Mahmud El Sayed
@mahmudelsayed.bsky.social
Writer | SFF | Arabfuturist | BSFA | Codex | Debut THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY out in 2026 from Gollancz & Saga Press
Pinned
Arabfuturism is coming! It's THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY cover reveal day. Don't ask me which one I like more. They're both epic! (It's Gollancz on the left and Saga Press on the right 🫡)
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.
Wonderful to hold a translation of a story I wrote in my hands. 'Ihr Körper, das Schiff.' Respect to all the translators 🫡
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Wonderful to hold a translation of a story I wrote in my hands. 'Ihr Körper, das Schiff.' Respect to all the translators 🫡
Reposted by Mahmud El Sayed
✨It's Double Publication Day!✨
If you like science fantasy, folklore with a twist, digital ghosts, nature having opinions, and ghost cats/orcas living their best lives please do give these books a go?
geni.us/weallghostsPB
geni.us/saltorac
@solarisbooks.bsky.social
If you like science fantasy, folklore with a twist, digital ghosts, nature having opinions, and ghost cats/orcas living their best lives please do give these books a go?
geni.us/weallghostsPB
geni.us/saltorac
@solarisbooks.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:03 PM
✨It's Double Publication Day!✨
If you like science fantasy, folklore with a twist, digital ghosts, nature having opinions, and ghost cats/orcas living their best lives please do give these books a go?
geni.us/weallghostsPB
geni.us/saltorac
@solarisbooks.bsky.social
If you like science fantasy, folklore with a twist, digital ghosts, nature having opinions, and ghost cats/orcas living their best lives please do give these books a go?
geni.us/weallghostsPB
geni.us/saltorac
@solarisbooks.bsky.social
Turn the volume up! - New York Mayor-elect Zohan Mamdani 🫡
November 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Turn the volume up! - New York Mayor-elect Zohan Mamdani 🫡
That feeling when you leave your tomato stalks on your kitchen counter and then come back later and scare yourself.
November 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
That feeling when you leave your tomato stalks on your kitchen counter and then come back later and scare yourself.
From one Muslim socialist to another, crossing my fingers for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social in the New York mayoral election tomorrow. 🤞
November 3, 2025 at 6:48 PM
From one Muslim socialist to another, crossing my fingers for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social in the New York mayoral election tomorrow. 🤞
Randomly watching Terry Gilliam's Brazil and realising, oh, this is an Influence.
November 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Randomly watching Terry Gilliam's Brazil and realising, oh, this is an Influence.
I want more movies to have a character say, "I listened to a podcast once and they called it MOVIE NAME" like in A House of Dynamite.
"I listened to a podcast once and they called it... Snakes on a Plane."
"I listened to a podcast once and they called it... Snakes on a Plane."
November 2, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I want more movies to have a character say, "I listened to a podcast once and they called it MOVIE NAME" like in A House of Dynamite.
"I listened to a podcast once and they called it... Snakes on a Plane."
"I listened to a podcast once and they called it... Snakes on a Plane."
"Call me Ismail. Some lightyears ago–never mind how many–having little or no credits in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on-planet, I thought I would space-travel about a little and see this part of the universe."
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"Call me Ismail. Some lightyears ago–never mind how many–having little or no credits in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on-planet, I thought I would space-travel about a little and see this part of the universe."
Globalise the Moussaka! Eggplant for all!
October 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Globalise the Moussaka! Eggplant for all!
I'm not a Hollywood investor. I don't care whether movies make money or not. One Battle After Another was the best movie I've seen this year.
October 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I'm not a Hollywood investor. I don't care whether movies make money or not. One Battle After Another was the best movie I've seen this year.
(translating The Clash's 'London Calling' into Arabic and then back again)
London calls to the distant towns
War has been declared and battle descends
London calls to the underworld
Emerge from your treasuries oh you boys and girls
London calls to the distant towns
War has been declared and battle descends
London calls to the underworld
Emerge from your treasuries oh you boys and girls
October 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
(translating The Clash's 'London Calling' into Arabic and then back again)
London calls to the distant towns
War has been declared and battle descends
London calls to the underworld
Emerge from your treasuries oh you boys and girls
London calls to the distant towns
War has been declared and battle descends
London calls to the underworld
Emerge from your treasuries oh you boys and girls