Carl Ellis
@carlc75.bsky.social
Super amateur writer person. Talk to me about swords, sorcery, and the grinding boundary of the Meso/Neolithic. Also diving deep into my Welsh heritage!
Pinned
Carl Ellis
@carlc75.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Want to read my fiction?
I write close fantasy and sci fi with a dash of horror---often with something familial tying it all together. Family bonds are some of the strongest and I want to explore how they fit within my genres of choice.
You can find them by following the links in the replies. 1/?
I write close fantasy and sci fi with a dash of horror---often with something familial tying it all together. Family bonds are some of the strongest and I want to explore how they fit within my genres of choice.
You can find them by following the links in the replies. 1/?
Bombarded with "Holiday gifts for HIM/HER" which are full of scented candles and hot sauce? HELL NO.
Get them HEART-RACING SPINE-TINGLING LOIN-GIRDING fiction of the genre which will be filling bookstores next decade.
Be better than bleeding edge. Be NEW EDGE.
newedgeswordandsorcery.com/shop/
Get them HEART-RACING SPINE-TINGLING LOIN-GIRDING fiction of the genre which will be filling bookstores next decade.
Be better than bleeding edge. Be NEW EDGE.
newedgeswordandsorcery.com/shop/
Shop – New Edge Sword & Sorcery
newedgeswordandsorcery.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Bombarded with "Holiday gifts for HIM/HER" which are full of scented candles and hot sauce? HELL NO.
Get them HEART-RACING SPINE-TINGLING LOIN-GIRDING fiction of the genre which will be filling bookstores next decade.
Be better than bleeding edge. Be NEW EDGE.
newedgeswordandsorcery.com/shop/
Get them HEART-RACING SPINE-TINGLING LOIN-GIRDING fiction of the genre which will be filling bookstores next decade.
Be better than bleeding edge. Be NEW EDGE.
newedgeswordandsorcery.com/shop/
Reposted by Carl Ellis
(spending 9 billion dollars to make a robot say "i have always loved you") hard times create strong men
November 16, 2025 at 9:35 PM
(spending 9 billion dollars to make a robot say "i have always loved you") hard times create strong men
I think it would be a very good idea for Must Read Magazines to post their model contract publicly so as not to waste their editor's valuable time.
Hopefully they'll consult with @sfwa.org on what is best industry practice before their slush pile dwindles to a puddle!
Hopefully they'll consult with @sfwa.org on what is best industry practice before their slush pile dwindles to a puddle!
On August 12, 1971, 16-year-old me mailed the first story I ever wrote off on its first submission to my dream market, F&SF. My tale was quickly rejected. On July 17th, 2025, I finally sold a story to that magazine. Here's why I felt I had to withdraw that story. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
November 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I think it would be a very good idea for Must Read Magazines to post their model contract publicly so as not to waste their editor's valuable time.
Hopefully they'll consult with @sfwa.org on what is best industry practice before their slush pile dwindles to a puddle!
Hopefully they'll consult with @sfwa.org on what is best industry practice before their slush pile dwindles to a puddle!
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Obviously you should buy Necropolis from @hexagonmagazine.bsky.social but while you're there have you considered getting Duel edited by @thisisguan.bsky.social with stories from @faithallington.bsky.social @carlc75.bsky.social Huijia Li, @livstrom.bsky.social and also me.
Thanks to Rex for spotting this one! Necropolis contains 5 stories about strange, decaying cities and is now available for purchase at Hexagon's patreon!
@alexfox.bsky.social @omersarae.bsky.social @nightgleaming.bsky.social @improbablerex.bsky.social and Victoria!
cover art by @warls.bsky.social
@alexfox.bsky.social @omersarae.bsky.social @nightgleaming.bsky.social @improbablerex.bsky.social and Victoria!
cover art by @warls.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Obviously you should buy Necropolis from @hexagonmagazine.bsky.social but while you're there have you considered getting Duel edited by @thisisguan.bsky.social with stories from @faithallington.bsky.social @carlc75.bsky.social Huijia Li, @livstrom.bsky.social and also me.
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Why I love sword & sorcery:
Sometimes protagonists aren't able to fix the world. Sometimes they're not even able to see the problems with it. Sometimes they're just trying to survive. Sometimes they're even part of the problem.
The writer isn't the society and the writer isn't the protagonist.
The writer isn't the society and the writer isn't the protagonist.
November 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Why I love sword & sorcery:
Absolutely delighted that my story The Tacet Edge Of A Broken Spear has been accepted by @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social for their 2026 issues. It's a slimy salty Mesolithic story which is my love letter to fatherhood.
It has a boar too!
It has a boar too!
October 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Absolutely delighted that my story The Tacet Edge Of A Broken Spear has been accepted by @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social for their 2026 issues. It's a slimy salty Mesolithic story which is my love letter to fatherhood.
It has a boar too!
It has a boar too!
The forlorn hope has breached the wall! And there's another slightly shorter one!
ONWARD!
ONWARD!
October 3, 2025 at 5:59 AM
The forlorn hope has breached the wall! And there's another slightly shorter one!
ONWARD!
ONWARD!
THE GLUT CONTINUES ✨✨
14 of the best stories from the 60 issues published by @curtissandsm.bsky.social
60. ISSUES.
Can't wait to get my greedy mitts on this
#swordandsorcery
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
14 of the best stories from the 60 issues published by @curtissandsm.bsky.social
60. ISSUES.
Can't wait to get my greedy mitts on this
#swordandsorcery
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
The Best of Swords & Sorcery Magazine, Vol. 1
A collection of stories from the first 60 issues of Swords & Sorcery Magazine, presented on physical media for the first time with a full page illustration for each story and a color cover.
www.backerkit.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
THE GLUT CONTINUES ✨✨
14 of the best stories from the 60 issues published by @curtissandsm.bsky.social
60. ISSUES.
Can't wait to get my greedy mitts on this
#swordandsorcery
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
14 of the best stories from the 60 issues published by @curtissandsm.bsky.social
60. ISSUES.
Can't wait to get my greedy mitts on this
#swordandsorcery
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
FOUR NEW MODERN SWORD & SORCERY STORIES?
NOVELLAS?
ONE IS WRESTLING THEMED?
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS POST? CLICK THE THING 👇👇👇
NOVELLAS?
ONE IS WRESTLING THEMED?
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS POST? CLICK THE THING 👇👇👇
⚔️📚NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY NOVELLAS is live!📚⚔️
This crowdfund is the best possible time to get four exciting new books by @draq.bsky.social, @brynhammond.bsky.social, @breadsonja.bsky.social, and @stevewestenra.bsky.social, featuring killer art inside and out!
👉 www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
This crowdfund is the best possible time to get four exciting new books by @draq.bsky.social, @brynhammond.bsky.social, @breadsonja.bsky.social, and @stevewestenra.bsky.social, featuring killer art inside and out!
👉 www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
September 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
FOUR NEW MODERN SWORD & SORCERY STORIES?
NOVELLAS?
ONE IS WRESTLING THEMED?
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS POST? CLICK THE THING 👇👇👇
NOVELLAS?
ONE IS WRESTLING THEMED?
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS POST? CLICK THE THING 👇👇👇
Can cosy be a term applied to sword & sorcery? I don't think you can have both themes sit as equals, but one can certainly flavour the other.
That's what I tried to do in this tale.
That's what I tried to do in this tale.
This story was published in Dec '23 in Myriad:Duel. It is my take on a #cosy #swordandsorcery tale.
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
Ballad of Sand and Sweetness
(First appeared in MYRIAD:Duel, Hexagon Press, Dec 2023) Plucked notes rose above the cacophony of the arena. Tightly packed, shoulder to shoulder, people sat on the raised benches that ringed a sa…
www.carlellis.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Can cosy be a term applied to sword & sorcery? I don't think you can have both themes sit as equals, but one can certainly flavour the other.
That's what I tried to do in this tale.
That's what I tried to do in this tale.
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Some enterprising indie publisher should try to bring this format back, eh? 📚 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate...
August 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Some enterprising indie publisher should try to bring this format back, eh? 📚 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate...
This story was published in Dec '23 in Myriad:Duel. It is my take on a #cosy #swordandsorcery tale.
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
Ballad of Sand and Sweetness
(First appeared in MYRIAD:Duel, Hexagon Press, Dec 2023) Plucked notes rose above the cacophony of the arena. Tightly packed, shoulder to shoulder, people sat on the raised benches that ringed a sa…
www.carlellis.co.uk
August 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This story was published in Dec '23 in Myriad:Duel. It is my take on a #cosy #swordandsorcery tale.
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
There is violence and pastries.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/13/b...
Challenged by @christopherrowe.bsky.social to make a case for Starlings in Winter by Mary Oliver being Sword & Sorcery, here’s my take.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...
Starlings in Winter as Sword & Sorcery
Challenged by Christopher Rowe to make a case for Starlings in Winter by Mary Oliver being Sword & Sorcery, here’s my take. A yearning for action, to be unbound by rules of nature and civ…
www.carlellis.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Challenged by @christopherrowe.bsky.social to make a case for Starlings in Winter by Mary Oliver being Sword & Sorcery, here’s my take.
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...
There is something magical about making a mug of tea, sitting down in the kitchen to make edits, enjoying the quiet... then your son runs in decked out with a cape and puts on a banging Halloween version of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
August 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
There is something magical about making a mug of tea, sitting down in the kitchen to make edits, enjoying the quiet... then your son runs in decked out with a cape and puts on a banging Halloween version of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
Reposted by Carl Ellis
In my experience there are three kinds of fantasy magic novels:
July 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
In my experience there are three kinds of fantasy magic novels:
DARK WISHES
Tired of an ancient and powerful djinn wrecking havoc upon his court and kingdom, the Sage-Vizier Qayid Hakim tricked them into wishing their prison into existence.
This is my entry for the Appendix N Game Jam 2025.
It was either a genie or a monkey paw!
carlc75.itch.io/dark-wishes
Tired of an ancient and powerful djinn wrecking havoc upon his court and kingdom, the Sage-Vizier Qayid Hakim tricked them into wishing their prison into existence.
This is my entry for the Appendix N Game Jam 2025.
It was either a genie or a monkey paw!
carlc75.itch.io/dark-wishes
Dark Wishes by Carlc75
A small dungeon module
carlc75.itch.io
July 28, 2025 at 5:41 PM
DARK WISHES
Tired of an ancient and powerful djinn wrecking havoc upon his court and kingdom, the Sage-Vizier Qayid Hakim tricked them into wishing their prison into existence.
This is my entry for the Appendix N Game Jam 2025.
It was either a genie or a monkey paw!
carlc75.itch.io/dark-wishes
Tired of an ancient and powerful djinn wrecking havoc upon his court and kingdom, the Sage-Vizier Qayid Hakim tricked them into wishing their prison into existence.
This is my entry for the Appendix N Game Jam 2025.
It was either a genie or a monkey paw!
carlc75.itch.io/dark-wishes
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Who up stroking they sword while lamenting social realities
July 11, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Who up stroking they sword while lamenting social realities
Reposted by Carl Ellis
THE CROWDFUND FOR ⚔️SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS⚔️ IS LIVE
Discover our first novel, an anti-colonial warrior-philosopher of a tale told by Sword & Sorcery veteran David C. Smith.
Remember: You aren't charged until the campaign ends, so claim your pledge today!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
Discover our first novel, an anti-colonial warrior-philosopher of a tale told by Sword & Sorcery veteran David C. Smith.
Remember: You aren't charged until the campaign ends, so claim your pledge today!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
June 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
THE CROWDFUND FOR ⚔️SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS⚔️ IS LIVE
Discover our first novel, an anti-colonial warrior-philosopher of a tale told by Sword & Sorcery veteran David C. Smith.
Remember: You aren't charged until the campaign ends, so claim your pledge today!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
Discover our first novel, an anti-colonial warrior-philosopher of a tale told by Sword & Sorcery veteran David C. Smith.
Remember: You aren't charged until the campaign ends, so claim your pledge today!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
My review of Thing in the Crypt by De Camp and Carter.
Weird to start on a story not written by Howard!
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/06/28/r...
#review #conan #swordandsorcery
Weird to start on a story not written by Howard!
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/06/28/r...
#review #conan #swordandsorcery
Review: Thing in the Crypt
Pursued by wolves across a frozen landscape, Conan is harried until he finds a small cave to take refuge. Within he discovered an ancient crypt of a long dead chief. Taking his blue iron sword, he …
www.carlellis.co.uk
June 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
My review of Thing in the Crypt by De Camp and Carter.
Weird to start on a story not written by Howard!
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/06/28/r...
#review #conan #swordandsorcery
Weird to start on a story not written by Howard!
www.carlellis.co.uk/2025/06/28/r...
#review #conan #swordandsorcery
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Walking a #narrow path in the woods. #blueskyartshow
June 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Walking a #narrow path in the woods. #blueskyartshow
Trying to really let environment be its own character in my fiction, but it's hard when those environments no longer exist. Trying to imagine what a paleolithic coastline will look like, and I'm hoping these images can help get the vibe right!
June 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Trying to really let environment be its own character in my fiction, but it's hard when those environments no longer exist. Trying to imagine what a paleolithic coastline will look like, and I'm hoping these images can help get the vibe right!
Reposted by Carl Ellis
The UK government was just defeated in the House of Lords for a *fifth* time over AI training data transparency.
Please watch the electrifying end to Baroness Kidron's closing speech ahead of the vote. Creators have no greater champion.
🧵 1/2
Please watch the electrifying end to Baroness Kidron's closing speech ahead of the vote. Creators have no greater champion.
🧵 1/2
June 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The UK government was just defeated in the House of Lords for a *fifth* time over AI training data transparency.
Please watch the electrifying end to Baroness Kidron's closing speech ahead of the vote. Creators have no greater champion.
🧵 1/2
Please watch the electrifying end to Baroness Kidron's closing speech ahead of the vote. Creators have no greater champion.
🧵 1/2
Reposted by Carl Ellis
Millions of people attend conventions to meet the _people_ who contribute to their favorite things - artists, writers, actors, designers.
We celebrate specific ideas and effort that inspires us, not hollow visual or predictive text content churned out by a machine network.
We celebrate specific ideas and effort that inspires us, not hollow visual or predictive text content churned out by a machine network.
May 26, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Millions of people attend conventions to meet the _people_ who contribute to their favorite things - artists, writers, actors, designers.
We celebrate specific ideas and effort that inspires us, not hollow visual or predictive text content churned out by a machine network.
We celebrate specific ideas and effort that inspires us, not hollow visual or predictive text content churned out by a machine network.
Ok, LitRPGs are ripe for a non-epic renaissance. Hear me out.
Traditional litRPG stories are very progression heavy - with the game elements explicitly part of the prose. I'm thinking Dungeon Crawler Carl, I Ran Away To Evil.
They are always getting more powerful in a Dragonball Z, 5E way.
Traditional litRPG stories are very progression heavy - with the game elements explicitly part of the prose. I'm thinking Dungeon Crawler Carl, I Ran Away To Evil.
They are always getting more powerful in a Dragonball Z, 5E way.
April 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Ok, LitRPGs are ripe for a non-epic renaissance. Hear me out.
Traditional litRPG stories are very progression heavy - with the game elements explicitly part of the prose. I'm thinking Dungeon Crawler Carl, I Ran Away To Evil.
They are always getting more powerful in a Dragonball Z, 5E way.
Traditional litRPG stories are very progression heavy - with the game elements explicitly part of the prose. I'm thinking Dungeon Crawler Carl, I Ran Away To Evil.
They are always getting more powerful in a Dragonball Z, 5E way.
Spring is really here now that Easter is over. Been living off homemade cake and ice cream all week 😋
April 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Spring is really here now that Easter is over. Been living off homemade cake and ice cream all week 😋