowulf's own future final battle, even as Beowulf is lauded as a hero by all of Hrothgar's court and rewarded richly for defeating Grendel. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Grendel comes skulking to Heorot for the last time, and though the monster's hide is immune to weapons, Beowulf wrestles him with his bare hands and brings Grendel to his doom. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Unferth the Dane questions Beowulf's mettle, allowing Beowulf the chance to rebut with a list of his accomplishments. Hrothgar and his queen Wealhtheow host a feast for the Geats and wish them luck for the coming night. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

The Weather-Geats, led by Beowulf, sail to the land of the Spear-Danes to offer their aid against the ravages of Grendel. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).

Hwæt! Scyld Scefing is washed ashore on Denmark, where he begins a line of kings; his descendant Hrothgar builds a mighty meadhall that is soon terrorized by the monster Grendel. Intro/outro music: Awakening by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au (track modified for length).