Mesosporous carbon-bonded titanium-carbide/silicon-carbide (C-TiC/SiC) ceramics with a high specific surface area (221 m(2)/g), ultra fine grains (10-50 nm), and high crystallinity were synthesized from direct carbothermal reduction (1100 degrees-1450 degrees C) of monolithic Ti-Si-O-C precursors made from controlled sol-gel process. The nano-sized carbide grains are bonded into bulk materials by poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA) derived nanocrystalline carbon framework by "bridge," "entanglement," and "adhesive" effects. Graphenes were found to grow on {111} planes of TiC grains but this was not observed for SiC. The bonding of graphitic carbon layers on carbide grains support the nanostructure and also result in the desired combination of functional and mechanical properties.