Thomas the Rhymer

Ellen Kushner takes a traditional Scottish ballad and weaves it into something magical and beguiling in this lovely, haunting tale. The ballad sings of a minstrel lad abducted to Elfland for seven years to serve as the Elf Queens lover, then returned to the mortal world with the gift of always speaking the truth. Kushner deepens the focus of the story and humanizes the characters. Thomas is a footloose and carefree young minstrel and gifted seducer of willing ladies, eager to win fame for his singing and harping. His sojourn in Elfland is conveyed in dazzling prose, rich with the heady, heedless abandon of youth as Thomas gives himself up to the quicksilver Elf Queen and the succulent delights of her bower. Yet, he is tormented, too, by her small, careless cruelties, by the elves constant game-playing, and by his lonely isolation as a mortal in a magical realm. He is scarcely any less isolated when he finally returns to mortal Middle-Earth, a more sober and compassionate man, hailed as both rhymer and prophet, but who never again quite feels in step with his fellow beings. While Thomas Orpheus-like descent into the eerie glamor of the Elvish underworld is the centerpiece of the story, Kushner provides humanistic grace notes in the characters of a down-to-earth farm couple who love Thomas like a son and help to tell his story. They are joined by another narrator, the wild-spirited but careworn country lass who wins young Thomas heart and witnesses the bittersweet epiphany of the storys conclusion. Both fairy tale and love story, full of lusty balladeering, poetry and heartbreak, this novel is truly enchanting. I felt bereft when it was over, as if the portals of Elfland had been shut behind me forever.

Oh dear god. It was UTTERLY hopeless to try to get into this book. I stared at the paragraphs and they were so unengaging that my eyes kept sliding around, looking for words that went together, maybe, kind of, sort of. But not really. The prose was just weird and completely uncompelling. It didnt feel in the least like Ellen Kushners other work. Ugh.

Very enjoyable read in four rather distinct sections (each told from the perspective of a different character). Not epic, which is something of a relief, but finely told. The long middle section about the stay in Fairie Land is atmospheric, but so too are the descriptions of regular, mundane medieval life.

I love this book. Kushners writing is marvelous, and the way she infuses the story, characters, and setting with ballad is simply magical! I would also strongly advise readers to take some time and listen to some of the ballads in question: Thomas the Rhymer, Famous Flower of Serving Men, Lang a-Growing, Tam Lin, Unquiet Grave, Elfin Knight; it will add another measure to your enjoyment of the book.

Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner I must admit that Ellen Kushner, award winning writer, radio personality and lecturer was unknown to this reader prior to Thomas the Rhymer. Going forward that will not be the case. I was very impressed by this book on many levels. First and foremost Ms. Kushner is a storyteller in the most positive connotation of that term. I have always believed that speculative fiction novels - be they fantasy or science fiction - must at a minimum present an engaging story that the reader dearly desires to explore and even inhabit. The characters must be a combination of the sympathetic, feared, mysterious and courageous types and the prose must weave a spell with words. Ms. Kushner has met and exceeded all my criteria and I echo the praises of professional reviewers for her brilliant novel. The account of Thomas and his love affair with the Fairy Queen, the hard bargain he made to be with her and the girl he left behind kept this reader engaged from cover to cover. The ultimate tribute I can pay to any author is to say that as a result of this book I will seek out other title they have written - so be it.

If youve only heard the story of Thomas the Rhymer referenced but not actually read his tale this a phenomenal telling.

On the plus side, the writing quality was good. On the bad side, there was no drive to the plot (if there was a plot). From the blurb, I’d assumed that it’d mainly be about Thomas after fairy land dealing with only being able to speak the truth, but turns out that the majority of the book is set before and during fairy land. Overall, I think Thomas the Rhymer need an injection of some conflict. There just wasn’t enough happening. The “back in the mortal earth” was the last two sections, of which the third is the one dealing with the adjustment of only being able to speak the truth. Not much is done with that, and we don’t see that many difficulties being presented there. I did not like Thomas at all in the beginning – he was a womanizer who never really seemed to care about other people. Yes, he got better in the end as a result of the stint in fairyland, but I think the truth telling should have been more of a force of change for him. What happens to a character who’s constantly lying when he’s forced to speak only the truth? Nothing significant, according to this book. I don’t think the entire last section should have been there. The end of section three seems to be the basic happily ever after, story’s done… and then there’s another section? It does do something with a detail from earlier in the book, but it still wasn’t reason enough to have an entire new section. Besides the lack of plot, it was well written, but it just wasn’t very satisfying. I wouldn’t recommend this one, unless maybe you’re a big fan of the ballad it’s based on. Otherwise, don’t bother. Pick up one of her Riverside novels instead.

It came on me this year to re-read some favorite fantasy novels. I am glad I chose Ellen Kushner’s Thomas the Rhymer to be one of them. What a delight this novel is. I got my original paperback edition off my shelf, and saw I’d first read it in 1994. It has lost nothing in the ensuing years, only I have gained in appreciation of it. The ballad itself has always been so intriguing, and she has added to this in a hundred ways, the subtle research of time and place, both rural and court life, are wonderful strokes of realism to ground this fantasy. The faery lore itself, which I have immersed myself in for a very long time, strikes true to the telling. The genius of this book to me, is how seamlessly she weaves together and entire world not to mention the Otherworld, and the old ballads themselves become part of the tale. If I’ve waited over a quarter century to say it, I will certainly say it now: a job well done, and a tale for the ages.

This is without a doubt the most beautifully written book Ive ever come across. So lyrical and well written. It inspired me to continually search for more material written by the author. Suffice it to say she had already written her masterpiece and so became a chameleon. I did read her next book and was sorely disappointed. Thomas the Rhymer though I have read over and over again it is that good. I can only say that for J.R.R. Tolkien. So if you have the chance, buy this book and read it to your loved ones.

I am a lover of all things Faerie. I have put alot of time and research into the world of Faerie because I am a Faerie artist. This book is the best description of the Faerie realm that I have ever read. It is fantastical and imaginative and wonderful. For those who are deeply interested in the world of Faerie, it is highly recommended. For those with no love of fantasy, dont bother. The story is what it is. A legend, taken from an old poem; and yes it may be anticlimactic. But if you read it, read it for the creative imagination that went into it. Read it for a true glimpse of the Faerie world. I treasure this book and have read it many times over.