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Outlander (book series)

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Outlander is a series of historical fantasy novels by American author Diana Gabaldon.[1] Gabaldon began the first volume of the series, Outlander, in the late 1980s, and it was published in 1991.[2] She has published nine out of a planned ten volumes.[3] The ninth novel in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, was released on November 23, 2021.[4]

Outlander
Original cover of Outlander (1991), the first novel in the series
AuthorDiana Gabaldon
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction
Fantasy
PublisherDelacorte Press
PublishedJune 1, 1991–present
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Audiobook
Followed byLord John series

The Outlander series focuses on 20th-century British nurse Claire Randall, who time travels to 18th-century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser. The books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide as of 2021.[5]

Among the many derived works are two short stories, three novellas, a novel series featuring recurring secondary character Lord John Grey, a graphic novel, a musical, and a television series.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Publishing history

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Outlander novel series

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Novels

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  1. Outlander (1991) (published in the UK, New Zealand and Australia as Cross Stitch)
  2. Dragonfly in Amber (1992)
  3. Voyager (1993)
  4. Drums of Autumn (1996)
  5. The Fiery Cross (2001)
  6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005)
  7. An Echo in the Bone (2009)
  8. Written in My Own Heart's Blood (2014)[16]
  9. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (2021)[17]

Audiobooks

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The Outlander series has been released in both unabridged (read by Davina Porter) and abridged audiobooks (read by Geraldine James). Several of the Lord John books have been released in audiobook form, read by Jeff Woodman.

Novellas and short stories

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  • "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" (2010), a short story in the anthology Songs of Love and Death, later collected in A Trail of Fire (2012),[18] and Seven Stones to Stand or Fall (2017). It tells the WWII story of Roger MacKenzie Wakefield's parents Jerry and Dolly, as Jerry discovers for himself the mystery of the standing stones.[19][20][21][22][23]
  • "The Space Between" (2013), a novella in the anthology The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination, later collected in A Trail of Fire (2012),[18] and Seven Stones to Stand or Fall (2017). It chronicles a journey undertaken by Joan MacKimmie (Jamie Fraser's step-daughter) and Michael Murray (Jenny Fraser Murray's son).[24]
  • "Virgins" (2013), a novella in the anthology Dangerous Women,[25][26][27][28] later available as a standalone e-book,[29] and collected in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall (2017). Set in 1740 France, it introduces 19-year-old Jamie Fraser as he and his 20-year-old friend Ian Murray become young mercenaries.[25][26][27][28]
  • "Past Prologue" (2017), a short story published in the anthology MatchUp. It is written as a collaboration by Steve Berry and Diana Gabaldon, in a story that crosses over their two fictional universes, with Cotton Malone from Berry's novels meeting Jamie Fraser.
  • "A Fugitive Green" (2017), a novella published in the Gabaldon collection Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. It features Hal Grey, brother of Lord John Grey, and his future wife Minerva.

Graphic novel

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Main article: The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel

In 2010, Gabaldon adapted the first third of Outlander into a graphic novel, illustrated by Hoang Nguyen.[10][11][12]

Lord John series

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Main article: Lord John series

The Lord John series is a sequence of novels and shorter works that center on Lord John Grey, a recurring secondary character from the Outlander novels. The spin-off series consists of five novellas and three novels, which all take place between 1756 and 1761, during the events of Gabaldon's Voyager.[6][7] They can be generally categorized as historical mysteries, and the three novels are shorter and focus on fewer plot threads than the main Outlander books.[7] Several of the Lord John books have been released in audiobook form, read by Jeff Woodman.

Other

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  • The Outlandish Companion (1999), a guide to the Outlander series containing synopses, a character guide, and other notes and information; revised and updated as The Outlandish Companion (Volume One) (2015)[30]
  • The Outlandish Companion (Volume Two) (2015)[31][32]

Inspiration

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Gabaldon was inspired by the Doctor Who character Jamie McCrimmon to set her series in Jacobite Scotland, and to name its protagonist Jamie.[33]

This character wore a kilt, which I thought rather fetching, and demonstrated—in this particular episode—a form of pigheaded male gallantry that I've always found endearing: the strong urge on the part of a man to protect a woman, even though he may realize that she's plainly capable of looking after herself.[34]

Frazer Hines, who played McCrimmon, appears in an episode of the first season of the television series Outlander.[35]

Characters

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Main article: List of Outlander characters

Core characters include:

  • Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, the titular Outlander, a 20th-century nurse (and later doctor) who travels through time to the 18th century
  • Jamie Fraser, Claire's 18th-century husband
  • Frank Randall, Claire's 20th-century husband
  • Brianna Mackenzie, Claire and Jamie's second daughter, an engineer, married to Roger
  • Roger Wakefield Mackenzie, a 20th-century historian, later minister, husband to Brianna
  • Lord John Grey, a secondary character in the main series and the focus of the spin-off Lord John series

Musical

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In 2010, a 14-song cycle based on Outlander was released under the title Outlander: The Musical.[13] With music by Kevin Walsh and lyrics by Mike Gibb, the project was approved by Gabaldon after Gibb had approached the author in Scotland with the idea to adapt her novel into a stage production.[14] As Gabaldon recalled, "I laughed and said, 'That’s the screwiest idea I’ve heard yet – go ahead.' So they did, and the results were stunning."[14] Though the stage production remains in development,[14] the 14-song cycle is available on CD from Amazon.com and for download on iTunes.[13][36][37]

In 2012, Broadway composer Jill Santoriello began collaborating with Gibb and Walsh on the project, writing the music and cowriting the lyrics with Gibb for a new song called "One More Time."[15][37] The song was recorded with vocals by Rebecca Robbins.[15][37]

Television series

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Main article: Outlander (TV series)

In June 2013, Starz ordered 16 episodes of a television adaptation, and production began in October 2013 in Scotland.[38] The series premiered in the US on August 9, 2014, with Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan starring as Claire and Jamie.[8] It was picked up for a second season on August 15, 2014,[9] and for a third and fourth season on June 1, 2016.[39] On May 9, 2018, Starz renewed the series for a fifth and sixth season.[40] Further renewals for seventh and eighth seasons were announced in early 2021 and late 2022 respectively.[41][42]

In January 2023, Starz greenlighted a 10-episode prequel series, Blood of My Blood, based on Jamie's parents. Gabaldon will be an executive producer.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Jennifer Vineyard (June 18, 2016). "Diana Gabaldon on Why Outlander Isn't Really a Romance and Writing Her First Episode". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Outlander Series". Diana Gabaldon. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Sollosi, Mary (October 30, 2016). "Outlander books to end with 10th novel, says Diana Gabaldon". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "BEES (Book 9) Publication Date!". Diana Gabaldon. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Hughes, Sarah (August 24, 2014). "Outlander: Is this the new Game of Thrones?". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Official site: Lord John Grey Series". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "Official site: Chronology of the Outlander Series". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Ng, Philiana (May 8, 2014). "Starz's Outlander Gets First Poster, Premiere Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Hibberd, James (August 15, 2014). "Outlander renewed for second season". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Brienza, Casey (September 21, 2010). "The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel". GraphicNovelReporter.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Fiction Book Review: The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel". Publishers Weekly. August 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Official site: The Exile (graphic novel)". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "PROGRESS! OUTLANDER:The Musical now on Amazon!". DianaGabaldon.com. September 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d "Outlander the Musical". DianaGabaldon.com. October 26, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c "Stage Tube: First Listen of Jill Santoriello's Outlander Musical". BroadwayWorld.com. July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "Official site: Written in My Own Heart's Blood". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  17. ^ Gabaldon, Diana. "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (Outlander series)". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Official site: A Trail of Fire". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  19. ^ "Official site: "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows"". DianaGabaldon.com. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  20. ^ DeNardo, John (January 14, 2010). "Songs of Love and Death edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois". SF Signal. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  21. ^ Johnson, Suzanne (October 27, 2010). "Fiction Affliction: Diagnosing November Releases in Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance". Tor.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  22. ^ "Pocket Releases Songs of Love and Death". GeorgeRRMartin.com. November 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  23. ^ "Not A Blog: Love. Death. Sex. Heartbreak". GRRM.livejournal.com. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  24. ^ "Official site: The Space Between (Novella)". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Official site: Virgins (Dangerous Women)". DianaGabaldon.com. December 7, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  26. ^ a b "Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com". Tor.com. July 24, 2013. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  27. ^ a b "Fiction Book Review: Dangerous Women by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois". Publishers Weekly. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  28. ^ a b Martin, George R. R. (January 23, 2013). "Not A Blog: A Dangerous Delivery". GRRM.livejournal.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013. For those who like to lose themselves in long stories, the Brandon Sanderson story, the Diana Gabaldon story, the Caroline Spector story, and my Princess and Queen are novellas.
  29. ^ "Virgins: An Outlander Novella". Penguin Books. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  30. ^ "Official site: The Outlandish Companion – Volume One". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  31. ^ "Official site: The Outlandish Companion – Volume Two". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  32. ^ "The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two". Goodreads. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  33. ^ Gabaldon, Diana. "FAQ: About the Books". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  34. ^ Gabaldon, Diana (1999). "Prologue from The Outlandish Companion, p. xvii–xxix". DianaGabaldon.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  35. ^ Ross, Robyn (August 19, 2014). "Exclusive: Doctor Who Alum to Guest-Star on Outlander". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  36. ^ "OUTLANDER: The Musical is now on iTUNES!". DianaGabaldon.com. October 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  37. ^ a b c "Outlander: The Musical (Official website)". Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  38. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 1, 2013). "Outlander Greenlighted To Series By Starz". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  39. ^ Prudom, Laura (June 1, 2016). "Outlander Renewed for Seasons 3 and 4". Variety. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  40. ^ Roots, Kimberly (May 9, 2018). "Outlander Renewed for Seasons 5 and 6, Plus: See First Season 4 Photos". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  41. ^ Bocella, Maggie (November 22, 2021). "Outlander Season 6 Will Return in March 2022, Reveals Diana Gabaldon". Collider. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  42. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (January 19, 2023). "Outlander Renewed For Eighth & Final Season; Starz Greenlights Prequel Series Blood Of My Blood". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
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