Rights. Justice. Action. Books. (women to read)

Our March episode has been delayed. To mark International Women’s Day 2026, here’s a bonus episode in which Ben passes on recommendations of women to read if you like Terry Pratchett – mostly from listeners like you! You can find all the authors and podcasts mentioned in this episode below. The official home of International Women’s Day is unwomen.org – don’t let Google etc tell you otherwise. (00:02:41) The Grab Bag – authors recommended by one listener, in alphabetical order Charlie Jane Anders Margaret Atwood Lauren Buekes Kaliane Bradley Lois McMaster Bujold Stephanie Burgis C. J. Cherryh Robin Hobb India Holton Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Eleanor Janega N. K. Jemisin Karen Joy Fowler Tanith Lee R. A. MacAvoy C. L. Moore Audrey Niffenegger Andre Norton Rebecca Roanhorse Kristine Kathryn Rusch K. B. Spangler J. A. Stevens Sue Townsend Catherine Webb (00:20:05) Liz’s Picks in no particular order – and note you can also read Liz’s own writing! Agatha Christie (we’ll try and find the previous episode Ben mentions with the Christie recommendation, though it might be a bonus subscriber-only episode) Shirley Jackson Diana Wynne Jones (00:23:32) Pratchat Guests – also in alphabetical order Stephanie Convery (#Pratchat2, #Pratchat42, #Pratchat80) Claire G. Coleman (#Pratchat25) Karen K Carlisle (#Pratchat79) Kat Clay (#Pratchat92) Dr Kat Day (#Pratchat59) Freya Daly Sadgrove (#Pratchat76) Amy Gray (#Pratchat15) Amie Kaufman (#Pratchat9, #Pratchat66) Gabrielle Kent (#Pratchat74) – Ben forgot to include Gabrielle! Dr Laura Jean McKay (#Pratchat81) Marlee Jane Ward (#Pratchat13) Dr Tansy Rayner Roberts (#PratchatNA7, #Pratchat79, #Pratchat83) Rhianna Pratchett (#Pratchat74) Lili Wilkinson (#Pratchat20) Cal Wilson (#Pratchat1, #Pratchat3, #Pratchat50) (00:25:32) Ben’s Picks – ones also recommended by listeners first Naomi Novik Susannah Clarke C. M. Waggoner Tamsyn Muir (00:31:25) The Big Ones – authors recommended by multiple listeners, in ascending order of how many recommendations we got for them Emily Tesh Anne McCaffery Arkady Martine Jessica Townsend Mary Robinette Kowal Theodora Goss Ursula Le Guin Becky Chambers Seanan Maguire Martha Wells T. Kingfisher (00:44:38) Other Book Podcasts as sources of further recommendations PseudoPod (and, though Ben didn’t mention them, its Escape Artists stablemates: Escape Pod for sci-fi; PodCastle for fantasy; and Cast of Wonders for YA speculative fiction) Fiction Fans Trash or Treasure The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret (and Joanna Hagan’s own books) What Would Danbury Do? We’ll be back in April with #Pratchat93, our episode about The Folklore of Discworld – get your questions in now if you haven’t already! Want to help us get to the end of our six(ish) year mission and read every Pratchett book – and more? You can support us with a tip, or a subscription for as little as $2 a month, and that’s cuttin’ our own throats! See our Support Us page for details.