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The Outlandish Companions #2
The Outlandish Companion: Volume Two
More than a decade ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon delighted her legions of fans with The Outlandish Companion, an indispensable guide to all the Outlander books at the time. But that edition was just a taste of things to come. Since that publication, there have been four more Outlander novels, a side series, assorted novellas, and one smash-hit Starz original television series. Now Gabaldon serves up The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two, an all-new guide to the latest books in the series.
Written with Gabaldon’s signature wit and intelligence, this compendium is bursting with generous commentary and juicy insider details, including
• a complete chronology of the series thus far
• full synopses of A Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
• recaps of the Lord John Grey novels: Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner
• a who’s who of the cast of Outlander characters,
Written with Gabaldon’s signature wit and intelligence, this compendium is bursting with generous commentary and juicy insider details, including
• a complete chronology of the series thus far
• full synopses of A Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
• recaps of the Lord John Grey novels: Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner
• a who’s who of the cast of Outlander characters,
656 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2015
820 people are currently reading
6570 people want to read
About the author
Diana Gabaldon
202 books180k followersDiana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Hispanic and English descent (with a dash of Native American and Sephardic Jew). She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow, for services to Scottish Literature.
She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .
She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 20, 2017
I've been meandering my way through this one. Sometimes treating it like a coffee table flip-through book and sometimes getting riveted to different parts. It really does its job of what I wanted it for by reminding me of what I was starting to get hazy on with some of the older books and also providing some great enrichment materials to better appreciate the books in the Outlander World.
I was one that devoured and used the Outlandish Companion v. 1 so I was tickled to see that a v. 2 happened. This one does broaden the scope of what it covers now that Outlander is a sensation on the screen and in audio as well as in the written world. I thought this book did a good job of being an all things for all people so that from whichever path the Outlander lover followed to the companion they received something for it. For instance, I have not followed the show much, but I have read and listened to the books. However, I saw a lot of references that those watching the show could read and appreciate.
It was fun to browse through this reading summaries of the books large and small, getting the Lord John and stories away from Jamie and Claire, too. I also enjoyed the lovely maps, charts, indexes (yay for that character one). The structure of this Companion was somewhat more relaxed and less of the scholarly reference tool feel you get when there are citations, cross-references and a ton of indexing. I like it either way.
So, this is a great one for the extras and worked well the way I took my time with it. I know I'll pull it down off the shelf often to continue referencing it from time to time when re-reading and hey, if I need to pursue a historical point non-Outlander related as well.
I was one that devoured and used the Outlandish Companion v. 1 so I was tickled to see that a v. 2 happened. This one does broaden the scope of what it covers now that Outlander is a sensation on the screen and in audio as well as in the written world. I thought this book did a good job of being an all things for all people so that from whichever path the Outlander lover followed to the companion they received something for it. For instance, I have not followed the show much, but I have read and listened to the books. However, I saw a lot of references that those watching the show could read and appreciate.
It was fun to browse through this reading summaries of the books large and small, getting the Lord John and stories away from Jamie and Claire, too. I also enjoyed the lovely maps, charts, indexes (yay for that character one). The structure of this Companion was somewhat more relaxed and less of the scholarly reference tool feel you get when there are citations, cross-references and a ton of indexing. I like it either way.
So, this is a great one for the extras and worked well the way I took my time with it. I know I'll pull it down off the shelf often to continue referencing it from time to time when re-reading and hey, if I need to pursue a historical point non-Outlander related as well.
November 8, 2022
It's a rare novel series that needs its own reference book. Or two. But readers of the (now) nine-part "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon will definitely benefit from these two companion volumes.
While there is a LOT of extraneous but mostly interesting information in Volume Two, the big benefit—and really the only reason to buy and read it—is the summaries of each of the previous novels. This volume offers synopses of "The Fiery Cross," "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," "An Echo in the Bone," and "Written in My Own Heart's Blood." The "Outlander" novels are loooooooong, usually clocking it at around 1,000 pages give or take. That's a lot of story. A lot of details. A lot of characters. A lot of plot twists. A lot to remember—or more likely, forget.
Before I begin each "Outlander" novel, I read the summary in this companion reference book. These are robust synopses, each of which is as long as a short novel. And while this takes some time, it's well worth it as I have a fresh memory of what happened previously.
Also included in this companion reference book:
• Synopses of the "Lord John" series of novellas.
• A full cast of characters with names, primary role in the story, and connections to other characters.
• A description of sex and violence in the novels, titled "Spanking, Beating, Flogging, and Other Interesting Topics Involving Physical Interactions of a Non-Consensual Sort."
• History and historical fiction: How an author organizes the past.
• A comprehensive Scottish language glossary and pronunciation guide.
• Diana Gabaldon's writing techniques, methods, daily work routine (including a photo of her very messy bookcases).
• Diana Gabaldon's favorite recipes, which feels a lot like filler.
• The invisible talent behind the "Outlander" TV show, including costume designer Terry Dresbach, composer Bear McCreary, and herbalist Dr. Claire McKay.
• Floor plans of Lallybroch and the original big house on Fraser's Ridge, as well as several maps, including the battle of Culloden and the battles of Saratoga.
• Something Diana Gabaldon calls "the methadone list"—other books one can read after "Outlander."
• A bibliography of the author's favorite research resources.
• An Outlander family tree.
Buy it for the novel summaries and thumb through the rest of it for something else that may pique your interest.
While there is a LOT of extraneous but mostly interesting information in Volume Two, the big benefit—and really the only reason to buy and read it—is the summaries of each of the previous novels. This volume offers synopses of "The Fiery Cross," "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," "An Echo in the Bone," and "Written in My Own Heart's Blood." The "Outlander" novels are loooooooong, usually clocking it at around 1,000 pages give or take. That's a lot of story. A lot of details. A lot of characters. A lot of plot twists. A lot to remember—or more likely, forget.
Before I begin each "Outlander" novel, I read the summary in this companion reference book. These are robust synopses, each of which is as long as a short novel. And while this takes some time, it's well worth it as I have a fresh memory of what happened previously.
Also included in this companion reference book:
• Synopses of the "Lord John" series of novellas.
• A full cast of characters with names, primary role in the story, and connections to other characters.
• A description of sex and violence in the novels, titled "Spanking, Beating, Flogging, and Other Interesting Topics Involving Physical Interactions of a Non-Consensual Sort."
• History and historical fiction: How an author organizes the past.
• A comprehensive Scottish language glossary and pronunciation guide.
• Diana Gabaldon's writing techniques, methods, daily work routine (including a photo of her very messy bookcases).
• Diana Gabaldon's favorite recipes, which feels a lot like filler.
• The invisible talent behind the "Outlander" TV show, including costume designer Terry Dresbach, composer Bear McCreary, and herbalist Dr. Claire McKay.
• Floor plans of Lallybroch and the original big house on Fraser's Ridge, as well as several maps, including the battle of Culloden and the battles of Saratoga.
• Something Diana Gabaldon calls "the methadone list"—other books one can read after "Outlander."
• A bibliography of the author's favorite research resources.
• An Outlander family tree.
Buy it for the novel summaries and thumb through the rest of it for something else that may pique your interest.
February 14, 2017
I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways for an honest review. That being said it was on my list to buy once it was released. I love these kinds of books. I have multiple ones, all for favorite series that have a companion book out. I bought the first volume years ago off of a bargain table, which made me kind of sad to see such a wonderful resource basically ignored. I like how this one is set out instead of just having all the information alphabetically so you have to search for what you want to look up for each book. It's in sections by book title so if you need a reminder about a character or place from a specific book, all you have to do is look up the book's title. At the beginning of each section, you get a synopsis of the book and what happened in it as a reminder so you don't have to go back and reread an entire book before starting the next in the series. The book also has some new information about specific books in the series in it, so it's a great gift for the diehard fans of the series. If you're a fan of Diana Gabaldon's work I seriously suggest getting both volumes of the companion, and any others she ends up releasing, I've used the first one multiple times. It's worth it.
December 28, 2015
A must for all fans of the Outlander series!
January 16, 2016
Fascinating reference volume containing oodles of information about books 5 - 8 in the Outlander series, as well as long reflections from the author on writing, research and history. A must for fans.
Note: I've posted a comprehensive, detailed reading and listening guide at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Note: I've posted a comprehensive, detailed reading and listening guide at Bookshelf Fantasies.
March 9, 2016
Essential for every Outlander fan.
The Outlandish Companion Vol 2 is even more comprehensive than the first volume and a wonderful reference peace that truly shows how dedicated to researching every detail and "leaving no stone unturned" Diana Gabaldon truly is.
The Outlandish Companion Vol 2 is even more comprehensive than the first volume and a wonderful reference peace that truly shows how dedicated to researching every detail and "leaving no stone unturned" Diana Gabaldon truly is.
September 6, 2021
Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two is, as the title suggests, the second companion volume to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. This one covers books #4-#8: The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, as well as the two Outlander adjacent novellas, “The Space Between” and “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows.” It also discusses all of the Lord John novels and novellas except for the most recent one “Beseiged.” By the time this book was released, Season 1 of the Outlander television series was out, so there’s some discussion of that as well. The series is so rich in detail that I love delving deeper into the stories, the characters, and the mind of the author, so this book is a real treat for die-hard fans like me. I liked it even better than the first Outlandish Companion, and I thought that one was pretty darn good and a must-have for anyone who loves the books (and television show) as much as I do.
Below is a section-by-section overview along with my thoughts on each one:
*Part One: Chronology – This is pretty much what it says, a chronological ordering of the books in the series, both Outlander and Lord John, as well as the related novellas. This section is only a few pages long and probably most helpful to newcomers to the series or more casual readers who maybe haven’t delved as deeply into it yet.
*Part Two: Synopses – This section is fairly long and contains detailed synopses of The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, as well as the two Outlander adjacent novellas, “The Space Between” and “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” and all of the Lord John novels and novellas except for the most recent one “Beseiged.” I found this part to be very interesting and helpful. Not only did it allow me to relive some of the magical moments of all these books and novellas, but it also served as a wonderful reminder of everything that’s happened thus far and where things left off. Now I’ll be prepared for the next full-length book, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, which will be released in just a few months (Nov. 2021).
*Part Three: Cast of Characters – This is an exhaustive glossary of every character who appears in all the books and novellas mentioned above, from the main characters all the way down to minor characters who might have only appeared once or twice. I did read the entire thing (Have I mentioned that I once read the encyclopedia when I was a kid? :-)), and while not super-compelling reading when done this way, it’s still a very useful reference. I can see readers referring to it to recall who a particular character is and what relevance they might have had to the series. I was also rather surprised (although I suppose I shouldn’t be given that this is Diana Gabaldon, researcher extraordinaire we’re talking about) just how many real-life people she included as characters and how she seamlessly wove them into her stories.
*Part Four: Sex and Violence – In this section, Ms. Gabaldon takes on her detractors who think her stories are “too rapey” or who are off-put by violent and non-consensual actions by exploring the intersection of sex and violence in her books. I found this part to be rather fascinating because it gives the reader a look into the mind of the writer and what she was thinking when she wrote these parts of the stories. This section also includes a lengthy discussion of Black Jack Randall and his sadism that was very interesting as well.
*Part Five: History and Historical Fiction: Organizing the Past – Again, this was an intriguing section as Ms. Gabaldon discusses history and how it can become distorted over time, as well as in what ways this plays into the historical fiction aspect of her stories. She also gives some insights into how she does her research and how she organizes (or not, as the case may be) her research materials and the things she learns from them. Another topic she talks about is how her books became categorized as romance and why they technically aren’t that genre (they don’t follow the conventions of it at all really), but are an amalgamation of many different genres. This section also contains a reprint of a newspaper article she wrote about how her parents got married and her own birth, which was entertaining and enlightening reading.
*Part Six: A Comprehensive Scottish Language Glossary and Pronunciation Guide – This section was actually compiled by Adhamh O Broin, who is the Gaelic consultant for the television show. I actually liked this Gaelic guide much better than the one in the first Outlandish Companion, because it arranges all the Gaelic words and phrases alphabetically in a neat table, which makes it much easier to look them up when encountered in the books. It also includes a phonetic pronunciation guide, book and page numbers where the words/phrases are found in the series, whether the word/phrase is actual Gaelic or Lowland Scots in origin, and a translation, which sometimes includes bits of trivia. I often found this last part quite informative and occasionally entertaining.
*Part Seven: Writing, and Other Games You Play by Yourself – This was also a fun section for me. In it, Ms. Gabaldon explores her own writing process, while being careful to emphasize that what works for her might not work for another writer, because we’re all unique. Still, as a writer myself, it was enjoyable to get a peek into how she does it. She also includes an annotated breakdown of Denny and Dorothea’s wedding night scene from Written in My Own Heart’s Blood to demonstrate various writing techniques and how they can draw the reader into the narrative. Then she discusses the one-word themes of each of the Outlander books and finally wraps up with a few favorite recipes from her own kitchen, which I’m sure will please foodies.
*Part Eight: The Invisible Talent – This section is a series of essays written by three people who work behind the scenes at the Outlander television series. Terry Dresbach, the costume designer discusses historical dress and the challenges she faced creating the beautiful costumes for this new (at that time) series. Bear McCreary, the composer who scores the show, discusses his background with Celtic music and how he goes about setting the mood for the various scenes. Dr. Claire MacKay, the herbalist consultant, talks about the history of medicine in the highlands, including some interesting information about the Beatons who were very sought-after physicians in the area around the time the books take place. She also provides a brief Materia Medica of a few of the more common herbs you’ll find in both the books and the show. Last but not least is a section by Theresa Carle-Sanders the author of the cookbook, Outlander Kitchen, who discusses eighteen-century food in the highlands and it’s preparation.
*Part Nine: Maps and Floorplans – This section is pretty much what it sounds like, floorplans of Lallybroch and the Big House on Fraser’s Ridge, as well as maps of the Ridge, the larger Lallybroch estate and some of the various battle sites mentioned in the books. This is great for people who are more visually oriented and like to have a picture of things in their head while reading.
*Part Ten: The Methadone List – This is a list of Ms. Gabaldon’s recommended reads that might help fans to pass the time while going through Droughtlander, the interminably long times in between book releases and new seasons of the show. I found a few books that sounded interesting in the list and I’m sure other readers will, too.
*Part Eleven: Bibliography – This is a short list of the books Ms. Gabaldon believed might come in handy as research material for Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. (She was still in the early stages of writing it when this book was released.) It looks like it could make for some additional interesting reading for history buffs or anyone who wants to learn more about the real world that Outlander inhabits and its real-life characters. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, though. She said that would fill a book in and of itself, so she’s put that much longer catalog online at LibraryThing.
So, as you can see, there are lots and lots of goodies for Outlander aficionados contained in The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two. The two glossaries could make for somewhat tedious reading, but then again, they weren’t really intended for that purpose.;-) Everything else engaged my mind and kept me reading and there are plenty of intriguing tidbits to take the reader much deeper into the Outlander world. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for the upcoming release of Bees. I’m getting shivers of excitement just thinking about it.
The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two is, as the title suggests, the second companion volume to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. This one covers books #4-#8: The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, as well as the two Outlander adjacent novellas, “The Space Between” and “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows.” It also discusses all of the Lord John novels and novellas except for the most recent one “Beseiged.” By the time this book was released, Season 1 of the Outlander television series was out, so there’s some discussion of that as well. The series is so rich in detail that I love delving deeper into the stories, the characters, and the mind of the author, so this book is a real treat for die-hard fans like me. I liked it even better than the first Outlandish Companion, and I thought that one was pretty darn good and a must-have for anyone who loves the books (and television show) as much as I do.
Below is a section-by-section overview along with my thoughts on each one:
*Part One: Chronology – This is pretty much what it says, a chronological ordering of the books in the series, both Outlander and Lord John, as well as the related novellas. This section is only a few pages long and probably most helpful to newcomers to the series or more casual readers who maybe haven’t delved as deeply into it yet.
*Part Two: Synopses – This section is fairly long and contains detailed synopses of The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, as well as the two Outlander adjacent novellas, “The Space Between” and “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” and all of the Lord John novels and novellas except for the most recent one “Beseiged.” I found this part to be very interesting and helpful. Not only did it allow me to relive some of the magical moments of all these books and novellas, but it also served as a wonderful reminder of everything that’s happened thus far and where things left off. Now I’ll be prepared for the next full-length book, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, which will be released in just a few months (Nov. 2021).
*Part Three: Cast of Characters – This is an exhaustive glossary of every character who appears in all the books and novellas mentioned above, from the main characters all the way down to minor characters who might have only appeared once or twice. I did read the entire thing (Have I mentioned that I once read the encyclopedia when I was a kid? :-)), and while not super-compelling reading when done this way, it’s still a very useful reference. I can see readers referring to it to recall who a particular character is and what relevance they might have had to the series. I was also rather surprised (although I suppose I shouldn’t be given that this is Diana Gabaldon, researcher extraordinaire we’re talking about) just how many real-life people she included as characters and how she seamlessly wove them into her stories.
*Part Four: Sex and Violence – In this section, Ms. Gabaldon takes on her detractors who think her stories are “too rapey” or who are off-put by violent and non-consensual actions by exploring the intersection of sex and violence in her books. I found this part to be rather fascinating because it gives the reader a look into the mind of the writer and what she was thinking when she wrote these parts of the stories. This section also includes a lengthy discussion of Black Jack Randall and his sadism that was very interesting as well.
*Part Five: History and Historical Fiction: Organizing the Past – Again, this was an intriguing section as Ms. Gabaldon discusses history and how it can become distorted over time, as well as in what ways this plays into the historical fiction aspect of her stories. She also gives some insights into how she does her research and how she organizes (or not, as the case may be) her research materials and the things she learns from them. Another topic she talks about is how her books became categorized as romance and why they technically aren’t that genre (they don’t follow the conventions of it at all really), but are an amalgamation of many different genres. This section also contains a reprint of a newspaper article she wrote about how her parents got married and her own birth, which was entertaining and enlightening reading.
*Part Six: A Comprehensive Scottish Language Glossary and Pronunciation Guide – This section was actually compiled by Adhamh O Broin, who is the Gaelic consultant for the television show. I actually liked this Gaelic guide much better than the one in the first Outlandish Companion, because it arranges all the Gaelic words and phrases alphabetically in a neat table, which makes it much easier to look them up when encountered in the books. It also includes a phonetic pronunciation guide, book and page numbers where the words/phrases are found in the series, whether the word/phrase is actual Gaelic or Lowland Scots in origin, and a translation, which sometimes includes bits of trivia. I often found this last part quite informative and occasionally entertaining.
*Part Seven: Writing, and Other Games You Play by Yourself – This was also a fun section for me. In it, Ms. Gabaldon explores her own writing process, while being careful to emphasize that what works for her might not work for another writer, because we’re all unique. Still, as a writer myself, it was enjoyable to get a peek into how she does it. She also includes an annotated breakdown of Denny and Dorothea’s wedding night scene from Written in My Own Heart’s Blood to demonstrate various writing techniques and how they can draw the reader into the narrative. Then she discusses the one-word themes of each of the Outlander books and finally wraps up with a few favorite recipes from her own kitchen, which I’m sure will please foodies.
*Part Eight: The Invisible Talent – This section is a series of essays written by three people who work behind the scenes at the Outlander television series. Terry Dresbach, the costume designer discusses historical dress and the challenges she faced creating the beautiful costumes for this new (at that time) series. Bear McCreary, the composer who scores the show, discusses his background with Celtic music and how he goes about setting the mood for the various scenes. Dr. Claire MacKay, the herbalist consultant, talks about the history of medicine in the highlands, including some interesting information about the Beatons who were very sought-after physicians in the area around the time the books take place. She also provides a brief Materia Medica of a few of the more common herbs you’ll find in both the books and the show. Last but not least is a section by Theresa Carle-Sanders the author of the cookbook, Outlander Kitchen, who discusses eighteen-century food in the highlands and it’s preparation.
*Part Nine: Maps and Floorplans – This section is pretty much what it sounds like, floorplans of Lallybroch and the Big House on Fraser’s Ridge, as well as maps of the Ridge, the larger Lallybroch estate and some of the various battle sites mentioned in the books. This is great for people who are more visually oriented and like to have a picture of things in their head while reading.
*Part Ten: The Methadone List – This is a list of Ms. Gabaldon’s recommended reads that might help fans to pass the time while going through Droughtlander, the interminably long times in between book releases and new seasons of the show. I found a few books that sounded interesting in the list and I’m sure other readers will, too.
*Part Eleven: Bibliography – This is a short list of the books Ms. Gabaldon believed might come in handy as research material for Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. (She was still in the early stages of writing it when this book was released.) It looks like it could make for some additional interesting reading for history buffs or anyone who wants to learn more about the real world that Outlander inhabits and its real-life characters. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, though. She said that would fill a book in and of itself, so she’s put that much longer catalog online at LibraryThing.
So, as you can see, there are lots and lots of goodies for Outlander aficionados contained in The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two. The two glossaries could make for somewhat tedious reading, but then again, they weren’t really intended for that purpose.;-) Everything else engaged my mind and kept me reading and there are plenty of intriguing tidbits to take the reader much deeper into the Outlander world. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for the upcoming release of Bees. I’m getting shivers of excitement just thinking about it.
November 13, 2021
I only read the recaps from Books 4 - 8, not the entire book. Good recaps and now bring on Book 9!!!!!!
October 29, 2015
I've been waiting for this book for years! Finally, it's here!
November 22, 2015
As always, very engaging reading. I love the summaries of each novel because I can then relive the books. I really enjoyed the essays on herbs and her research style.
November 7, 2021
Listened on audio. Enjoyed for similar reasons to the first. An excellent refresher in anticipation of "big book" 9 later this month!!
Skipped over some of the "behind the scenes" tv series passages, but did quite enjoy Bear McCreary's insights on how he scores the show.
Skipped over some of the "behind the scenes" tv series passages, but did quite enjoy Bear McCreary's insights on how he scores the show.
January 24, 2016
For fans of Diana Gabadon's Outlander series of books, having a "companion" book adds a rich background to the stories. This is the second volume and covers not just books 4 - 8 but the Lord John novels and novellas as well. There is a who's who for every character, fictional and real historic figures that appear in the books, and also a Gaelic and Lowland Scots dictionary with pronunciation. Those sections are best just used for reference. There are synopses of each of the four books and summaries of the Lord John books, excellent to get you up to date. touching on the highlights with some excerpts. for me, the best parts are the essays and articles by Ms Gabaldon and a few guest contributors. She writes about the sex and violence in her books, and her writing methods. Because there is now a television series, there are some contributions from jpeople involved with the production like the costume designer and musical director, very very interesting to hear how they create the look, feel and sound of the show. There's a herbalist and a cookery specialist, both of whom focus on the 18th century methods and recipes and the like. she includes a section with floor plans and maps, things like Lallybroch and Fraser's Ridge along with battle maps and maps of a few locations as they were in the time of the American Revolution.
Last but not least is the "Methadone" list, books that Ms. Gabaldon recommends her fans might enjoy while they wait for the next of the series. It is always a few years in between books and fans are always looking for something to tide them over. It's a fine addition to the series.
Last but not least is the "Methadone" list, books that Ms. Gabaldon recommends her fans might enjoy while they wait for the next of the series. It is always a few years in between books and fans are always looking for something to tide them over. It's a fine addition to the series.
January 18, 2023
I enjoyed listening to this book, even though I felt like it repeated a lot from what I'd heard in the first Outlandish Companion and from other sources. It was good to get a refresher of the book summaries since I'd finished some of them quite a long time ago, and I know I'll go back and listen to those before the next book in the Outlander series comes out. My main revelation with listening to this book, though, is the absolute GENIUS of Davina Porter, who reads all the audio books of the Outlander series. This book had several different narrators. I enjoy listening to Diana Gabaldon (even thought she talks really fast) because she has a witty sarcasm that I enjoy and can see comes through in her writing. But... when the Lord John novellas were being summarized, I was so bored, I had to quit listening for a couple of weeks before coming back to this book. Wow and YUCK! If that guy had narrated the Outlander books, I wouldn't have ever finished book one. I also realize that Davina Porter is THE reason I chose to listen to all of the books instead of actually reading them in print. I wanted to hear HER, and her voice will be permanently etched in my mind with those stories. I love reading aloud, and I always think that I would like to narrate audio books someday. I aspire to her goal, and if I ever saw her in person, I would fangirl to an embarrassing level.
Reread (re-listened): January, 2023
I enjoyed it even more this time because I knew to just SKIP the Lord John novella summaries. Knowledge is power! I especially enjoyed the herbals section this time around. Very interesting.
Reread (re-listened): January, 2023
I enjoyed it even more this time because I knew to just SKIP the Lord John novella summaries. Knowledge is power! I especially enjoyed the herbals section this time around. Very interesting.
December 31, 2015
To be fair, I didn't read a 100% oh this but since it's on my bed side table, I read bits here and there in between other reads and that's how I like to go through it, you can't really go through that kind of material in one go, and since I don't feel like leaving it on currently reading forever, might as well put it away now, knowing full well I'll finish it anyway, sooner rather than later, and start the new year fresh. (or it could also be that I'm OCD and couldnt finish the year with 119 books read so this is going to solve my problem and give me a round number. xD)
May 8, 2016
The Second Outlandish Companion, which I had been wishing for! Nice. It includes the 2nd 4 books, plus all the other books written with some of the Outlander characters in them, The Lord John Grey series and others/short stories.
Complete with floor plans of some of the most important houses in the stories, plus maps of various places and wars, and gaelic words, translated, herbal definitions, cast of characters. All every important when reading books of this length. You DO forget some of them.
Complete with floor plans of some of the most important houses in the stories, plus maps of various places and wars, and gaelic words, translated, herbal definitions, cast of characters. All every important when reading books of this length. You DO forget some of them.
May 30, 2016
Love it, great book. I plan to buy volume one at some point. The synopsis' are lengthy and detailed. So if you are adverse to spoilers do not read this book until you've completed the series. But if you want to reread the major highlights this book is for you or if you need spoilers to keep you going by all means enjoy.
DG's also added some STARZ extras from the TV Series which purists will love.
DG's also added some STARZ extras from the TV Series which purists will love.
May 12, 2021
Did I really read all 639 pages in one day? No, I did not. However, I have read all of the Outlander books to date no fewer than 8 times. Therefore, much of the book was rehashing things that I have firmly filed in my memory. However, there were so many new things, about life in the 18th century, habits, cookery, as well as the rather fascinating process of writing that Ms. Gabaldon uses, that I thoroughly enjoyed those sections that I read.
August 11, 2020
If you're a fan of the Outlander books or the series on Starz, you will treasure this book as the companion it's intended to be. Lots of facts, tidbits, anecdotes, history, genealogy, and so much more. I occasionally refer to it for clarification but mostly I admit it's just a fix for my Outlander addiction between books :)
November 3, 2022
A non-fiction companion to the Outlander Books 5-9. It includes long, detailed synopsis of the last 4 books as well as the Lord John books. Diana Gabaldon word several essays about her process, researching, the characters, and philosophies on writing in general. Finally, it includes essays by some of the crew (head costume designer, composer) of the Starz TV show.
August 26, 2015
Very helpful resource while reading through the Outlander books. It helps sort out the characters, places, events and language of the times -- the American Revolution.
September 14, 2025
4.5 rounded up
General Thoughts: This volume had so much information that it was almost hard to digest it all. Some sections I’ve certainly marked to come back to as references: like the Gaelic glossary. This book was published in 2015, and so “only” accounts for books 5 - 8 in the main Outlander series, (she was writing book 9 at the time), the Lord John Grey series as it was at the time (4/7 books/novellas), and assorted other Outlander novellas, plus only season 1 of the TV show as they were preparing for Season 2. It was a lot of material, some of which I have to go back to fully digest and others I appreciated it.
Writing Style: 5/5 - I appreciate Diana Gabaldon’s attention to detail and especially her humorous footnotes.
Content: 4/5 - Reading this volume as a companion while re-reading the main series, I thought the synopses were entirely too long, however they will come in handy when the 10th and final book comes out and I may not have time for a full series re-read (as much I know I’d want to) - they are very very detailed, it almost felt like reading the books again myself. As in volume 1, I always love the glossary of characters - especially the notations of who was real historic figures and those inspired by people in her life. The additional pieces towards the end of the volume - contributions from others involved in Outlander, the show, etc. - I absolutely loved. I especially appreciated that some of them (the customer director and musical composer/director) were fans of the books already before the show - it truly showed their love and passion in their products.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5 - While some of the content felt tedious, I still enjoyed reading this resource and know it will be helpful reference materials for re-reads and while watching the TV series (and new spin off, Blood of my Blood) with my partner who uses me as his only reference… I am no expert, but I have books like this that make me sound like one.
Total: 13.5/3 = 4.5
General Thoughts: This volume had so much information that it was almost hard to digest it all. Some sections I’ve certainly marked to come back to as references: like the Gaelic glossary. This book was published in 2015, and so “only” accounts for books 5 - 8 in the main Outlander series, (she was writing book 9 at the time), the Lord John Grey series as it was at the time (4/7 books/novellas), and assorted other Outlander novellas, plus only season 1 of the TV show as they were preparing for Season 2. It was a lot of material, some of which I have to go back to fully digest and others I appreciated it.
Writing Style: 5/5 - I appreciate Diana Gabaldon’s attention to detail and especially her humorous footnotes.
Content: 4/5 - Reading this volume as a companion while re-reading the main series, I thought the synopses were entirely too long, however they will come in handy when the 10th and final book comes out and I may not have time for a full series re-read (as much I know I’d want to) - they are very very detailed, it almost felt like reading the books again myself. As in volume 1, I always love the glossary of characters - especially the notations of who was real historic figures and those inspired by people in her life. The additional pieces towards the end of the volume - contributions from others involved in Outlander, the show, etc. - I absolutely loved. I especially appreciated that some of them (the customer director and musical composer/director) were fans of the books already before the show - it truly showed their love and passion in their products.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5 - While some of the content felt tedious, I still enjoyed reading this resource and know it will be helpful reference materials for re-reads and while watching the TV series (and new spin off, Blood of my Blood) with my partner who uses me as his only reference… I am no expert, but I have books like this that make me sound like one.
Total: 13.5/3 = 4.5
January 14, 2025
This is the companion for the next 4 books in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series, containing full synopsis of The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart's Blood - recaps of the Lord John Grey novels: Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils and The Scottish Prisoner.
Similar to Volume One, the structure is a mixture of the author's thoughts, followed by Davina Porter, Pilar Witherspoon or Jeff Woodman narrating a very abbreviated version of each book / short story. It's clear that they learned from volume one as volume 2 surpasses it in every respect. The recaps and synopsis are much better and Gabaldon's thoughts are less FAQ / filler, instead being a lot more personal and heartfelt.
For instance, in the "Recipes" section Gabaldon reminisces about how her father was the type to give her compliments with "but", in fact she only remembers 3 times when he gave her unqualified compliments.
🏊🏻♂️ 30 years ago he told her that her swimming stroke was perfect
🤷🏻♀️ 20 years ago he told her that her shoulders were beautiful
👩🏻🍳 And on Christmas day two weeks before he died, he told her that her enchiladas 🫔 were as good as his. (She has witnesses!)
"Christmas Day was the last time I saw him. But he'll always be with me, in the pull of water past my arms, in the faces of my children - and in the smell of garlic and chili, floating gently through the air of my kitchen."
I don't know about you, but I teared up after reading that portion.
This was so effective I looked through the Enchilada recipe and copied it to make it later. Then, the cynic in me started thinking about buying Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook and Outlander Kitchen: To the New World and Back Again: The Second Official Outlander Companion Cookbook because I am a cook and the messaging, subliminal or not, worked.
I'm also happy that Gabaldon is shining the spotlight in the Invisible Talent section, where she lets the talented people give fans of the book (and show?) a glimpse of what they do and how they do it. Basically giving credit to the following:-
Terry Dresbach, costume designer - the costumes, dresses and coats are superlative.
Bear McCreary, the composer who said he was born to do this score.
Dr. Claire MacKay, Herbalist I knew the uses of some of the herbs already, but this was very good as it is accurate. Would be great knowledge to have in an apocalypse.
Theresa Carle-Sanders, The Diet and Cookery of Eighteenth Century Highlanders, author of both Outlander companion cook books.
There's ye olde obligatory Maps of countries, islands, cities, Lallybroch and even floor plans too in case we ever come across a heist in Outlander (no joke, this has happened so why not more than once?). I did like the Methadone list and Family Tree which I think is a great idea because after I saw it I thought "Holy Sassenach, that's a HUGE Tree!"
Normally I don't like recap books as I tend to view them as cash grabs, however, overall, this is a much better companion that is totally worth owning. You can tell this was put together with a lot of love by folks who wanted to give fans the best they could. Bravo. The only critique I have is the Author recommended some other books by other authors, I felt this section should not have been included.
Similar to Volume One, the structure is a mixture of the author's thoughts, followed by Davina Porter, Pilar Witherspoon or Jeff Woodman narrating a very abbreviated version of each book / short story. It's clear that they learned from volume one as volume 2 surpasses it in every respect. The recaps and synopsis are much better and Gabaldon's thoughts are less FAQ / filler, instead being a lot more personal and heartfelt.
For instance, in the "Recipes" section Gabaldon reminisces about how her father was the type to give her compliments with "but", in fact she only remembers 3 times when he gave her unqualified compliments.
🏊🏻♂️ 30 years ago he told her that her swimming stroke was perfect
🤷🏻♀️ 20 years ago he told her that her shoulders were beautiful
👩🏻🍳 And on Christmas day two weeks before he died, he told her that her enchiladas 🫔 were as good as his. (She has witnesses!)
"Christmas Day was the last time I saw him. But he'll always be with me, in the pull of water past my arms, in the faces of my children - and in the smell of garlic and chili, floating gently through the air of my kitchen."
I don't know about you, but I teared up after reading that portion.
This was so effective I looked through the Enchilada recipe and copied it to make it later. Then, the cynic in me started thinking about buying Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook and Outlander Kitchen: To the New World and Back Again: The Second Official Outlander Companion Cookbook because I am a cook and the messaging, subliminal or not, worked.
I'm also happy that Gabaldon is shining the spotlight in the Invisible Talent section, where she lets the talented people give fans of the book (and show?) a glimpse of what they do and how they do it. Basically giving credit to the following:-
Terry Dresbach, costume designer - the costumes, dresses and coats are superlative.
Bear McCreary, the composer who said he was born to do this score.
Dr. Claire MacKay, Herbalist I knew the uses of some of the herbs already, but this was very good as it is accurate. Would be great knowledge to have in an apocalypse.
Theresa Carle-Sanders, The Diet and Cookery of Eighteenth Century Highlanders, author of both Outlander companion cook books.
There's ye olde obligatory Maps of countries, islands, cities, Lallybroch and even floor plans too in case we ever come across a heist in Outlander (no joke, this has happened so why not more than once?). I did like the Methadone list and Family Tree which I think is a great idea because after I saw it I thought "Holy Sassenach, that's a HUGE Tree!"
Normally I don't like recap books as I tend to view them as cash grabs, however, overall, this is a much better companion that is totally worth owning. You can tell this was put together with a lot of love by folks who wanted to give fans the best they could. Bravo. The only critique I have is the Author recommended some other books by other authors, I felt this section should not have been included.
April 11, 2022
The Outlander Companion Volume 2 is a must-read for any devoted Outlander fan, especially if you have read and appreciated the first Companion. Even if Diana has been around for a long time, there's always some new background and some obscure and amusing fact to learn from her witty and fresh narrative. Seriously, I could read her account of a grocery shopping session... oh, wait, I did (in the first Companion) and it was really entertaining.
And then there's the insight in the production of the TV show, a glimpse of which was already added in the second edition of the first Companion. The essays by Terry Dresbach (costumist), Bear McReary (composer), the lady who superintended the historical accuracy of plants and medicine (I can't for the life of me remember her name and I don't have the book near me) and - last but not least - Adhamh O'Broin, the Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) expert, are absolutely the cherry on top.
And then there's the insight in the production of the TV show, a glimpse of which was already added in the second edition of the first Companion. The essays by Terry Dresbach (costumist), Bear McReary (composer), the lady who superintended the historical accuracy of plants and medicine (I can't for the life of me remember her name and I don't have the book near me) and - last but not least - Adhamh O'Broin, the Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) expert, are absolutely the cherry on top.
December 9, 2018
I didn’t enjoy this as much as volume 1. There was less content written by Gabaldon herself but it’s still an ok read. I was also looking forward to reading the synopsis of the outlander books in conjunction with the Lord John series, as I’d just read the Lord John books and there was lots of crossovers. But not only were the synopses of the Lord John series kept separate, they weren’t proper synopses. They were more like boiler plates trying to entice readers without giving anything away. It was an obvious attempt to get readers of the main series into the Lord John books. For those of us who already are, it was a disappointment. There was still lots of interesting stuff and Diana Gabaldon has a lot to answer for introducing me to new authors in her methadone list (my bank balance will never be he same) but not up to the standard of volume 1
November 16, 2021
I was reading this book in preparation for the arrival of Diana Gabaldon's 9th book, "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone," that is coming to the bookstores on November 23rd. The previous book was published in 2014 so I needed a refresher on the many storylines, history and characters in these novels. This Companion book contains the synopses for books 4 through 8, lists of characters with descriptions, back ground of the history of the times, and much more. All these books are all VERY large so even the synopses are quite long.
Her first book "Outlander," was published in 1991 and I read it that same year. I have anxiously awaited the next novel in the series ever since. I am an avid reader and enjoy many different genres, but I must confess that these books are my #1 favorites of the thousands of books I have read in my 75 years.
Her first book "Outlander," was published in 1991 and I read it that same year. I have anxiously awaited the next novel in the series ever since. I am an avid reader and enjoy many different genres, but I must confess that these books are my #1 favorites of the thousands of books I have read in my 75 years.
October 9, 2022
I was excited to read GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, but wasn't sure I was up for a whole re-read of the first 8 books, and knew I would have forgotten some things that would make #9 more enjoyable. The Outlandish Companion Vol. 1 (revised) & Vol. 2 to the rescue! After reading the 8 synopses across two volumes- not to mention all of the wonderful extra, immersive, interesting material, I feel up to speed again and so excited to dive back in to this wonderful story. (And I know if I forget anything or want to double check anything, it will be in the COMPANIONS!) I wish every author of well-researched long series did this. What a treasure and a treat. Bonus: now I feel like I can finally watch the show too!
September 29, 2023
[640 pages with LOTS of reference materials...not quite a fast, can't-put-down read..... but still full of a different kind of treasures]
i was drawn to the section on herbs for medicines , a then and now presentation.
The chronology of the series to date is excellent and very helpful to late comers to the author's series.
And, oh my! The synopses of the next four books in the series is a brilliant addition. Getting to read an analysis of each book done by the author Herself is incredibly entertaining!
Certainly her book recommendations toward the end are gems to be mined. I've made note of many of the authors and their books/series.
Just "hearing" our favorite author wax on and on about Highly Opinionated Stuff is always a hoot!!
i was drawn to the section on herbs for medicines , a then and now presentation.
The chronology of the series to date is excellent and very helpful to late comers to the author's series.
And, oh my! The synopses of the next four books in the series is a brilliant addition. Getting to read an analysis of each book done by the author Herself is incredibly entertaining!
Certainly her book recommendations toward the end are gems to be mined. I've made note of many of the authors and their books/series.
Just "hearing" our favorite author wax on and on about Highly Opinionated Stuff is always a hoot!!
November 27, 2023
This is more a reference guide to the book series. This was an essential guide for me since it took 7 years between Book 8 and Book 9! I actually read the parts of the book with the synopses - parts 1 and 2, part 4, and part 5. I also have "Outlandish Companion Volume 1" and plan to keep both to the "end." (Mine or the series! :)) I began reading the series at the release of Book 5 (The Fiery Cross - 2001) I found the rest of "Outlandish Companion Vol. 2" to truly be a reference source for me as I have finished all books in the series and anxiously await the release of Book 10 and hopefully THE END!
If she takes as long to write Book 10 as she took between "An Echo in the Bone" and "Written in My Own Heart's Blood", I will have to go back and reread "Go Tell the Bees That I'm Gone!"
If she takes as long to write Book 10 as she took between "An Echo in the Bone" and "Written in My Own Heart's Blood", I will have to go back and reread "Go Tell the Bees That I'm Gone!"
July 6, 2018
As with the first volume, I listened to the audiobook which includes all the parts one would reasonably “read” rather than just use as reference (Gaelic pronunciation guide, cast of characters, etc. we’re the kind of parts were left out). I also skipped the synopses for books 7 & 8 since these companions were refreshers before finally getting around to those newer books for the first time.
Both volumes are great for fans of this hefty series — as reference, as memory refreshers, and for all the fascinating extras from Diana about writing, research, and more. Highly recommended if you love this series!
Both volumes are great for fans of this hefty series — as reference, as memory refreshers, and for all the fascinating extras from Diana about writing, research, and more. Highly recommended if you love this series!
October 1, 2018
This is a must read for any Outlander fan. Besides getting to read snippets from some of the books, there is a lot of interesting information about the Gaelic language, the making of the show and the medicine of the past vs today. With the exception of the dictionary part of the book, I read it from cover to cover. Amusingly enough was the chapter that said something to the effect that now that you have watched the series many times and read the books multiple times, what can you read now - I am that person (they didn't mention also listen to the audio books - which are awesome and a great way to make a long car drive fly by). There was a list of books she recommended for reading.
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