Podcastle, Episode 918 for Tuesday the 18th of November 2025.

Waterways by Deanna Deema, read by Madovi and produced by Eric Valdez.

Rated PG with content notes for self-harm and coercive control. Good morning, good day, good afternoon and good evening,

and welcome to Podcastle, the Flying Castle of Fantasy Fiction.

I'm your host, Matt Dovey, and it really is a privilege to present today's story for you.

Waterways by Deanna DeMa, which I'm thrilled to say is a podcast to present today's story for you. Waterways by Diana Deema, which I'm thrilled

to say is a podcastle original that we're showing to the world for the first time. I don't often

get a chance to read in the slush pile anymore. I'd probably spend three to four hours a week

reading, writing, recording and editing this host spot, which is the time I'd

have spent reading submissions in the past. But I was away for work a lot this summer with

not much else to do whilst sat in the hotel bar, so when I dove for the first time in a while

and discovered this pearl, which evidently I described in such breathless tones of praise

that Devon asked if I'd like to narrate it too,

which, yes, yes I would.

So, here I am, talking at you for the next 25 to 30 minutes, hoping this one moves you

like it did me.

The Anadema is a writer living in Canada.

A speculative fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Corrio

magazine, The Deadlands and elsewhere. You can find her online at www.deanadema.com.

Your narrator, of course, Semwa. It's been nearly four years of my hosting. You know who I am by now, possibly better than I know myself.

In which case, I write your own bio for me, I guess.

And now pay attention, for our tale is about to begin, and you need to remember all the lessons that were taught you.

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