Bryn Hammond
@brynhammond.bsky.social
| Writer. S&S: New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine; Goatskin novellas Waste Flowers, What Rough Beast? Historical fiction: Amgalant on Tchingis Khan & 12thC Mongols
| She/her 🌈Queer. Australia
| https://amgalant.com / buy direct https://payhip.com/Amgalant
| She/her 🌈Queer. Australia
| https://amgalant.com / buy direct https://payhip.com/Amgalant
Pinned
Bryn Hammond
@brynhammond.bsky.social
· Sep 9
On the blog: What Rough Beast?
amgalant.com/what-rough-b...
About my new Goatskin novella. With an excerpt, a reading of the first chapter, an interview at Black Gate
amgalant.com/what-rough-b...
About my new Goatskin novella. With an excerpt, a reading of the first chapter, an interview at Black Gate
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
63 of 200
Silver headdress decorated with two dragons and a flaming jewel. China, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century
Silver headdress decorated with two dragons and a flaming jewel. China, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century
November 13, 2025 at 7:33 PM
63 of 200
Silver headdress decorated with two dragons and a flaming jewel. China, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century
Silver headdress decorated with two dragons and a flaming jewel. China, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Part 56 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
A pair of gold earrings from the Akhalgori hoard. 5th century BC
A pair of gold earrings from the Akhalgori hoard. 5th century BC
November 13, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Part 56 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
A pair of gold earrings from the Akhalgori hoard. 5th century BC
A pair of gold earrings from the Akhalgori hoard. 5th century BC
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Part 49 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
Elephant armour from 17th century India. It’s made up of 5,840 plates
Elephant armour from 17th century India. It’s made up of 5,840 plates
November 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Part 49 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
Elephant armour from 17th century India. It’s made up of 5,840 plates
Elephant armour from 17th century India. It’s made up of 5,840 plates
Proud of my profile of JAS in New Edge Sword & Sorcery #3
35) Jessica Amanda Salmonson deserves more kudos.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
November 13, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Proud of my profile of JAS in New Edge Sword & Sorcery #3
This is me: take Sword & Sorcery, apply your passion
21) Find what you love and apply it to your Sword & Sorcery.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 AM
This is me: take Sword & Sorcery, apply your passion
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
35) Jessica Amanda Salmonson deserves more kudos.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
November 12, 2025 at 3:44 PM
35) Jessica Amanda Salmonson deserves more kudos.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
As a writer, Salmonson's work is definitely a continuation of the WEIRD TALES tradition, including historical adventure fiction, S&S, horror, weird fiction, & poetry. Sadly, her peak of influence has passed, & not enough people read her now.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
27) Sword & Sorcery can be punk.
Not necessarily in the "let's add -punk to a word and call it a new genre" sense, but in the "let's take the attitude of critically reassessing this old thing and finding new uses that fit the needs of contemporary audiences" sense. See also: CONANN.
Not necessarily in the "let's add -punk to a word and call it a new genre" sense, but in the "let's take the attitude of critically reassessing this old thing and finding new uses that fit the needs of contemporary audiences" sense. See also: CONANN.
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
27) Sword & Sorcery can be punk.
Not necessarily in the "let's add -punk to a word and call it a new genre" sense, but in the "let's take the attitude of critically reassessing this old thing and finding new uses that fit the needs of contemporary audiences" sense. See also: CONANN.
Not necessarily in the "let's add -punk to a word and call it a new genre" sense, but in the "let's take the attitude of critically reassessing this old thing and finding new uses that fit the needs of contemporary audiences" sense. See also: CONANN.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
21) Find what you love and apply it to your Sword & Sorcery.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
21) Find what you love and apply it to your Sword & Sorcery.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
You do not need a doctorate in Welsh history to write S&S set in Wales or inspired by Wales. But the knowledge of history can inform your fiction, and nobody can say that Katherine Kurtz' Deryni saga was less effective for her research.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
9) Good sword & sorcery does not confine itself to limitations of genre.
Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, & Fritz Leiber borrowed left- and right-handedly from both fantasy and science-fiction. Conan explored cities lit with radium-gems; Jirel of Joiry encounters aliens; Fahfrd went to Spacedock.
Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, & Fritz Leiber borrowed left- and right-handedly from both fantasy and science-fiction. Conan explored cities lit with radium-gems; Jirel of Joiry encounters aliens; Fahfrd went to Spacedock.
November 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
9) Good sword & sorcery does not confine itself to limitations of genre.
Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, & Fritz Leiber borrowed left- and right-handedly from both fantasy and science-fiction. Conan explored cities lit with radium-gems; Jirel of Joiry encounters aliens; Fahfrd went to Spacedock.
Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, & Fritz Leiber borrowed left- and right-handedly from both fantasy and science-fiction. Conan explored cities lit with radium-gems; Jirel of Joiry encounters aliens; Fahfrd went to Spacedock.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
7) Michael Moorcock deserves a statue.
Dude is still alive and writing. Whichever town he's adopted should build a black sword about thirty feet high engraved with runes that casts a shadow like an enormous sundial counting down to the end of days.
Dude is still alive and writing. Whichever town he's adopted should build a black sword about thirty feet high engraved with runes that casts a shadow like an enormous sundial counting down to the end of days.
November 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
7) Michael Moorcock deserves a statue.
Dude is still alive and writing. Whichever town he's adopted should build a black sword about thirty feet high engraved with runes that casts a shadow like an enormous sundial counting down to the end of days.
Dude is still alive and writing. Whichever town he's adopted should build a black sword about thirty feet high engraved with runes that casts a shadow like an enormous sundial counting down to the end of days.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
1) More women should write sword & sorcery.
Please, for the love of Crom, save us from the men's rights douchebros that try to turn hardboiled fantasy into some testosterone-driven epic of macho bullshit.
Please, for the love of Crom, save us from the men's rights douchebros that try to turn hardboiled fantasy into some testosterone-driven epic of macho bullshit.
November 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
1) More women should write sword & sorcery.
Please, for the love of Crom, save us from the men's rights douchebros that try to turn hardboiled fantasy into some testosterone-driven epic of macho bullshit.
Please, for the love of Crom, save us from the men's rights douchebros that try to turn hardboiled fantasy into some testosterone-driven epic of macho bullshit.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Melville has the same gravitas found in sword and sorcery.
November 11, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Melville has the same gravitas found in sword and sorcery.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
chromis(?) in london
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
chromis(?) in london
Current read.
'French feminist journal La Fronde, at its height, had a circulation of 100,000 copies a day... one of the greatest talents of that enclave being May Armand Blanc (1874-1904)... the most extreme and the most relentless of the female Symbolists.'
www.snugglybooks.co.uk/the-last-ren...
'French feminist journal La Fronde, at its height, had a circulation of 100,000 copies a day... one of the greatest talents of that enclave being May Armand Blanc (1874-1904)... the most extreme and the most relentless of the female Symbolists.'
www.snugglybooks.co.uk/the-last-ren...
May Armand Blanc - The Last Rendezvous | Snuggly Books
As love stories go, the two offered here, firmly planted in the field of Decadent Symbolism, are certainly among the most intense in literature, written as they are with a variety of creative energy t...
www.snugglybooks.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Current read.
'French feminist journal La Fronde, at its height, had a circulation of 100,000 copies a day... one of the greatest talents of that enclave being May Armand Blanc (1874-1904)... the most extreme and the most relentless of the female Symbolists.'
www.snugglybooks.co.uk/the-last-ren...
'French feminist journal La Fronde, at its height, had a circulation of 100,000 copies a day... one of the greatest talents of that enclave being May Armand Blanc (1874-1904)... the most extreme and the most relentless of the female Symbolists.'
www.snugglybooks.co.uk/the-last-ren...
In memory of free education. Fees were re-introduced in my Honours year; my department felt strongly enough against this to cover those fees for Honours students.
How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
By Prof George Williams
"New students will b saddled w/ the consequences of Job Ready Graduates for the long term. Every day we delay a fix is a bad day for...students"
theconversation.com/how-did-aust...
By Prof George Williams
"New students will b saddled w/ the consequences of Job Ready Graduates for the long term. Every day we delay a fix is a bad day for...students"
theconversation.com/how-did-aust...
How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
Thanks to the Job Ready Graduates scheme, an arts degree today will cost over $50,000. How have five decades of government policy taken us from free education to this?
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
In memory of free education. Fees were re-introduced in my Honours year; my department felt strongly enough against this to cover those fees for Honours students.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Today is the OFFICIAL publication day for TEXTILE SHAKESPEARE! Please indulge me: I want to say a little (perhaps rather a lot) about it and share my acknowledgements - and a discount code! Appropriately,🧵1/10
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Today is the OFFICIAL publication day for TEXTILE SHAKESPEARE! Please indulge me: I want to say a little (perhaps rather a lot) about it and share my acknowledgements - and a discount code! Appropriately,🧵1/10
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Reminder:
Please submit recommendations by Nov. 14th for the Otherwise Award jury to consider! Nominate works of speculative fiction - #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and more - that expand or explore our notions of gender:
otherwiseaward.org/award/2025-o...
Please submit recommendations by Nov. 14th for the Otherwise Award jury to consider! Nominate works of speculative fiction - #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and more - that expand or explore our notions of gender:
otherwiseaward.org/award/2025-o...
2025 Otherwise Award Recommendations « Otherwise Award
Recommend works here for the Otherwise Award jurors to consider!
otherwiseaward.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reminder:
Please submit recommendations by Nov. 14th for the Otherwise Award jury to consider! Nominate works of speculative fiction - #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and more - that expand or explore our notions of gender:
otherwiseaward.org/award/2025-o...
Please submit recommendations by Nov. 14th for the Otherwise Award jury to consider! Nominate works of speculative fiction - #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and more - that expand or explore our notions of gender:
otherwiseaward.org/award/2025-o...
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
November 8, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
I read By Marsh and by Moor (Marsh and Moor, #1) by Annick Trent
K.J. Charles's review of By Marsh and by Moor (Marsh and Moor, #1)
That rare thing (except for Annick Trent, whose speciality this is), a historical romance starring only working people. This one has an ostler on the run from London, and a carter who's done five year...
www.goodreads.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I read By Marsh and by Moor (Marsh and Moor, #1) by Annick Trent
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
Queer characters are still commonly written to have tragic love stories. They’re isolated from queer community. Their relationships are framed through a heteronormative lens—monogamous, suburban, domestic assimilation. It reinforces a narrow emotional vocabulary for queer life.
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Queer characters are still commonly written to have tragic love stories. They’re isolated from queer community. Their relationships are framed through a heteronormative lens—monogamous, suburban, domestic assimilation. It reinforces a narrow emotional vocabulary for queer life.
This third particularly great for Dariel on his family and personal history in a colonized country.
The third and final part of my interview with @brynhammond.bsky.social and @draq.bsky.social is live! We discuss some of the nuances of writing historical(ly flavored) fiction about people who've been sidelined in mainstream histories, plus writing influences and more.
Writing power struggles on the steppe, part three: Writing about marginalized histories
This is the third and final part of an interview with authors Bryn Hammond and Dariel R.A. Quiogue on their recent and upcoming Central Asia-centric novellas, works walking the line between the swo…
sadbutbuildingworlds.blog
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
This third particularly great for Dariel on his family and personal history in a colonized country.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
The third and final part of my interview with @brynhammond.bsky.social and @draq.bsky.social is live! We discuss some of the nuances of writing historical(ly flavored) fiction about people who've been sidelined in mainstream histories, plus writing influences and more.
Writing power struggles on the steppe, part three: Writing about marginalized histories
This is the third and final part of an interview with authors Bryn Hammond and Dariel R.A. Quiogue on their recent and upcoming Central Asia-centric novellas, works walking the line between the swo…
sadbutbuildingworlds.blog
November 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
The third and final part of my interview with @brynhammond.bsky.social and @draq.bsky.social is live! We discuss some of the nuances of writing historical(ly flavored) fiction about people who've been sidelined in mainstream histories, plus writing influences and more.
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
I have never. I love writing. It's my reason for being. That means two things:
Either the pilot light of my soul burns, and so I want to create, and I do it myself.
Or the pilot light of my soul is extinguished, something a machine cannot replace. I would sooner be still than defiled.
Either the pilot light of my soul burns, and so I want to create, and I do it myself.
Or the pilot light of my soul is extinguished, something a machine cannot replace. I would sooner be still than defiled.
Hands up if you've never used Chat GPT ✋
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
Probably a good way to tell right now if the job you’re applying for is run by absolute dumbfucks is to ask if they’re using AI.
November 9, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I have never. I love writing. It's my reason for being. That means two things:
Either the pilot light of my soul burns, and so I want to create, and I do it myself.
Or the pilot light of my soul is extinguished, something a machine cannot replace. I would sooner be still than defiled.
Either the pilot light of my soul burns, and so I want to create, and I do it myself.
Or the pilot light of my soul is extinguished, something a machine cannot replace. I would sooner be still than defiled.
Yup that was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Distracted by the sheer oil-painting beauty of the first stages
THE version
Distracted by the sheer oil-painting beauty of the first stages
THE version
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Yup that was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Distracted by the sheer oil-painting beauty of the first stages
THE version
Distracted by the sheer oil-painting beauty of the first stages
THE version
Reposted by Bryn Hammond
padma lakshmi and melissa king possibly dating is the only celebrity gossip that has ever mattered in the history of time, all other celebrities are just virgins who can't drive
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM
padma lakshmi and melissa king possibly dating is the only celebrity gossip that has ever mattered in the history of time, all other celebrities are just virgins who can't drive