Finn McLellan
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saranadosfiction.com
Finn McLellan
@saranadosfiction.com
3.5K followers 770 following 4.1K posts
Disabled transmasc butch fantasy writer in this world, stabby bastards of various stripes in sundry fictional ones.

Writing LGBTQ+ gaslamp fantasy (among other things) over at https://saranadosfiction.com/

@[email protected]
(they/he)
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saranadosfiction.com
Finn McLellan @saranadosfiction.com · Sep 28
Welcome, new folk!

Things I post:
- stuff about my ongoing queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy serial, Argentum in Aqua ( saranadosfiction.com/2023/12/11/a... )
- random musings about writing, larp, video games, disability, being transmasc, or all of the above
- occasionally, unfortunately, UK politics
Argentum in Aqua: An Introduction
ARGENTUM IN AQUA (Blood on the Snow, Silver in the Ashes, Fire in the Sky) All student magician Jonathan Fest wants is to keep his head down and finish out his first year of university without fail…
saranadosfiction.com
Reposted by Finn McLellan
themerl.bsky.social
The sessions are split between here in Reading and online. So, if you're interested but far away, we hope there'll be something here for you!
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
themerl.bsky.social
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?

We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.

Find out more:

collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
Two students look at objects in the reading room at The Museum of English Rural Life.
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
illdottore.bsky.social
No email from a library system stirs the imagination like a notice my scan is ready to download through WORLDCAT. The great cat that surrounds the world? That nuzzles the roots of the world-scratching-tree? The great world cat who is and was and shall be? That cat???
November 25, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
lauropea.bsky.social
today is the feast of St Catharine of Alexandria, patron of female scholars, so enjoy this painting of her shutting down a senior prof who treated her paper's question time as an opportunity to hold an impromptu paper of his own
painting of a standing crowned and haloed woman shushing an old guy holding forth at her, him and others sitting clearly in an audience
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
80 backers and 250% funded with 8 days to go!

Be part of the magic:

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/t...
The Chosen One Con
The Chosen One Con is the first book in the Lost in the Aether duology—a queer gaslamp fantasy of industrial magic in a world of designer enchantments and celebrity-branded potions from the author of ...
www.backerkit.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
reactiveashley.bsky.social
BREAKING: Same-sex marriages performed in EU member states that allow them must be recognised across the entire EU.

www.dw.com/en/eu-same-s...
Same-sex marriage must be recognized across EU, court rules – DW – 11/25/2025
European Union countries must recognize the lawful same-sex marriages of EU citizens conducted in other member states, the bloc's top court has ruled.
www.dw.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
aliettedebodard.com
OMG BEST LIST
Navigational Entanglements on this list of Weird Jellyfish books
reactormag.com/the-lore-and...
Thank you Judith Tarr!!!
(and thanks to K1 for the biologically accurate space jellyfish)
The Lore and the Weird Magic of the Jellyfish - Reactor
Even as sea creatures go, the jellyfish is especially alien...
reactormag.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
cherylmorgan.bsky.social
This is interesting. Amazon UK is selling the paperback of Fight Like A Girl #2 for £4.64, which is less than the ebook price and less than it costs from the printer. www.amazon.co.uk/Fight-Like-G...
Amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 AM
saranadosfiction.com
#WIPSnips | system

Into the climax of Silver in the Ashes, and Viola and Mortimer trying their damndest to deal with a ritual-gone-wrong

( saranadosfiction.com/2025/02/15/s... )
If they’d had three conscious magicians, it would’ve been a hell of a lot easier – in that case, they’d have been able to get all three of the secondary circles active at the same moment, which would balance the energy between them enough that none of them would be likely to overload. As it was, however, they’d have to get two circles closed as close together as possible, and then add the third into the system as fast as they could after that. Which was in no way shape or form being made any bloody easier by the fact that, thanks to the broken window, lighting the candles was only half the problem. “I don’t understand,” Mortimer growled, twisting his body awkwardly to try and shield the guttering wick of the one candle he’d managed to light so far. “The ones on the damn working are staying lit, so why not these ones?” “Hell if I know. Probably because candles aren’t *supposed* to stay lit when the wind’s like this.” “I don’t give a good fuck what they’re supposed to do. They need to stay lit, or all of this is for nothing.” His left shoulder twitched, as though he was trying to make some sort of gesture with the missing arm. “If we can’t light the candles, we can’t bleed off the energy. And if we can’t bleed off the energy, we’ll be trying to take this down from a standing start.” *And we both know that doesn’t end anywhere good.*
November 25, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
jebdarsh.bsky.social
More stories with bffs who aren't the same gender.

People can be besties with other genders and I love to see it. Deep friendships for the win

Link me your recs yo
November 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
pinknews.bsky.social
Trans Miss Universe contestant, Miss Vietnam Nguyen Huong Giang, has explained her moving reason for wearing a traditional Vietnamese outfit during the costume showcase.
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
willquinnart.bsky.social
Daily bunny no.3149 creates life in their image
A bunny has made a haphazard robot, in their garage. The robot is made out of household items like brooms and lawnmower parts, with a bucket for a head. It doesn't seem like it would work, but the bunny is still proud of their creation
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
andrewmueller.bsky.social
Posting this partially as service to fellow writers, partly to motivate myself to get it done today. November 30 is deadline to log your year's work at @alcs.co.uk, in return for which you *will* get free money, possibly quite startling quantities of it. If you haven't signed up, do. www.alcs.co.uk
ALCS
www.alcs.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
voicesofvalhoon.bsky.social
My birthday is this friday! Which means my gift to you is that Songs of Broken Bells is on sale for the whole week!

Universal Link: buy.bookfunnel.com/rktaq3muij
Payhip: payhip.com/b/hKG10
Itch: voicesofvalhoon.itch.io/songs-of-bro...
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
saranadosfiction.com
You know a series/'verse has got into your head when you start daydreaming about how your characters would work in that universe.

This brought to you by the realisation that Sabbat as a mindship is a *terrifying* idea.

(Why yes, I am rereading @aliettedebodard.com's Xuya books, how'd you guess?)
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
polenth.bsky.social
On party food/drink notes, alcohol isn't the only potential issue. Especially in sugar tax countries, make sure you have something that doesn't contain sweeteners. Things that were okay last year might have sweeteners now. Things you don't expect can add them (pickled beetroot).
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
cmrosens.com
In Praise of Non-Anglocentric Frankensteins

In this Longread, I compare and contrast my two favourite adaptations of Mary Shelley's novel - Del Toro's 2025 version, and Irmak's 2023 version. Let's talk about Mexican and Turkish Frankensteins! (Featured image: a book titled Frankenstein ya da…
In Praise of Non-Anglocentric Frankensteins
In this Longread, I compare and contrast my two favourite adaptations of Mary Shelley's novel - Del Toro's 2025 version, and Irmak's 2023 version. Let's talk about Mexican and Turkish Frankensteins! (Featured image: a book titled Frankenstein ya da Modern Prometheus, which is the Turkish edition).
cmrosens.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
clericofthevoid.bsky.social
Just a heads up—I will be doing paperback, hardcover and ebook sales for Black Friday through Cyber Monday 👁️✨👁️✨👁️✨
clericofthevoid.bsky.social Aubrey 💖🏳️‍🌈 @clericofthevoid.bsky.social · Feb 13
✨🌑🌸NAME HER HOLY🌸🌑✨

My sapphic space fantasy book releases TODAY!

Thank you to everyone for all the kind reviews and pre-orders, the love and support on this book has been *unreal* 🥺💖 love you all! Links are all below—

#Booksky 🌈📚
November 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
lizzieblackwood.bsky.social
If you've been waiting to pick up Name Her Holy, now's a great time to get it! If you've already read it and know some reader friends who would eat it up, now's a great time to pick it up as a gift!
clericofthevoid.bsky.social Aubrey 💖🏳️‍🌈 @clericofthevoid.bsky.social · 20h
Just a heads up—I will be doing paperback, hardcover and ebook sales for Black Friday through Cyber Monday 👁️✨👁️✨👁️✨
clericofthevoid.bsky.social Aubrey 💖🏳️‍🌈 @clericofthevoid.bsky.social · Feb 13
✨🌑🌸NAME HER HOLY🌸🌑✨

My sapphic space fantasy book releases TODAY!

Thank you to everyone for all the kind reviews and pre-orders, the love and support on this book has been *unreal* 🥺💖 love you all! Links are all below—

#Booksky 🌈📚
November 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
warframe.com
We're setting the stage for The Old Peace with our final Devstream of 2025 on November 28 at 2 p.m. ET!

Catch the launch date reveal, a Tauron Strike showcase, a deep dive into the new Perita Rebellion game mode and more at twitch.tv/warframe.
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
animalphotorefs.bsky.social
Photos of the Day: please reboot RedWolf.exe

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).
A red wolf sitting in grass, with its head tilted back so its neck and skull are laying alongside a vertical fence-post. Its ears are floppy and its teeth are showing, giving it a silly expression. A red wolf flopped over backwards in the grass so its head is completely upside down A red wolf standing in grass with its butt in the air, nose up, and a silly expression. Another red wolf stands to the right of it, looking on with no expression Two red wolves interacting in grass. The bottom one is mid roll-over, legs akimbo, making a silly face. The one above it appears to be turning its head in response
November 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
georgepenney.bsky.social
For any of the lovely Nelson Tasman people here.

Our launch celebration is on the 27th at Quiet Dog Gallery, 5:30.
All warmly welcome.
There will be chill tunes by DJ You Glow Grrrl (MC Kyla)
There will be fairy bread. (Just because.)
There will be friendly faces because this place is amazing.
You're looking at a book launch celebration poster for the book Tiny Moments of Joy, which will be held at Quiet Dog Gallery, 27th November, 5:30pm, All warmly welcome. It's done on a theme of deep pink and white with a bit of orange. There are some fern decorations. The book cover, which has ferns and is a deep pink is there. The font is serif. The vibe of this poster is inviting. If you're in the Nelson Tasman region, you're looking at this and thinking, what is a slight rain forecast for Thursday. I will come out anyway! Even if I have put on my comfy pants! I will still come out. Because there will be fairy bread and awesome people to chat to and with luck the sun may even come out!
November 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
caseyexplosion.bsky.social
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
scalzi.com
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
laurenbeukes.com Lauren Beukes @laurenbeukes.com · 1d
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
A profession struggling to sustain itself - The Society of Authors
ALCS report on author incomes shows 60% drop in median incomes since 2006
societyofauthors.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Finn McLellan
sillysyntax.bsky.social
I'd appreciate shares of this as it is free and you know Caribbean SFF is my thing.
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM