Thomas the Rhymer

Ellen Kushner's star rose to prominence with the publication in 1988 of her first novel, Swordspoint, a leading award contender in the fantasy field and the recipient of extraordinary praise. "A bravura performance, a delight from start to finish," said Locus. "Intelligent, humorous and dramatic," said Publishers Weekly. Swordspoint revealed a fully developed and mature writing talent.

Now, Ellen Kushner returns with a new romantic fantasy novel, Thomas the Rhymer. Based on the famous Middle English ballad, the story is a dramatic fictionalized account of the medieval minstrel Thomas, who is abducted by the Queen of Elfland and lives for years without count, not aging, in the unreal splendor of her magic kingdom—and then returns to the world of dirt and work and passing time.

Dazed and tormented by his memories, Thomas tries to re-create himself: find the woman he loved, rebuild his rotted harp, and begin again his life so abruptly stalled. Most of all, he must discover how to use—or avoid using—the Queen's parting gift: the inability to say anything other than the truth.

Thomas the Rhymer is an elegant fantasy novel full of mystery, magic, and color, a traditional classic recast as a vivid contemporary novel by a superior writing talent.