Gregory Frost’s fantasy novel, “Rhymer,” offers a fresh take on the character of Thomas the Rhymer, a figure from Scottish folklore known for his prophetic poems. In this novel, Frost combines elements of Lovecraftian horror and fantasy to create a unique story that diverges from previous interpretations of Thomas the Rhymer.
In an interview on the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast, Frost describes his novel as an origin story for Thomas the Rhymer, who becomes a sort of Michael Moorcock Eternal Champion. The protagonist finds himself engaged in a secret war against elves from another world, unbeknownst to the general public. Frost wanted to do something different with the Thomas the Rhymer story and steer clear of retelling it in the same vein as Ellen Kushner, who he believes perfected the ballad version.
Frost’s new angle for the story came when he noticed the similarities between Thomas the Rhymer and another character named Tam Lin, who also had interactions with the Queen of Elfland. Both characters lived in the same area, and Frost saw them as one and the same. Thomas the Rhymer’s full name is Thomas Lindsay Rimor de Ercildoun, while Tam Lin is another variant of his name. Frost views them as different names for the same person.
The author is currently working on a sequel to “Rhymer” that will take Thomas the Rhymer forward in time to become the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. Frost intends to explore a different side of Robin Hood that diverges from the popular depictions influenced by Sir Walter Scott. His aim is to map a unique journey through the world of Robin Hood, creating a version that has not been explored before.
Related Post
In addition to his writing, Frost has also shared anecdotes about his experiences in the writing community. He reminisces about his time at the Clarion Writers Workshop, where there was a recurring gag involving Damon Knight, one of the workshop leaders, chasing students with a squirt gun. The students would come prepared with their own squirt guns to join in on the fun. Frost also mentions his involvement with the Liars Club writers group, which organized group signings and events at independent bookstores in the Philadelphia area. He emphasizes the challenges of promoting oneself as a writer and the advantage of having a group to support each other during such events.
Frost also discusses his collaboration with Bill Johnson on a story idea based on the coldest spot in the universe, the Boomerang Nebula. They had developed a detailed structure for their story but tragically, Johnson passed away before they could fully bring it to life. Despite the loss, Frost decided to honor their collaboration by writing the story, using the notes they had made together.
Overall, Gregory Frost’s novel “Rhymer” offers a fresh and captivating interpretation of the Thomas the Rhymer character by combining elements of horror and fantasy. Frost’s departure from previous retellings highlights his desire to offer something new to the story, as well as his commitment to honoring the collaborative efforts he has undertaken throughout his writing career.
