For my own notes, in Retro Hugo nominations season; and maybe yours too: fifteen sff novels by women, and two by writers of color, first published (or first published in English, or first published in the USA) in 1942. First ten listed in descending Goodreads popularity, with links to Goodreads pages; next five are not on Goodreads so listed in random order. NB I have not checked length eligibility.
- The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle (Goodreads)
- Gobbolino The Witch's Cat, by Ursula Moray Williams (Goodreads)
- Twig, by Elizabeth Orton Jones (Goodreads)
- Henrietta's House / The Blue Hills, by Elizabeth Goudge (Goodreads)
- Eyes of Horus, by Joan Grant (Goodreads)
- Follow The Drum, by Andre Norton (Goodreads)
- Grand Canyon, by Vita Sackville-West (Goodreads)
- Iron and Gold / The Fair Woman, by Hilda Vaughan (Goodreads)
- Dreadful Hollow, by Irina Karlova (Helen Mary Clamp) (Goodreads)
- Then We Shall Hear Singing: A Fantasy in C Major, by Storm Jameson (Goodreads)
- Moloch, by Marjorie Livingston (Encyclopedia of Fantasy)
- City of a Hundred Gates, by Isobel Stone (Heritage Auctions)
- The Fetch / The Spectral Bride, by "Joseph Shearing" [Marjorie Bowen] (online)
- The Pink Egg, by Polly Boyden (Lorne Bair)
- Village of Glass, by Frances Frost (Kirkus Reviews)
Also two sff novels first published / first published in English in 1942 by non-white authors:
I somehow missed your initial post on this, but have gone back to read it now. The private sector one does sound interesting! What would the role be, exactly?