Mahmud El Sayed
@mahmudelsayed.bsky.social
Writer | SFF | Arabfuturist | BSFA | Codex | Debut THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY out in 2026 from Gollancz & Saga Press
Listening to some Ibrahim Maalouf today while writing.
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Listening to some Ibrahim Maalouf today while writing.
Nationalize the story! Unionize the characters! Workers of the book, unite!
December 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Nationalize the story! Unionize the characters! Workers of the book, unite!
Random writing advice from movies:
"Just try to make it sound like you wrote it that way on purpose."
The French Dispatch (2021)
"Just try to make it sound like you wrote it that way on purpose."
The French Dispatch (2021)
December 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Random writing advice from movies:
"Just try to make it sound like you wrote it that way on purpose."
The French Dispatch (2021)
"Just try to make it sound like you wrote it that way on purpose."
The French Dispatch (2021)
The REPUBLIC OF MEMORY is up on Goodreads. Why not give it an add if you are looking for linguistic shenanigans, anachronistic hardboiled detectives in sci-fi settings and stories about revolutions on generation ships.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
The Republic of Memory
The Safina is a city ship, two hundred years into its v…
www.goodreads.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The REPUBLIC OF MEMORY is up on Goodreads. Why not give it an add if you are looking for linguistic shenanigans, anachronistic hardboiled detectives in sci-fi settings and stories about revolutions on generation ships.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
Reposted by Mahmud El Sayed
Reading an early copy of Republic of Memory by @mahmudelsayed.bsky.social and enjoying it a lot. Really plays with language while also understanding how communities resist
November 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reading an early copy of Republic of Memory by @mahmudelsayed.bsky.social and enjoying it a lot. Really plays with language while also understanding how communities resist
Reposted by Mahmud El Sayed
Art is an act of hope. Writing is an act of rebellion. The world will always need more stories--from real human beings, not bullshit plagiarism machines. Every book is a love story from the author, and every reader is fighting the war against cruelty, ignorance, and hopelessness. We are fighting.
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Art is an act of hope. Writing is an act of rebellion. The world will always need more stories--from real human beings, not bullshit plagiarism machines. Every book is a love story from the author, and every reader is fighting the war against cruelty, ignorance, and hopelessness. We are fighting.
Stop! Who would access the notebook must answer me these questions three ere the notes he see.
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
November 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Stop! Who would access the notebook must answer me these questions three ere the notes he see.
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
Great piece about some of the orientalist framing in modern SFF and how this can exist even at the level of casting, costume design and soundtrack.
"Pay attention. The powers that be are an adaptive gang."
"Pay attention. The powers that be are an adaptive gang."
In this week’s @strangehorizons.bsky.social, one of my favourite pieces I’ve edited this year — on orientalism from Star Trek to Game of Thrones.
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence
Dragon fire on white bodies is sad. Dragon fire on not-Muslim bodies is cheered on the screen. We ache when the scimitar prows of not-Muslim ships cleave through a white human captain’s ship. But b…
strangehorizons.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Great piece about some of the orientalist framing in modern SFF and how this can exist even at the level of casting, costume design and soundtrack.
"Pay attention. The powers that be are an adaptive gang."
"Pay attention. The powers that be are an adaptive gang."
REPUBLIC OF MEMORY character name inspirations
November 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
REPUBLIC OF MEMORY character name inspirations
Is Pluribus cozy sci-fi?
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Is Pluribus cozy sci-fi?
Writing advice #2532: Take a nap. If you are writing multi-pov, it can be difficult to switch to a new pov. Go to sleep in one pov, wake up half an hour later in a different one.
November 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Writing advice #2532: Take a nap. If you are writing multi-pov, it can be difficult to switch to a new pov. Go to sleep in one pov, wake up half an hour later in a different one.
Just finished watching Pantheon and those last two episodes broke my brain (in a good way).
Greatest title card in a TV show ever has to be:
"117,649 Years Later"
Well played, TV show. Well played!
Greatest title card in a TV show ever has to be:
"117,649 Years Later"
Well played, TV show. Well played!
November 26, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Just finished watching Pantheon and those last two episodes broke my brain (in a good way).
Greatest title card in a TV show ever has to be:
"117,649 Years Later"
Well played, TV show. Well played!
Greatest title card in a TV show ever has to be:
"117,649 Years Later"
Well played, TV show. Well played!
Sami and Moiz is going viral and there's a guy on Reddit trying to chop chives perfectly. What a time to be alive!
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Sami and Moiz is going viral and there's a guy on Reddit trying to chop chives perfectly. What a time to be alive!
Very proud that THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY was picked as one of the SFF books to look out for in 2026 by The Bookseller (alongside some other bangers!). While you wait, there are already a few Arabfuturist books available in English that you should check out (1/4)
November 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very proud that THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY was picked as one of the SFF books to look out for in 2026 by The Bookseller (alongside some other bangers!). While you wait, there are already a few Arabfuturist books available in English that you should check out (1/4)
Mahmud says this, Mahmud says that, Mahmud says, "Insert some reactionary, anti-immigration, Reform light, performative cruelty."
I'm so sick of hearing my name on the news. Shabana Mahmood is a disgrace.
I'm so sick of hearing my name on the news. Shabana Mahmood is a disgrace.
November 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Mahmud says this, Mahmud says that, Mahmud says, "Insert some reactionary, anti-immigration, Reform light, performative cruelty."
I'm so sick of hearing my name on the news. Shabana Mahmood is a disgrace.
I'm so sick of hearing my name on the news. Shabana Mahmood is a disgrace.
Slooshing the musika from 'A Clockwork Orange,' a molti bona sinny even if it is a bit starry ahora, and scribing some slovs that are pure horrorshow.
November 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Slooshing the musika from 'A Clockwork Orange,' a molti bona sinny even if it is a bit starry ahora, and scribing some slovs that are pure horrorshow.
Scientist at SETI: Call everyone in! It’s finally happened. An extra-terrestrial message.
Other scientist: Are you sure it’s real?
Scientist: It’s some kind of code.We need cryptography!
(One month later)
Cryptographer: It begins, 'I’d like to help you publish your book…'
Other scientist: Are you sure it’s real?
Scientist: It’s some kind of code.We need cryptography!
(One month later)
Cryptographer: It begins, 'I’d like to help you publish your book…'
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Scientist at SETI: Call everyone in! It’s finally happened. An extra-terrestrial message.
Other scientist: Are you sure it’s real?
Scientist: It’s some kind of code.We need cryptography!
(One month later)
Cryptographer: It begins, 'I’d like to help you publish your book…'
Other scientist: Are you sure it’s real?
Scientist: It’s some kind of code.We need cryptography!
(One month later)
Cryptographer: It begins, 'I’d like to help you publish your book…'
Bubba this, Bubba that, Bubba Ho-Tep. Take a break and watch this Bruce Campbell classic which sees the "real" Elvis Presley and black JFK fighting an Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Bubba this, Bubba that, Bubba Ho-Tep. Take a break and watch this Bruce Campbell classic which sees the "real" Elvis Presley and black JFK fighting an Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
Reading 'Deliver me from Nowhere' about Springsteen's making of Nebraska.
"Sometimes the record or the film or the painting talks back to you. It's got its own voice, if you're listening." - Jon Landau
Sometimes, the book does, too.
"Sometimes the record or the film or the painting talks back to you. It's got its own voice, if you're listening." - Jon Landau
Sometimes, the book does, too.
November 13, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reading 'Deliver me from Nowhere' about Springsteen's making of Nebraska.
"Sometimes the record or the film or the painting talks back to you. It's got its own voice, if you're listening." - Jon Landau
Sometimes, the book does, too.
"Sometimes the record or the film or the painting talks back to you. It's got its own voice, if you're listening." - Jon Landau
Sometimes, the book does, too.
BBC News impartiality: Being hated by both the left and the right.
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
BBC News impartiality: Being hated by both the left and the right.
"A vibe."
Definition: Writing sci-fi hardboiled detective fiction while listening to Art Pepper.
Definition: Writing sci-fi hardboiled detective fiction while listening to Art Pepper.
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"A vibe."
Definition: Writing sci-fi hardboiled detective fiction while listening to Art Pepper.
Definition: Writing sci-fi hardboiled detective fiction while listening to Art Pepper.
My favourite example of onomatopoeia is from Sayed Darwish's famous Arabic song 'El Halwa Di.'
و الديك بينده كو كو كو كو بالفجرية
And the rooster crows, 'Kou kou kou kou' at dawn.
What is yours?
و الديك بينده كو كو كو كو بالفجرية
And the rooster crows, 'Kou kou kou kou' at dawn.
What is yours?
November 9, 2025 at 10:50 PM
My favourite example of onomatopoeia is from Sayed Darwish's famous Arabic song 'El Halwa Di.'
و الديك بينده كو كو كو كو بالفجرية
And the rooster crows, 'Kou kou kou kou' at dawn.
What is yours?
و الديك بينده كو كو كو كو بالفجرية
And the rooster crows, 'Kou kou kou kou' at dawn.
What is yours?
It's still just about Caturday and I wanted to share Mew's new perching spot. Listening to her pur while I write is very relaxing. (Wall notes have been redacted for 'nunya' reasons 🧐)
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It's still just about Caturday and I wanted to share Mew's new perching spot. Listening to her pur while I write is very relaxing. (Wall notes have been redacted for 'nunya' reasons 🧐)
Han Solo: Jaba, you're a wonderful human being.
Non-Star Wars nerd: That's a funny line.
Me, Star Wars nerd extraordinaire, gleefully rubbing my hands together: Welllllll you see in the original...
Non-Star Wars nerd: That's a funny line.
Me, Star Wars nerd extraordinaire, gleefully rubbing my hands together: Welllllll you see in the original...
November 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Han Solo: Jaba, you're a wonderful human being.
Non-Star Wars nerd: That's a funny line.
Me, Star Wars nerd extraordinaire, gleefully rubbing my hands together: Welllllll you see in the original...
Non-Star Wars nerd: That's a funny line.
Me, Star Wars nerd extraordinaire, gleefully rubbing my hands together: Welllllll you see in the original...
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy N7 Day! Now, I should go.
November 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy N7 Day! Now, I should go.