Thomas the Rhymer (novel)

1990 fantasy novel by Ellen Kushner

Thomas the Rhymer

Cover of the first edition of Thomas the Rhymer.

Author| Ellen Kushner
Cover artist| Thomas Canty
Language| English
Genre| Speculative fiction
Publisher| William Morrow & Co

Publication date

| January 1, 1990
Pages| 247

Thomas the Rhymer is a fantasy novel by American writer Ellen Kushner. It is based on the ballad of Thomas the Rhymer, a piece of folklore in which Thomas Learmonth's love of the Queen of Elfland was rewarded with the gift of prophecy. The novel won the 1991 World Fantasy Award[1] and Mythopoeic Award.

## Plot summary

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Thomas, a harper from court, befriends a humble farmer and his wife. As he begins a relationship with Elspeth, their neighbor, he is whisked to Elfland, ensnared by the Fairy Queen. After seven years he returns to Gavin, Meg, and Elspeth with a parting gift from the Queen: he can only speak the truth.[citation needed]

## Characters

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### Thomas

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A minstrel who sang in the king's court. Before he is captured by the Fairy Queen, he is a carefree young man.

### Elspeth

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A young woman who falls in love with Thomas. In the seven years of his absence, her hard life makes her cynical.

### Gavin

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A rather simple crofter who takes Thomas in.

### The Queen of Elfland

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Although powerful and beautiful, the Fairy Queen can be unmerciful. While she does release Thomas after seven years as her lover, she never truly lets him go.

### Meg

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Gavin's wife who sees value in Thomas and believes him when others do not.

## Awards

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* 1991 World Fantasy Award
* 1991 Mythopoeic Award
* 2009 Tähtifantasia Award for the best foreign fantasy novel released in Finland in 2008.

## References

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1. ^ World Fantasy Convention. "Award Winners and Nominees". Retrieved 4 Feb 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Ellen Kushner's Thomas the Rhymer

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World Fantasy Award—Novel

1970s|

* The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (1975)
* Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson (1976)
* Doctor Rat by William Kotzwinkle (1977)
* Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber (1978)
* Gloriana by Michael Moorcock (1979)

1980s|

* Watchtower by Elizabeth A. Lynn (1980)
* The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (1981)
* Little, Big by John Crowley (1982)
* Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea (1983)
* The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford (1984)
* Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock / Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart (1985)
* Song of Kali by Dan Simmons (1986)
* Perfume by Patrick Süskind (1987)
* Replay by Ken Grimwood (1988)
* Koko by Peter Straub (1989)

1990s|

* Lyonesse: Madouc by Jack Vance (1990)
* Only Begotten Daughter by James K. Morrow / Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner (1991)
* Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon (1992)
* Last Call by Tim Powers (1993)
* Glimpses by Lewis Shiner (1994)
* Towing Jehovah by James K. Morrow (1995)
* The Prestige by Christopher Priest (1996)
* Godmother Night by Rachel Pollack (1997)
* The Physiognomy by Jeffrey Ford (1998)
* The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich (1999)

2000s|

* Thraxas by Martin Scott (2000)
* Declare by Tim Powers / Galveston by Sean Stewart (2001)
* The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin (2002)
* The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce / Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip (2003)
* Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton (2004)
* Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2005)
* Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2006)
* Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe (2007)
* Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (2008)
* The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford / Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (2009)

2010s|

* The City & the City by China Miéville (2010)
* Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (2011)
* Osama by Lavie Tidhar (2012)
* Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (2013)
* A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar (2014)
* The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (2015)
* The Chimes by Anna Smaill (2016)
* The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North (2017)
* Jade City by Fonda Lee / The Changeling by Victor LaValle (2018)
* Witchmark by C. L. Polk (2019)

2020s|

* Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender (2020)
* Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2021)
* The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (2022)
* Saint Death's Daughter by C. S. E. Cooney (2023)

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