Once you really get into the series, you might find yourself getting a little bogged down with all the history, characters, timelines, storylines, Gaelic terms etc... Not to worry! Diana Gabaldon has a terrific reference book called the Outlandish Companion. It contains a synopsis of the first four books in the series, alphabetical listings of hundreds of characters with descriptions, lots of interesting tidbits about the research she does, her methods of writing and creating, discussions about her time-travel theories, FAQs, controversies, and errata. A Must Read for Outlander fans and a really entertaining read! It's like getting a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of her novels.
While visiting Diana's blog today, Voyages of the Artemis, I learned that she will begin working on the Outlandish Companion Volume II in 2010 and has made a preliminary list of what will be included!!
(And yes, she says she is already beginning preliminary work on Book #8 -- and IF it's the Final Book, then she has always maintained that All Will Be Revealed; we just have to wait and see.) She is asking for input into what her readers would like to see in this second companion volume. Gabaldon fans have learned to be patient because it takes several years in between novels, but it's great to know that she's moving ahead as planned in 2010 and keeping her fans informed and open to input!
7 comments:
Wow, I'd heard about volume 2, but I didn't know she has stated that Book 8 will be the final book and all will be revealed! At last! I'm hoping she'll get it done and it won't take another four years to read it!
Hi, Julie -- I went back and edited my post to read, "and IF it's the final book...."
We all know how Diana's plans have a way of changing once she starts to write!
Good to know -- I did lose track of who's who and what's what, and all the places Jamie had lived and with whom. Took me a little bit to realize "ken" means "know" :) I would like a pronunciation guide, too.
Joanne, thanks for the correction - you really had my heart palpitating there for a while! As much as I'd like closure with the series and know what the ghost of Jamie is and how he comes to be there and all that, I don't want it to end!
Thanks Joanne! I think that book will be a big help as I venture further into the series :)
Aye, Sassenachs -- dinna fash.....if you read the Outlandish Companion, everything will fall into place. Be careful, though -- you'll start calling rude drivers clot heids and telling your children to eat their parritch! ;)
Julie -- You know, this may come as a surprise, but I think I'm leaning more toward closure. After finishing Echo, I feel that (as much as it has been a GREAT ride) for me, I'm ready to put all the pieces together. I still reread all the books, and even knowing what happens in the first seven books, it does not take away the pleasure of the story. So, since I've been hanging in there with the series since 1998, I'm hoping I live long enough to see it through! LOL
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