Comedian and quizmaster Richard McKenzie returns to vie with Liz and Ben for control of the most odorous city on the Disc, as they discuss Martin Wallace’s 2011 board game Discworld: Ankh-Morpork. The Patrician has gone missing! This leaves a huge power vacuum in Ankh-Morpork, and several of the most powerful figures in the city immediately start jostling for control. Lords, criminals and vampires position their minions in every district, each on their own path to power - and getting in each others’ way. Ankh-Morpork can only remain leaderless for so long - and there will be only one winner... The first of the later Discworld board games, and generally considered by fans the best, Discworld: Ankh-Morpork (or just Ankh-Morpork) is a medium-to-light complexity game designed by Martin Wallace and published by Treefrog Games. Players take turns to play cards, following symbols and written instructions to alter the state of a map of Ankh-Morpork. Each card represents a character or location from the city, wonderfully illustrated by Peter Dennis. If the cards run out, then points are added up - but more likely, one of the players will achieve the secret objective of their “personality”, a hidden role which gives them one of five different victory conditions. Unfortunately the game was only available for five years before Treefrog lost the Discworld license, but it still holds pride of place in many fan collections - and goes for a pretty penny in the secondhand market. Especially the collector’s editions! Have you had a chance to play Discworld: Ankh-Morpork? Does it capture the feel of the Discworld, or the city of Ankh-Morpork? Do you have a favourite card? What’s missing from the books that you’d love to see added in? And now we’ve covered all the Discworld board games, do you have a favourite? Or an idea for a new game? Play your cards right by joining our online conversation, using the hashtag #Pratchat87. Guest Richard McKenzie (he/him) has been a comedian in the Melbourne scene for around twenty-five years. As well as writing and performing many solo storytelling shows, he’s supported big names like Adam Hills and Ross Noble, written and performed sketches and plays with WATSON and the Anarchist Guild Social Committee, and partnered with Ben for nerd comedy, including the Dungeons & Dragons-themed improvised show Dungeon Crawl. As of July 2025 you’ll find Richard hosting trivia at The College Lawn in Prahran on Wednesday evenings from 7 PM, and at The Cornish Arms in Brunswick on Thursday evenings (7 PM, general knowledge) and Sunday afternoons (2 PM, pop culture). Liz’s upcoming event to which psychology is relevant is the Sci-Fight comedy science debate for National Science Week, with the topic “Psychology is a Freud”. It’s on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 in Brunswick; find out more and book tickets via the Sci-Fight website. You can find episode notes and errata on our web site. Next month we’re back on the books - and we’re doing two at once! We’ll be discussing a couple of Discworld companion volumes, namely Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch by Rhianna Pratchett and Gabrielle Kent, and Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld by Paul Kidby - who also illustrated the Tiffany Aching book! Get your questions in via email (chat@pratchatpodcast.com), or sling them at us on social media using the hashtag #Pratchat88. Do listen to our interview with Rhianna and Gabrielle first - we’ll be avoiding doubling up on questions we asked them!

Imagination is real.Support the network and gain access to over fifty bonus episodes by becoming a patron on ⁠Patreon⁠.Want more science fiction in your life? Check out ⁠The Gene Wolfe Literary Podcast⁠.Love Neil Gaiman? Join us on ⁠Hanging Out With the Dream King: A Neil Gaiman Podcast⁠.Lovecraft? Poe? Check out ⁠Elder Sign: A Weird Fiction Podcast⁠.Trekker? Join us on ⁠Lower Decks: A Star Trek Podcast⁠.Want to know more about the Middle Ages? Subscribe to ⁠Agnus: The Late Antique, Medieval, and Byzantine Podcast⁠.

June 2025 Book Club:  We’re celebrating our 100th episode by checking out the anthology “Decalog” published March of 1994 and edited by Mark Stammers and Stephen James Walker.  It features 10 short stories with a variety of Doctors and Companions.  Happy reading!   Check out the prequel short story to “The Story & the Engine” called “What I Did On My Holidays By Omo Esosa” written by episode writer Inua Ellams.   Special thanks to Kenny Smith for performing the dramatic reading.  Please check out his podcasts Pieces of Eighth and The Power of 3.   Please help other Doctor Who fans find our show - by leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts or your podcatcher of choice. Submit your comments via email… “who knows,” we may end up reading your feedback on the podcast!   BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/andwbcpodcast.bsky.social  Email: ANDWBCPodcast@gmail.com   Facebook: http://facebook.com/allnewdoctorwhobookclub   Twitter: @ANDWBCPodcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DoctorWhoBookClub  

Bethanie is joined by author Abigail Grace to discuss the Stars Above short story After Sunshine Passes By. After Sunshine Passes By SummaryCress's Exile: The story follows Cress, a young Lunar, who is exiled to a satellite orbiting Earth.Lunar Mission: The Lunars, led by Queen Levana, send Cress to collect information about those on Earth     who threaten Lunar and its inhabitants, including Cinder and her crew.Cress's Perspective: The novella focuses on Cress's perspective as she navigates her isolation and the mission assigned to her, revealing her experiences and the events that lead to her life on the satellite.Connection to "Cress": "After Sunshine Passes By" serves as a prequel to "Cress," providing context and background for the events that unfold in the main novel. This podcast is hosted by Bethanie Finger and produced by Three Sisters Podcast Network. Logo Art was created by Cosmic Nova Flare and the Intro/Outro music was composed by Emma Povvo.

From Murderbot to Sense and Sensiblity, what are our favourite adaptations from books that we love? Inspired by the recent Apple adaptation of Martha Wells sci-fi novels The Murderbot Diaries, this episode is a celebration of the world of books to film. From the joy of seeing a book that we love brought to the big screen, to the pitfalls when things don't match up to our expectations, we're considering the hits and misses, and passing on our recommendations. You'll be hearing from pod regulars Laura Potter and Phil Chaffee, plus we meet Philippa Donovan, a literary scout to the film and TV world. Philippa founded her consultancy Smart Quill to bridge the gap between agents, publishers and authors around the world. She’s giving us the inside track on the world of book to film. All that, plus a peek into the future and the upcoming projects we've earmarked as ones to watch. Interview Listen to the full interview with literary scout Philippa Donovan here [TO COME] Patreon Come and listen to the episodes ad-free over on Patreon, plus The Book Club Review Weekend, join our chat threads where you’ll be able to swap book recommendations with Kate and other Book Club Review listeners and if you want to come and talk books with Kate in person at the higher tier you can join the pod's monthly book club.  Head to Patreon.com/thebookclubreview for all the benefits and how to sign up.  Booklist All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Book 1) Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Book 2) Room by Emma Donoghue Normal People by Sally Rooney The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Sparks The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks Exhalations by Ted Chiang (the film Arrival is based on Story of Your Life) Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger Rivals by Jilly Cooper The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman Children of Men by P. D. James Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami Barn Burning by William Falkner Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner Hot Milk by Deborah Levy The Friend by Sigrid Nunez People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn Everything I Know About Love andGood Material by Dolly Alderton Universality by Natasha Brown Theory and Practice by Michelle de Kretser Transcript Head over to the episode page at thebookclubreview.co.uk for a full transcript

Time for more Science Fiction! Pierce and Justin talk Ursula K Le Guin and her sci-fi/philosophical novella, The Lathe of Heaven.▶ We are available on all major podcasting platforms and YouTube!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustAnyPod▶ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!Twitter: @NotJustAnyPod▶ FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK!TikTok: @NotJustAnyPod

Our Patron Book Club joins us to discuss Jack Vance's "Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden", incorrect uses of words or advanced neologisms, having less reading time in our adult lives, feeling like anything can happen, the Brothers Grimm, worlds where horrific things happen, toxic masculinity, Tolkien's influence, creating a sense of peril in combat, attacking the character sheet, the Dying Earth setting, proto-Arthurian stories, and much more!

We found a new quiz that gives a book recommendation.  Are you going to like this one? Listen and find out if it's a quiz for you. Have you taken any online quizzes that we need to know about?  Let us know.  

In this episode of World Book Club, Harriet talks with one of the world’s best-loved sci-fi and fantasy authors, the four time Hugo award winner N.K Jemisin. Which of her plethora of books did we choose? Her 10th novel, and love letter to New York, ‘The City We Became’.The story takes place in a world in which major cities become sentient, living beings. After New York is attacked by an otherworldly enemy, five people, champions representing each of the city’s five boroughs, must band together to save the city, but also humanity itself.Rich with sharp social commentary, vibrant characters, and breathtaking world-building, it’s a gripping, imaginative tale of identity, belonging, and the power of unity in the face of otherworldly, eldritch chaos.N.K Jemisin will be answering questions from our World Book Club - including how she created characters that embody each of New York’s five boroughs, what makes a city ‘alive’, and how she confronted, and subverted, Lovecraftian tropes to create the enemy of all humanity, the Woman in White.Presented by Harriett Gilbert. Produced by Elizabeth Ann Duffy.Photo Credit - Laura Hanifin

Send us a textWendy and Amy discuss a beloved middle-grade read, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. We talked about friendship, grief and gender roles. We also explored how a book like this can help when tackling tough topics with young readers. Pop a cork to classics that never get old!Ingredients for Today's Slow Gin and Blackberry Sparkle Pairing:1 fl. oz. slow ginBlackberriesEnough chilled prosecco to fill the glass.Add the sloe gin to a tumbler along with a blackberry or two before topping it up with prosecco. Links from Show:Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksKatherine Paterson's website.