THE OUTSTATION, a Short Story by W Somerset Maugham

"The Outstation" by W. Somerset Maugham tells the story of Mr. Warburton, a snobbish British Resident in a remote Borneo outpost, and his new assistant, Mr. Cooper, who is brash and disrespectful. Warburton, accustomed to the isolation and respect from the native Dyaks, finds Cooper's demeanor and attitudes jarring. The tension between the two men escalates due to their differing personalities and backgrounds. Despite Warburton's efforts to maintain decorum and his own pride, Cooper's provocations lead to increasing friction.
won't reveal more here.

[@CarolWoodhouse-w2s]

Brilliant. Thank you. All of these stories are a joy!

[@donnacousparis2781]

I am homebound and thoroughly enjoy these stories.

[@kazneasham9110]

Just lovely to hear descriptions..... Leaves your mind to imagine the area and the outcome 😁

[@nancyallen628]

Thank you for this. It seemed odd to hear an American accent but I did enjoy the story

[@luzvaldes1030]

Another Somerset M gem!

[@olafslartibartfast5248]

great story!

[@scepisle4970]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@tipigrrl]

What a well-crafted and dark psycho-thtillerr

[@samsum3738]

All situations resolve themselves sooner or later .

[@mindbirdNEADB]

"Warburton" has taken a real beating , from both Maugham and James.

[@kazneasham9110]

Perhaps an image in the mind is somewhat better than a visual image 😊

[@JohnMilonas-pg9xz]

Maybe that's why they call it Theater of the mind.

[@Mijicals]

Especially on weed. The best🤣

[@praveenb9048]

Be nice to have some info about the thumbnail paintings...

[@peterswires8439]

I think they're generated by AI.

[@patriciamariani9417]

Please, reading Maugham with an American accent😢

[@stellaburnell7947]

I agree - an educated English accent would be preferable 😊

[@bengila]

@@stellaburnell7947no thanks Pommie

[@motorcyclelad]

And a super homosexual voice at that, (not that there’s anything wrong with that)

[@mindbirdNEADB]

It's AI.

[@ginagabriel2613]

🙏🙏👏👏👏👏💕

[@jasonsurrette76]

Are the glitches subliminal messages? Just wondering

[@kellycasperhanson4426]

I think it's being read by an AI program, so it causes weird pronunciations.

[@AlgorithmEngagementEntity]

Yep. Great stories, though

[@58christiansful]

It should be an ENGLISH voice of the better class reading this one, rather than an American - as indeed most of Maugham should be read.

[@Shineon83]

😂🤣🤗

[@joealexandra7185]

​@@58christiansful I can only laugh -- this is the sort of snobbery that is being examined in the story, as indeed anyone of the better class would know, and never say.

[@BenGreggSweden]

Are you using AI to read these back to us? So strange to hear it read with an American accent now after having listened to all of the previous ones with the same British accent.

[@autoignore7558]

As an American I can’t listen to this voice when visualizing this setting and characters

[@glendabarton1914]

"lake" instead of "take"?

[@kaf890890]

And “while” for “white”, many times. It’s the AI, I guess.

[@helendynes2891]

Is a criss a cross? 🤔

[@veritas6335]

It’s difficult to understand the political structure of these places. Are they military outposts? Who are the people who seem to be some sort of board of directors? I thought they were rubber plantations. - privately owned. But they seem to be government run. Yes? No? Maugham takes it for granted that his readers understand what a “station” is and how all these English people get there. It’s very confusing, only made worse because the story is narrated by an American-accented voice. Very. confusing and impossible to understand a hundred years later when no introductory information or preface is given.

[@beverleybrown4832]

It was the British colonial system. The stations are run by the British. They act as local government in various arrangements with the local institutions as, in this story, the police.

[@The06201980]

The AI narration on the couple of yours I’ve listened to have been off more than usual

[@Edo9River]

I think, on reflection, that one could become a bit tired of Somerset Maugham.

[@nancyallen628]

I am sorry you are tired of Somerset Maugham. This story is not read by him, which can be disappointing. I have read his books since 1960 and love it when I can listen to him speak

[@JudeNance]

Never. You do have a choice to not listen if you don't like it.

[@अस्मिरीति]

Be tired of listening to these superbly written stories? Well, we can agree to differ. I for one can't wait to listen to the next one. Each story has so much to hold us listeners spellbound until the end

[@Edo9River]

I respect his talent and the craftsmanship absolutely But feel the boundaries of the society and it's inhabitants aren't all represented, even after 65 stories 😢