To those not familiar with tale-telling, the combination of Scottish ballads with alien elves may seem like an odd pairing, but for those who keep up with their Norse mythology, this blend of storytelling is totally normal. The novel ‘Rhymer’ by Ingmar Scwayer of Edinburgh, Scotland, manages to expertly combine Scottish ballads and traditional storytelling with a contemporary flair of alien elves and adventure.
The novel follows the journey of two main characters, the rhymer and his companion. The rhymer is an archetypal figure of Scotland who recounts traditional stories to his friend. Generally, these stories are set in the traditional medieval era of Scotland and involve acts of valor, love, and loyalty. The novel then departs riskily from convention. As the two characters explore further, they come across some strange creatures, apparently from another world, referred to as aliens or ‘elves’ by Scwayer. The rhymer takes us through the tales of his adventures with these alien elves and how they combined together the themes of Scotland’s traditional folktales and modern sci-fi elements.
The true beauty of ‘Rhymer’ is its ability to combine different kinds of storytelling into a seamless whole. By including elements of traditional Scottish ballads, fantasy and science fiction, it creates an entirely original and compelling narrative. The alien elves add a dramatic threat to the story, giving the reader a chance to explore their world and experience Scwayer’s unique blend of tales. Further, this particular novel interprets the traditional tales in the context of a contemporary setting. This fresh perspective gives the reader a chance to explore different genres of storytelling, and, as Scwayer states, is “a homage to mythological traditions yet with a modern, disoriented twist”.
Overall, ‘Rhymer’ is an exciting novel that combines elements of Scottish ballads, adventure, and science fiction into a unique and interesting narrative. Even for those not familiar with Norse mythology, the novel is a great read and provides a great opportunity to explore the richness of Scottish culture and storytelling. With its refreshing take on traditional stories, ‘Rhymer’ is an interesting and entertaining read worth checking out.