Content Warning. This story features depictions of cannibalism, suicide, and starvation. If this is

going to cause you problems, please feel free to skip this story. We won't be offended. We'll

have another one for you next week.

Sudapod. Episode 963 for February 21st, 2025, Mavka by A. D. Sway, narrated by Yelina Crane, hosted by Scott Campbell, audio by Chelsea Davis.

Hey, everyone, hope you're doing okay.

I'm Scott, assistant editor at Sudapod, your host for this week.

And I'm excited to tell you that this week we have Mavka by A.D. Sway.

This story is the Sudapod original.

A.D. Sway is a Ukrainian-born, queer, disabled science fiction writer and the author of The Dragonfly Gambit. She is a failed academic, retired fencer, and coffee enthusiast.

Her short fiction has appeared in Auger, Fusion Fragment, Havenspec, and other venues.

When not wrangling her two dogs, you can find her on every social media platform at

The Sway Way.

Your narrator is Yelena Crane.

Yelena Crane is a Ukrainian-slash-Soviet-born and U.S.-based writer, incorporating influences

from Borsh to Burgers into her work.

With an advanced degree in the sciences, she has followed her passion from mad scientist

to science fiction writer. Her stories often explore the boundaries of technology, the complexities

of human nature, and the consequences of our actions.

Elena's published in DSF, Nature Futures, Third Flatiron, Dark Matter Inc. elsewhere.

She is an assistant editor at Flash Fiction Online.

And now we have a story for you.

We promise you, it's true.

...