An AlN-SiC solid solution-bonded alumina composite was successfully synthesized by pre-synthesizing an isostructural AlN mesophase as an induced nucleus at 1600 degrees C in flowing nitrogen. The phase composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The reaction mechanism is as follows. An AlN cladding is formed on the surface of Al particles by holding the Al-Si-Al2O3 green body at 580 degrees C for 8 h in N-2 atmosphere. As the temperature rises, the AlN cladding ruptures, Al(l) flows out, and entraps the AlN fragments with high reactivity to migrate along the pores, mixing Si(l) and ultra-fine carbon from resin binder in the matrix to form an Al(l)-Si(l)-C(s)-AlN(s) mixture. At 1600 degrees C, Al(l) and Si(l) preferentially react with trace O-2 in nitrogen to form metastable Al2O(g) and SiO(g), which diffuse outward and react with N-2 in the peripheral of the brick to form a sheet-like 21R-SiAlON. The 21R-SiAlON sheets interlaced with each other, forming a dense layer. The formation of the dense layer rapidly consumes O-2, and the P-O2 inside the brick is lowered quickly. In such reducing condition, under the induction of the preformed AlN mesophase, the isostructural AlN-SiC solid solution is formed in situ by the reaction between Al(l)-Si(l)-C(s)-AlN(s) mixture and N-2, and therefore a non-oxide bonded oxide composite is prepared. The AlN-SiC solid solution-reinforced Al2O3 composite possesses high cold crushing strength of 116-217 MPa.