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!

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