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Outlander #0.5, 2.5, 7.5 & 8.5
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: A Collection of Outlander Fiction
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A magnificent collection of Outlander short fiction—including two never-before-published novellas—featuring Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana Gabaldon
Among the seven spellbinding pieces there is “The Custom of the Army,” which begins with Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec. Then comes “The Space Between,” where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In “A Plague of Zombies,” Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn’t a giant rat. “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents during World War II. In “Virgins,” Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they’re trying. . . . “A Fugitive Green” is the story of Lord John’s elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in “Besieged,” Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana—and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city.
Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon’s genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.
Among the seven spellbinding pieces there is “The Custom of the Army,” which begins with Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec. Then comes “The Space Between,” where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In “A Plague of Zombies,” Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn’t a giant rat. “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents during World War II. In “Virgins,” Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they’re trying. . . . “A Fugitive Green” is the story of Lord John’s elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in “Besieged,” Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana—and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city.
Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon’s genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
5743 people are currently reading
24534 people want to read
About the author
Diana Gabaldon
205 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 1,308 reviews
July 13, 2017
This is what my hardcover looks like ↓
I wasn't as in love with the short stories as I am with the actual books. There are a couple that I liked. I think for me, it would be good to do re-reads with the actual novella read after the book it goes with. There are two new short stories in this book as well.
Most of them seem to revolve around John Grey, but there are some with Jamie, Ian (the dad), Roger, Frank and a few others.
Either way, it's just another Outlander book to add to my collection and hopefully I will be able to read them in order with the book someday. I did recognize some of the people the stories were about but I wasn't too sure where they all fit into the books.
Anyhoo, enough babbling. Enjoy the book you Outlandish fans. Of course, you have all probably read the novella's when they were out accept for the two new ones. So there =)
I wasn't as in love with the short stories as I am with the actual books. There are a couple that I liked. I think for me, it would be good to do re-reads with the actual novella read after the book it goes with. There are two new short stories in this book as well.
Most of them seem to revolve around John Grey, but there are some with Jamie, Ian (the dad), Roger, Frank and a few others.
Either way, it's just another Outlander book to add to my collection and hopefully I will be able to read them in order with the book someday. I did recognize some of the people the stories were about but I wasn't too sure where they all fit into the books.
Anyhoo, enough babbling. Enjoy the book you Outlandish fans. Of course, you have all probably read the novella's when they were out accept for the two new ones. So there =)
July 14, 2017
With the release of this recent collection of novellas, Gabaldon seeks to pull together a number of her shorter pieces for the reader’s enjoyment. With some mention of Jamie Fraser, a peppering of Roger, and even the elder Fraser, the vast number of stories have some Lord John Grey connection. When I undertook my Diana Gabaldon binge in the summer of 2015, I sought to read her entire collection in chronological order, which sandwiched Outlander novels with a number of the Lord John pieces. A number of the novella found within this collection were included in this binge. I have chosen to resurrect these reviews for those stories I have already read in this collection, so some of the comments might seem out of place in 2017. The latter two pieces are those I have never read and so their reviews are brand new to me and those who follow my postings. I hope you will enjoy my summaries and encourage anyone with a massive amount of patience to tackle the larger Outlander/Lord John collection.
The Custom of the Army:
It all begins with an electric eel party and a duel that goes horribly wrong. A night of apparent debauchery leads our famed Gabaldon character in a heap of trouble everywhere he turns. In an attempt to hide himself while he is persona non grata, Grey agrees to act as a character witness for a friend facing court martial, in CANADA. With an additional familial matter to handle while he is away, Grey embarks on an adventure to the New World and mixes it up with the British Army (currently at war with France in Quebec), while he hunts down a man keen on abandoning his duties. Gabaldon shows the reader another humorous side of Grey who, without Jamie Fraser around, is quite a civilised gentleman.
Gabaldon does a great job in keeping the LJG series moving forward. With some great storytelling, time appropriate characters and wonderful narration, anyone who is a fan of the Outlander series or the full-length Lord John Grey books will not be disappointed. This book sits nicely as a stand-alone, hence its unofficial non-labelled nature between many of the other pieces of writing in the series.
The Space Between:
In this novella, Gabaldon chooses two lesser characters and send them on a journey mentioned towards the end of An Echo in the Bone. Young Joan MacKimmie, step-daughter of our beloved Jamie Fraser, heads to Paris to answer her calling and train to become a nun. Sent on her way with Jamie's nephew, Michael, they travel through the streets of Paris in a short and jam-packed story. While Joan seeks to make herself a bride of Christ, she wrestles with voices only she can hear, which offer both advice and glimpses into the future. As she prepares for her entry into the convent, she begins to question everything she has come to believe, which led her to this point. Michael, who may have been sent as a bodyguard, fights his own inner demons on the trip, part related to his growing feelings for this young woman as well as the knowledge his Aunt Claire gave him about the not too distant civil uprising in France, with Paris at its heart. Michael and Joan struggle to balance their responsibilities with what the heart desires, creating a space between logic and emotion. They must also fend off the plans of a sinister man who seeks revenge for Claire Fraser's antics when last she spent time in Paris. Learning of the connection Joan and Michael possess to La Dame Blanche, they are spun into a web of deceit and potential disaster. With a sprinkling of time travel discussion (of course, no Outlander story can ignore the Stones), Gabaldon moves her major sub-story forward while keeping a little more of the full time movement situation for the final novel. Brilliantly composed with just enough to keep the reader wanting more.
As the number of remaining Outlander stories dwindle, I am left to pay special attention to these tales. Having taken the time to re-read the entire collection, I have taken away so much and learned a great deal, both about the history of the time as well as the intricacies of the characters Gabaldon has set before the reader. As mentioned many times in previous novels, Gabaldon may introduce minor characters throughout, whose importance is only known much later. This novella is a wonderful case in point, where the likes of Joan and Michael receive only passing mention in earlier stories, but now play central roles. One could say the same for Comte St. Germain, who acts as a Stephen Bonnet or Black Jack Randall of sorts. Wonderfully spun in such a way to entertain and intrigue simultaneously.
The Plague of Zombies:
In Gabaldon's final piece (to date) of Lord John-centred writing, she succeeds in weaving another great tale with her ever-resourceful Lord John Grey at the helm. In Jamaica on official business, Lord John is soon drawn into a phenomena new to him; the emergence of zombies. Waking one night by a visitor whose human form is questionable, Grey wonders if there is more to this myth than strict lore. When the Governor is found murdered, the scene leads many to believe a pack of zombies may be behind the crime. However, Grey is not so sure and mounts clues to turn the investigation in another direction. With many wishing him gone (from office as well as from the earth), the Governor's demise leaves many suspects for Grey to ponder. That said, the power of zombies appears stronger than even and Grey seeks to learn more about them if for no other reason than to quench his curiosity. Another great novella by Gabaldon to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and with an eye on packs of unknowns lurking the streets at night.
Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series is one of my great guilty pleasures. Her plethora of characters leaves a great opening for many interesting branch-off stories or novellas. That said, her character Lord John Grey, whose role in the Outlander series is minor in the first three novels, is one perfectly suited for a series of novels. An 18th century Sherlock Holmes on one hand and a tyrannical man whose lust for Jamie Fraser fuels a powerful hatred in the main novel series cannot be discounted. Gabaldon has done a masterful job of painting a calmer and more likeable side to Grey in this series, as well as jumping on the 'zombie' bandwagon made overly popular by THE WALKING DEAD. A great novella for fans of the series or newbies alike, it makes for a highly entertaining read for the curious reader.
A Leaf of the Wind of All Hallows:
What ever happened to Jerry MacKenzie, father of Roger, whose plane went down during the War effort? As Gabaldon mentions in the story's preface, discussion of Jerry opened in An Echo in the Bone, where Claire admitted that the story Roger knew was not entirely true. With Roger finally encountering Jerry in 1739, something must have happened related to the Stones, but the story is again not flushed out. Gabaldon chooses this point to offer a real account of events, just in time as Outlander fans are surely tearing their hair out with wonder, as the cliffhanger found no resolution within Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Spitfire pilot Jerry MacKenzie is approached by MI6 (and Frank Randall no less) to help in the execution of a covert mission behind the Iron Curtain. While out on reconnaissance, Jerry develops engine trouble and crash lands somewhere in Northumbria. As Jerry seeks to get his bearings, he discovers that he's been propelled into the past, but has no explanation for events. When he comes across a mysterious character, a little is revealed, including how to get back, but no clear understanding of the Stones is made known. Returning to modern times, Jerry comes across his wife, Marjorie, but is not in a position to reach her to discuss his revelations. Filling a few cracks in the Outlander storylines, this short story fits nicely, yet leaves much to the imagination.
Virgins:
VIRGINS, a novella penned by Gabaldon years after she made Jamie Fraser a successful protagonist in the Outlander series, opens the collection nicely. In it, Fraser and his friend, Ian Duncan, embark on the life of young mercenaries, well away from Scotland. It's 1740 and the boys, aged nineteen and twenty respectfully, find themselves out in the world, experiencing all that it has to offer. While Duncan sees that his friend is holding onto a secret, nothing prepares him when he learns the truth. Captain Jack Randall came to Lallybroch and embarrassed Fraser, along with his entire family, leaving Jamie banished from his own estate. Jamie uses the attack and belittling to fuel his fire to become a man in a hard-knock world. Along the way, Jame and Ian learn about fighting, sex, and what it means to be independent, all while crossing paths with many a clan unlike themselves. These 'life virgins' soon learn the ways of the world while vowing to protect one another. The novella opens the door to what is sure to be a wonderful series, at least for Jamie, as he hones his skills and returns to face Randall in the years to come. The awkwardness that he will encounter (as Outlander fans know all too well) should make for an ever-changing flood of sentiment in the man's brain...but we have many many pages to learn all about that.
A Fugitive Green:
In a story set around 1744, Minerva ‘Minnie’ Rennie is living in Paris with her father. They run a somewhat successful bookselling business, but it is merely a front for some of their more deceptive work: espionage, blackmail, and a little robbery. At seventeen, Minnie is ready to find herself a husband, but has been kept shielded from men by her overprotective father. However, an Englishman is said to make the best husband, so she is sent off to London to find a man and help her father with an especially interesting assignment. Meanwhile, the Duke of Pardloe, Harold (Hal), brother of the popular Lord John Grey, is still mourning the death of his wife and infant. They both perished after the onset of premature labour occurred when Hal engaged in a duel with his wife’s lover, Nathaniel Twelvetrees. The fallout of that duel and the death of his wife has kept Hal trying to justify his actions, though he has no firm proof of the affair. After Minnie arrives in London and is given the task of securing the collection of letters between Esme and Twelvetrees. Sly as she might be, even Minnie is sure to find this task somewhat difficult. Minnie is also left to discover a family secret that will shock her to the core, burning in a nunnery. While Minnie tries to secure copies of the letters, she encounters Hal and is somewhat besotted with him. This chance encounter turns somewhat steamy after she is caught red-handed trying to locate the letters. Returning to Paris, Minnie recounts her story to a curious father, who can see he has a well-trained daughter on his hands. However, when she reveals two secrets, all bets are off. A wonderful story that even allows the beloved Jamie Fraser to make a cameo appearance. Gabaldon is able to tie off a few threads left dangling in past stories as she adds to the Outlander/Lord John Grey chronology.
Besieged:
In the waning days of his military governorship in Jamaica, Lord John Grey is preparing to head to the America Colonies, not yet in full insurrection mode. The year is 1762 and life has been decent for this man of many adventures. He receives his step-father, who passes along a message that Lord John’s mother, the Dowager Duchess of Pardloe, is in Havana and may need to be collected. While this seems like a lovely side journey, news that the British Navy is on its way to seize the territory in its ongoing battles with Spain, leaves Lord John a little less at ease. Gathering his retinue, they make their way to Cuba and soon learn that the Dowager has made her way into the rural areas, alongside some other members of Grey’s extended family. Added to the upcoming siege is news of yellow fever, which has been making its way around the region. Choosing to arm himself with a few Spanish-speaking individuals, Lord John ventures far from the beaten path and encounters some less than pleasurable individuals who seek to form their own slave insurrection. What follows will test Lord John to his core and may put a significant flavour to the intended mission. Another great story that shows the softer and more compassionate side of Lord John Grey during his continued missions around the New World.
While not entirely full of new stories, the collection is well worth the time invested by the reader. Gabaldon is not only the master of the genre, but finds new and exciting ways to link passing mentions in some of her larger pieces with novellas that explain or further the already-developed piece. History is, at times, fluid when Gabaldon is at the helm, but it is the intricacies of the narrative that makes this collection a stunning compendium. Many will know of Lord John and Jamie, but it's these minor characters who are given some centre stage time that enriches the experience for all.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon for this lovely collection. Please allow me to speak for your entire fan base when I say, ‘we thank you for these short stories… but when can we dive into BOOK NINE?’. There, I said it!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The Custom of the Army:
It all begins with an electric eel party and a duel that goes horribly wrong. A night of apparent debauchery leads our famed Gabaldon character in a heap of trouble everywhere he turns. In an attempt to hide himself while he is persona non grata, Grey agrees to act as a character witness for a friend facing court martial, in CANADA. With an additional familial matter to handle while he is away, Grey embarks on an adventure to the New World and mixes it up with the British Army (currently at war with France in Quebec), while he hunts down a man keen on abandoning his duties. Gabaldon shows the reader another humorous side of Grey who, without Jamie Fraser around, is quite a civilised gentleman.
Gabaldon does a great job in keeping the LJG series moving forward. With some great storytelling, time appropriate characters and wonderful narration, anyone who is a fan of the Outlander series or the full-length Lord John Grey books will not be disappointed. This book sits nicely as a stand-alone, hence its unofficial non-labelled nature between many of the other pieces of writing in the series.
The Space Between:
In this novella, Gabaldon chooses two lesser characters and send them on a journey mentioned towards the end of An Echo in the Bone. Young Joan MacKimmie, step-daughter of our beloved Jamie Fraser, heads to Paris to answer her calling and train to become a nun. Sent on her way with Jamie's nephew, Michael, they travel through the streets of Paris in a short and jam-packed story. While Joan seeks to make herself a bride of Christ, she wrestles with voices only she can hear, which offer both advice and glimpses into the future. As she prepares for her entry into the convent, she begins to question everything she has come to believe, which led her to this point. Michael, who may have been sent as a bodyguard, fights his own inner demons on the trip, part related to his growing feelings for this young woman as well as the knowledge his Aunt Claire gave him about the not too distant civil uprising in France, with Paris at its heart. Michael and Joan struggle to balance their responsibilities with what the heart desires, creating a space between logic and emotion. They must also fend off the plans of a sinister man who seeks revenge for Claire Fraser's antics when last she spent time in Paris. Learning of the connection Joan and Michael possess to La Dame Blanche, they are spun into a web of deceit and potential disaster. With a sprinkling of time travel discussion (of course, no Outlander story can ignore the Stones), Gabaldon moves her major sub-story forward while keeping a little more of the full time movement situation for the final novel. Brilliantly composed with just enough to keep the reader wanting more.
As the number of remaining Outlander stories dwindle, I am left to pay special attention to these tales. Having taken the time to re-read the entire collection, I have taken away so much and learned a great deal, both about the history of the time as well as the intricacies of the characters Gabaldon has set before the reader. As mentioned many times in previous novels, Gabaldon may introduce minor characters throughout, whose importance is only known much later. This novella is a wonderful case in point, where the likes of Joan and Michael receive only passing mention in earlier stories, but now play central roles. One could say the same for Comte St. Germain, who acts as a Stephen Bonnet or Black Jack Randall of sorts. Wonderfully spun in such a way to entertain and intrigue simultaneously.
The Plague of Zombies:
In Gabaldon's final piece (to date) of Lord John-centred writing, she succeeds in weaving another great tale with her ever-resourceful Lord John Grey at the helm. In Jamaica on official business, Lord John is soon drawn into a phenomena new to him; the emergence of zombies. Waking one night by a visitor whose human form is questionable, Grey wonders if there is more to this myth than strict lore. When the Governor is found murdered, the scene leads many to believe a pack of zombies may be behind the crime. However, Grey is not so sure and mounts clues to turn the investigation in another direction. With many wishing him gone (from office as well as from the earth), the Governor's demise leaves many suspects for Grey to ponder. That said, the power of zombies appears stronger than even and Grey seeks to learn more about them if for no other reason than to quench his curiosity. Another great novella by Gabaldon to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and with an eye on packs of unknowns lurking the streets at night.
Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series is one of my great guilty pleasures. Her plethora of characters leaves a great opening for many interesting branch-off stories or novellas. That said, her character Lord John Grey, whose role in the Outlander series is minor in the first three novels, is one perfectly suited for a series of novels. An 18th century Sherlock Holmes on one hand and a tyrannical man whose lust for Jamie Fraser fuels a powerful hatred in the main novel series cannot be discounted. Gabaldon has done a masterful job of painting a calmer and more likeable side to Grey in this series, as well as jumping on the 'zombie' bandwagon made overly popular by THE WALKING DEAD. A great novella for fans of the series or newbies alike, it makes for a highly entertaining read for the curious reader.
A Leaf of the Wind of All Hallows:
What ever happened to Jerry MacKenzie, father of Roger, whose plane went down during the War effort? As Gabaldon mentions in the story's preface, discussion of Jerry opened in An Echo in the Bone, where Claire admitted that the story Roger knew was not entirely true. With Roger finally encountering Jerry in 1739, something must have happened related to the Stones, but the story is again not flushed out. Gabaldon chooses this point to offer a real account of events, just in time as Outlander fans are surely tearing their hair out with wonder, as the cliffhanger found no resolution within Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Spitfire pilot Jerry MacKenzie is approached by MI6 (and Frank Randall no less) to help in the execution of a covert mission behind the Iron Curtain. While out on reconnaissance, Jerry develops engine trouble and crash lands somewhere in Northumbria. As Jerry seeks to get his bearings, he discovers that he's been propelled into the past, but has no explanation for events. When he comes across a mysterious character, a little is revealed, including how to get back, but no clear understanding of the Stones is made known. Returning to modern times, Jerry comes across his wife, Marjorie, but is not in a position to reach her to discuss his revelations. Filling a few cracks in the Outlander storylines, this short story fits nicely, yet leaves much to the imagination.
Virgins:
VIRGINS, a novella penned by Gabaldon years after she made Jamie Fraser a successful protagonist in the Outlander series, opens the collection nicely. In it, Fraser and his friend, Ian Duncan, embark on the life of young mercenaries, well away from Scotland. It's 1740 and the boys, aged nineteen and twenty respectfully, find themselves out in the world, experiencing all that it has to offer. While Duncan sees that his friend is holding onto a secret, nothing prepares him when he learns the truth. Captain Jack Randall came to Lallybroch and embarrassed Fraser, along with his entire family, leaving Jamie banished from his own estate. Jamie uses the attack and belittling to fuel his fire to become a man in a hard-knock world. Along the way, Jame and Ian learn about fighting, sex, and what it means to be independent, all while crossing paths with many a clan unlike themselves. These 'life virgins' soon learn the ways of the world while vowing to protect one another. The novella opens the door to what is sure to be a wonderful series, at least for Jamie, as he hones his skills and returns to face Randall in the years to come. The awkwardness that he will encounter (as Outlander fans know all too well) should make for an ever-changing flood of sentiment in the man's brain...but we have many many pages to learn all about that.
A Fugitive Green:
In a story set around 1744, Minerva ‘Minnie’ Rennie is living in Paris with her father. They run a somewhat successful bookselling business, but it is merely a front for some of their more deceptive work: espionage, blackmail, and a little robbery. At seventeen, Minnie is ready to find herself a husband, but has been kept shielded from men by her overprotective father. However, an Englishman is said to make the best husband, so she is sent off to London to find a man and help her father with an especially interesting assignment. Meanwhile, the Duke of Pardloe, Harold (Hal), brother of the popular Lord John Grey, is still mourning the death of his wife and infant. They both perished after the onset of premature labour occurred when Hal engaged in a duel with his wife’s lover, Nathaniel Twelvetrees. The fallout of that duel and the death of his wife has kept Hal trying to justify his actions, though he has no firm proof of the affair. After Minnie arrives in London and is given the task of securing the collection of letters between Esme and Twelvetrees. Sly as she might be, even Minnie is sure to find this task somewhat difficult. Minnie is also left to discover a family secret that will shock her to the core, burning in a nunnery. While Minnie tries to secure copies of the letters, she encounters Hal and is somewhat besotted with him. This chance encounter turns somewhat steamy after she is caught red-handed trying to locate the letters. Returning to Paris, Minnie recounts her story to a curious father, who can see he has a well-trained daughter on his hands. However, when she reveals two secrets, all bets are off. A wonderful story that even allows the beloved Jamie Fraser to make a cameo appearance. Gabaldon is able to tie off a few threads left dangling in past stories as she adds to the Outlander/Lord John Grey chronology.
Besieged:
In the waning days of his military governorship in Jamaica, Lord John Grey is preparing to head to the America Colonies, not yet in full insurrection mode. The year is 1762 and life has been decent for this man of many adventures. He receives his step-father, who passes along a message that Lord John’s mother, the Dowager Duchess of Pardloe, is in Havana and may need to be collected. While this seems like a lovely side journey, news that the British Navy is on its way to seize the territory in its ongoing battles with Spain, leaves Lord John a little less at ease. Gathering his retinue, they make their way to Cuba and soon learn that the Dowager has made her way into the rural areas, alongside some other members of Grey’s extended family. Added to the upcoming siege is news of yellow fever, which has been making its way around the region. Choosing to arm himself with a few Spanish-speaking individuals, Lord John ventures far from the beaten path and encounters some less than pleasurable individuals who seek to form their own slave insurrection. What follows will test Lord John to his core and may put a significant flavour to the intended mission. Another great story that shows the softer and more compassionate side of Lord John Grey during his continued missions around the New World.
While not entirely full of new stories, the collection is well worth the time invested by the reader. Gabaldon is not only the master of the genre, but finds new and exciting ways to link passing mentions in some of her larger pieces with novellas that explain or further the already-developed piece. History is, at times, fluid when Gabaldon is at the helm, but it is the intricacies of the narrative that makes this collection a stunning compendium. Many will know of Lord John and Jamie, but it's these minor characters who are given some centre stage time that enriches the experience for all.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon for this lovely collection. Please allow me to speak for your entire fan base when I say, ‘we thank you for these short stories… but when can we dive into BOOK NINE?’. There, I said it!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 9, 2017
Realizing that Outlander fans are craving that third season, a collection of "Outlander" novellas packaged all in one book is the perfect remedy to beat the "drought." There are three Lord John Grey novellas(The Custom of the Army, A Plague of Zombies, and Beseiged). A Fugitive Green stars Lord John Grey's older brother, Hal and his wife, Minnie(Jamie makes a cameo in this one). A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows is about Roger Mackenzie 's parents during WWII, Frank Randall makes a brief cameo in this one. The Space Between features Jamie Fraser 's nephew Michael Murray, his stepdaughter, Joan, and the Comte St.Germain and Master Raymond. Lastly, there is "Virgins" which features Jamie and Ian, three years before the events of Outlander takes place.
If I had to choose one or two favorites, Fugitive Green and The Space Between would definitely be up there in the gold and silver positions. Honestly, I have been a member of the Outlander universe since I was 19 so I am always eager to get lost in DG's world. (whispers)Although I am definitely starting to plead with her to wrap it up soon. (looks around frantically)
If you're an Outlander or maybe just a Lord John Grey fan, great reading awaits you.
If I had to choose one or two favorites, Fugitive Green and The Space Between would definitely be up there in the gold and silver positions. Honestly, I have been a member of the Outlander universe since I was 19 so I am always eager to get lost in DG's world. (whispers)Although I am definitely starting to plead with her to wrap it up soon. (looks around frantically)
If you're an Outlander or maybe just a Lord John Grey fan, great reading awaits you.
August 3, 2017
Too many Lord John stories, why keep writing about one of the most boring characters in the series? I mean, he already has his own series, so why not write about the dozens of other characters that we've not heard much from? Anything would be more interesting than what we get with John. Lord John's stories are always the same, him being put in some war/battle type situation and then him ultimately saving the day, interspersed with him lusting after some random guy and generally being a racist git. No thanks.
I thought I would like Jamie/Ian's story but it didn't work for me at all, Jamie was a totally forgettable character without Claire, and Ian turned me right off with his sleazy ways, it really cheapened his supposed love for Jenny. Worst of all though was Jamie and Ian watching a rape and then blaming the victim and later glossing over the whole thing. The fuckers.
The two stories that were most enjoyable were Minnie/Hal's and the one with Roger's dad, their back stories actually added some depth and intrigue to the series. It's a shame Diana Gabaldon couldn't be bothered to write more stories for the minor characters, instead of focusing mainly on her favourites (Lord John and Jamie), who have only become more and more dull and tiresome with each book.
I thought I would like Jamie/Ian's story but it didn't work for me at all, Jamie was a totally forgettable character without Claire, and Ian turned me right off with his sleazy ways, it really cheapened his supposed love for Jenny. Worst of all though was Jamie and Ian watching a rape and then blaming the victim and later glossing over the whole thing. The fuckers.
The two stories that were most enjoyable were Minnie/Hal's and the one with Roger's dad, their back stories actually added some depth and intrigue to the series. It's a shame Diana Gabaldon couldn't be bothered to write more stories for the minor characters, instead of focusing mainly on her favourites (Lord John and Jamie), who have only become more and more dull and tiresome with each book.
June 11, 2017
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall contains seven Outlander stories, two of which are new. Since the others have been out for some time and I was already familiar with them, I’ll leave them be—but the only reason Seven Stones gets 4 STARS is because I love “The Space Between” and “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows.”
As for the two new stories, “Fugitive Green” and “Besieged”:
“Fugitive Green” (3 STARS) has its moments, and teenage Minnie’s take-no-shit spunk might fill the Claire-shaped hole in your heart (though to me, she feels like a less compelling, second-rate version). The story was interesting enough to keep my attention, but I was ultimately disappointed—especially given that I enjoy Hal and Minnie in the main series.
The lightning speed progression of their relationship was barely believable. Without my knowledge of their marriage from the main books, my eyes would still be in the back of my head. They have one very uneventful conversation (which Hal essentially wheezes through), and then they’re suddenly jumping each other’s bones at their next encounter. Jamie and Claire had a whirlwind courtship, but sheesh. There’s a lot of over-the-top outrageousness in this universe, but the relationships between the characters are always spot on. Gabs is way better than this.
Sadly, my one I-can’t-put-it-down moment was due to wishful thinking, as I'd suspected Minnie’s estranged mother—described as a German-speaking nun from a convent in Paris—might actually be a certain character whom I ADORE. Alas, this was not the case, and the Mommy Issues subplot reached an anticlimactic conclusion. (You’ll read the story and probably think, “How could Liv think she was Mother H's daughter?” but then remember that Claire once saw Nessie and also killed a wolf with her bare hands. YOU NEVER KNOW.)
Lastly, because you’re probably wondering: yes, Jamie does make a brief appearance. Other familiar faces with significant roles: Harry Quarry, the Twelvetrees brothers, and Hal’s late wife.
That being said, I enjoyed “Fugitive Green” more than I liked “Besieged" (a very generous 2 STARS). This was to be expected, as I don’t find Lord John Grey interesting unless he’s getting emo with Jamie or he’s bickering with/marrying Claire. There isn’t much to say about “Besieged” other than that it’s your typical “War! Bad guys! Adventure!” story, with a side of “zombie”. It’s set in Jamaica/Havana 1762, and there are no appearances from major main series characters, though Jamie is mentioned.
***
It’s interesting to see which ancillary characters DG thinks deserve short stories or novellas. Not that I don’t enjoy Hal and Minnie—or even John to some degree—but there are so many other minor characters I’d rather read about? Jocasta? Uncle Lamb? Jamie’s parents? Claire’s parents? CLAIRE IN GENERAL? (Okay, not a minor character, but really. I find it so odd that DG is reluctant to flesh out Claire’s early life, when she’s done so much with Jamie’s.)
I don’t know, man. Seven Stones was a good way to pass the time, but the two new stories were not DG's best. I’m just ready for Bees.
As for the two new stories, “Fugitive Green” and “Besieged”:
“Fugitive Green” (3 STARS) has its moments, and teenage Minnie’s take-no-shit spunk might fill the Claire-shaped hole in your heart (though to me, she feels like a less compelling, second-rate version). The story was interesting enough to keep my attention, but I was ultimately disappointed—especially given that I enjoy Hal and Minnie in the main series.
The lightning speed progression of their relationship was barely believable. Without my knowledge of their marriage from the main books, my eyes would still be in the back of my head. They have one very uneventful conversation (which Hal essentially wheezes through), and then they’re suddenly jumping each other’s bones at their next encounter. Jamie and Claire had a whirlwind courtship, but sheesh. There’s a lot of over-the-top outrageousness in this universe, but the relationships between the characters are always spot on. Gabs is way better than this.
Sadly, my one I-can’t-put-it-down moment was due to wishful thinking, as I'd suspected Minnie’s estranged mother—described as a German-speaking nun from a convent in Paris—might actually be a certain character whom I ADORE. Alas, this was not the case, and the Mommy Issues subplot reached an anticlimactic conclusion. (You’ll read the story and probably think, “How could Liv think she was Mother H's daughter?” but then remember that Claire once saw Nessie and also killed a wolf with her bare hands. YOU NEVER KNOW.)
Lastly, because you’re probably wondering: yes, Jamie does make a brief appearance. Other familiar faces with significant roles: Harry Quarry, the Twelvetrees brothers, and Hal’s late wife.
That being said, I enjoyed “Fugitive Green” more than I liked “Besieged" (a very generous 2 STARS). This was to be expected, as I don’t find Lord John Grey interesting unless he’s getting emo with Jamie or he’s bickering with/marrying Claire. There isn’t much to say about “Besieged” other than that it’s your typical “War! Bad guys! Adventure!” story, with a side of “zombie”. It’s set in Jamaica/Havana 1762, and there are no appearances from major main series characters, though Jamie is mentioned.
***
It’s interesting to see which ancillary characters DG thinks deserve short stories or novellas. Not that I don’t enjoy Hal and Minnie—or even John to some degree—but there are so many other minor characters I’d rather read about? Jocasta? Uncle Lamb? Jamie’s parents? Claire’s parents? CLAIRE IN GENERAL? (Okay, not a minor character, but really. I find it so odd that DG is reluctant to flesh out Claire’s early life, when she’s done so much with Jamie’s.)
I don’t know, man. Seven Stones was a good way to pass the time, but the two new stories were not DG's best. I’m just ready for Bees.
January 2, 2018
Each novella and short story in this book is part of the Outlander universe. I do have my favorites:
A Plague of Zombies. Jamaica, 1761. Lord John is sent to put down a slave rebellion.
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows. 1941-43. We discover what really happened to Roger McKenzie's parents.
A Fugitive Green. 1744-45. Harold, Earl Melton and Duke of Pardloe, and Minnie's story.
All the novellas and short stories were good. Each added information to the Outlander universe. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys Diana Gabaldon's books.
A Plague of Zombies. Jamaica, 1761. Lord John is sent to put down a slave rebellion.
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows. 1941-43. We discover what really happened to Roger McKenzie's parents.
A Fugitive Green. 1744-45. Harold, Earl Melton and Duke of Pardloe, and Minnie's story.
All the novellas and short stories were good. Each added information to the Outlander universe. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys Diana Gabaldon's books.
August 9, 2018
No he tenido el tiempo suficiente para leer y me frusta mucho. Este libro fue un recordatorio de por que me gusta tanto esta escritora pero me gustaria tener de una vez por todas el final de la saga de forastera. Aunque se basa en los pequeños hoyos de la histora y personajes secundarios como ella explico, me sentí bien recordando lapsos de tiempos de la historia pero esperaba mas y por eso no pude darle mas estrellas.
May 23, 2020
A few of these I've read already, so I'll be lazy and link to those reviews. ;)
The Custom of the Army - 2 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Space Between - no rating
I didn't bother getting this when it was originally released solo and I'm glad I didn't. I don't have much interest in Joan, and even less interest in the Comte St. Germain, nor did I ever once wonder what happened to the guy or what his backstory was. So this was one long bore and I skimmed a lot of it to get to the important plot points. It was nice to see Mother Hildegard, but her role here is pretty much just cameo and doesn't make up for the rest.
A Plague of Zombies - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 5 stars
(No review for this one though. Sounds like a good reason for a reread.)
And reread I did and loved it just as much as the first time. Roger's father, Jerry MacKenzie, is unexpectedly launched back in time when his plane crash lands, and he goes through hell and back to get back to his time and his family. We get a few scenes of what's going on with Marjorie and baby Roger, but most of this is focused on Jerry. It's beautifully and heartbreakingly written, because if you've read the Outlander books you already know what everyone believes to have happened.
Virgins - 3 stars
Jamie and Ian are mercenaries in France. There's a lot of anti-Semantism in this one, as Gabaldon doesn't shy away from the prejudices of the time, and even our protags are guilty of it. The Jewish characters themselves though do not appear - at least to me - to be caricatures or stereotypes. Some of the Scottisms seemed strange - Ian's constantly referring to Jamie as a "wean" - I didn't think their age difference was all that great, so it felt odd. There's also this whole subplot with one of the other mercenaries who makes Gregor Clegane look like a fluffy kitty.
A Fugitive Green - 4 stars
Minnie and Hal's first meeting! I was intrigued by the backstory we got about Minnie in The Scottish Prisoner, so getting to see a more detailed telling of it was great. Minnie's wonderful and resourceful, and we even get a brief (too brief, I thought) subplot of Minnie's mom and her quest to find her. That was rather melodramatic - the mom's backstory that is - and I kept feeling like there was something more there going on than we heard The ending also felt a bit rushed, so I hope this isn't the last exploration we get into these characters' backstories.
Besieged - 4 stars
Man, John can't even leave an assignment without getting pulled into a war. :P This is an interesting follow up to A Plague of Zombies, as John's still temporary military governor of Jamaica and trying his darnedest to resign that post. Enter his stepfather with some harrowing news. Loved seeing Tom Byrd again, and it was neat to see how Rodrigo is dealing after being zombified. There's your ingrained racism of the time, what with the slavery and all. I've never liked John's pragmatic view of slavery, but it is what it is, I guess? At least here, that pragmatism is a help to them.
The Custom of the Army - 2 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Space Between - no rating
I didn't bother getting this when it was originally released solo and I'm glad I didn't. I don't have much interest in Joan, and even less interest in the Comte St. Germain, nor did I ever once wonder what happened to the guy or what his backstory was. So this was one long bore and I skimmed a lot of it to get to the important plot points. It was nice to see Mother Hildegard, but her role here is pretty much just cameo and doesn't make up for the rest.
A Plague of Zombies - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 5 stars
(No review for this one though. Sounds like a good reason for a reread.)
And reread I did and loved it just as much as the first time. Roger's father, Jerry MacKenzie, is unexpectedly launched back in time when his plane crash lands, and he goes through hell and back to get back to his time and his family. We get a few scenes of what's going on with Marjorie and baby Roger, but most of this is focused on Jerry. It's beautifully and heartbreakingly written, because if you've read the Outlander books you already know what everyone believes to have happened.
Virgins - 3 stars
Jamie and Ian are mercenaries in France. There's a lot of anti-Semantism in this one, as Gabaldon doesn't shy away from the prejudices of the time, and even our protags are guilty of it. The Jewish characters themselves though do not appear - at least to me - to be caricatures or stereotypes. Some of the Scottisms seemed strange - Ian's constantly referring to Jamie as a "wean" - I didn't think their age difference was all that great, so it felt odd. There's also this whole subplot with one of the other mercenaries who makes Gregor Clegane look like a fluffy kitty.
A Fugitive Green - 4 stars
Minnie and Hal's first meeting! I was intrigued by the backstory we got about Minnie in The Scottish Prisoner, so getting to see a more detailed telling of it was great. Minnie's wonderful and resourceful, and we even get a brief (too brief, I thought) subplot of Minnie's mom and her quest to find her. That was rather melodramatic - the mom's backstory that is - and I kept feeling like there was something more there going on than we heard The ending also felt a bit rushed, so I hope this isn't the last exploration we get into these characters' backstories.
Besieged - 4 stars
Man, John can't even leave an assignment without getting pulled into a war. :P This is an interesting follow up to A Plague of Zombies, as John's still temporary military governor of Jamaica and trying his darnedest to resign that post. Enter his stepfather with some harrowing news. Loved seeing Tom Byrd again, and it was neat to see how Rodrigo is dealing after being zombified. There's your ingrained racism of the time, what with the slavery and all. I've never liked John's pragmatic view of slavery, but it is what it is, I guess? At least here, that pragmatism is a help to them.
September 21, 2017
SEVEN STONES TO STAND OR FALL is a collection of stories set in the Outlander world by Diana Gabaldon. When this massive book reached my doorstep, I thought it was going to be a full length book but actually it’s an anthology of short stories. Now I hesitate with calling them short stories because while they shorter in comparison to Gabaldon’s other books, the stories included here are all pretty long.
Gabaldon approaches each of these stories the same way as she does with each novel. The characterization is developed right from the beginning and there’s the same level of detail to each so you can definitely expect quality stories from this author no matter what format she decides to write in.
There are seven stories in this book but a few have already been released before. The last two, Besieged and A Fugitive Green, are the new originals that are making their debut in this book. Therefore, I will be sharing my thoughts on those stories in this review.
A Fugitive Green was the one that I was most excited about. It follows the story of Minnie Rennie who I instantly fell in love with. She’s such a strong character despite her age and actually I don’t think there’s a heroine that Gabaldon has written that I don’t like. As I mentioned earlier, the author doesn’t skimp on character development and this is the story that I definitely feel that shows this the most. We see a lot of Minnie’s growth in this story and by the end, I found myself wanting more.
Besieged was a different read for me because it’s about Lord John. This is the story that I think required much more research than the others because it involves Havana. Now, I have a long-time obsession with Havana so my level of excitement was through the roof while reading this. I’m just fascinated by the city so getting to see it through Lord John’s eyes was nice.
Sadly there’s not much of Jamie but there is brief mentions and glimpses here and there. I think this is a great book for die-hard fans of the world. Each story is well-written and expertly crafted. To be honest, they don’t really feel like short stories to me. So you definitely don’t want to miss out on this one!
May 1, 2020
Let's face it... I cannot have any type of objective evaluation of Outlander fiction! When reading a book feels like meeting up with old friends for a drink, you won't give anything but 5 stars (especially nowadays when one doesn't get to meet any other kind of friends... at least not in flesh). However, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the shorter Outlander fiction. Diana didn't hold back on her wit and wisdom, it was fast-paced and entertaining... and at some point, I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed reading up on secondary characters (and not only) of the Outlander universe that we know from the Big Books only in the passing. Finally, I got all the details on Hal's and Minnie's "hook-up". John Grey as always didn't disappoint in his ability to get into all kinds of pickles. Young Jamie and Ian were as eager for all sorts of things as expected. And there seems to be some trend in seducing nuns (for better or worse). Altogether, I had fun, although a bit short-lived. These stories might not make much sense to anyone who is not familiar with the Big Books but it's a treat for those who are.
September 12, 2017
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall is a 500ish page collection of (mostly) novellas set in Gabaldon's Outlander universe. All but two of the novellas were previously published in short story anthologies. The remaining two are new. I do not recommend picking up this collection if you aren't already a fan of the books. Most of the stories would be entertaining enough to read, but you're not going to get optimal enjoyment out of them without the context of the main series (or the Lord John books, which you should also read, because Lord John is the best).
If you scroll down to my status updates, you can see breakdowns and ratings for all seven novellas, but all in all, a worthy collection, and super handy to have all these concentrated in one handy book.
If you scroll down to my status updates, you can see breakdowns and ratings for all seven novellas, but all in all, a worthy collection, and super handy to have all these concentrated in one handy book.
July 25, 2017
* buys whole book
* reads only "Besieged"
If that isn't proper fanboy behaviour I don't know what is. :D
But TBH I already knew the other John Grey stories and I don't care much about the rest. It was nice to meet him again, but I really want a new Lord John book, a really big one. And beside my obvious and total love for him, I think Benedictas "My Life" would also be of great interest. What a woman. :)
"I didn't know you could speak Spanish, Mother."
"Well, I don't know about speaking, so much," she said, thumbing a straggle of graying blond hair out of her left eye, "but I gesture fluently."
* reads only "Besieged"
If that isn't proper fanboy behaviour I don't know what is. :D
But TBH I already knew the other John Grey stories and I don't care much about the rest. It was nice to meet him again, but I really want a new Lord John book, a really big one. And beside my obvious and total love for him, I think Benedictas "My Life" would also be of great interest. What a woman. :)
"I didn't know you could speak Spanish, Mother."
"Well, I don't know about speaking, so much," she said, thumbing a straggle of graying blond hair out of her left eye, "but I gesture fluently."
March 11, 2021
3.5 stars overall rating
I only listened to the ones I'd only read once before, indicated by *, with one exception. Reviews can be found at the book links below.
The Custom of the Army - 2 stars
The Space Between* - 1.5 stars
A Plague of Zombies - 4 stars
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 5 stars
I tried to listen to this one too since I'm not familiar with the narrator, Robert Ian MacKenzie, and I do love this story. But MacKenzie sounded like he should be narrating the Bible and that made me feel funny, so I didn't get very far into it.
Virgins* - 3 stars
A Fugitive Green* - 4 stars
Besieged* - 4 stars
I only listened to the ones I'd only read once before, indicated by *, with one exception. Reviews can be found at the book links below.
The Custom of the Army - 2 stars
The Space Between* - 1.5 stars
A Plague of Zombies - 4 stars
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 5 stars
I tried to listen to this one too since I'm not familiar with the narrator, Robert Ian MacKenzie, and I do love this story. But MacKenzie sounded like he should be narrating the Bible and that made me feel funny, so I didn't get very far into it.
Virgins* - 3 stars
A Fugitive Green* - 4 stars
Besieged* - 4 stars
June 29, 2017
I was quite pleased with "A Fugitive Green" and "Besieged", the only new stories in the collection. The Duke of Pardloe increases in fascination with each appearance. I gave the collection itself three stars because I really dislike the publisher packaging the other stories yet again as a marketing scheme.
August 31, 2019
A stunning collection!
"Women drink for the same reasons men do: in order to ignore circumstance or to obliterate themselves. Given the right circumstance, either sex will drown itself. Women care much more about staying alive than men do, though".
Do you need these stories to appreciate the main Outlander series? Not really. Do you want them? Absolutely!
"Women drink for the same reasons men do: in order to ignore circumstance or to obliterate themselves. Given the right circumstance, either sex will drown itself. Women care much more about staying alive than men do, though".
Do you need these stories to appreciate the main Outlander series? Not really. Do you want them? Absolutely!
June 13, 2022
Have been enjoying the Lord John and Outlander series on audio so picked this one full of novellas from both series up next. Loved the revisit and that the narrators from both series, Jeff Woodward and Davina Porter did their respective series plus new to mes Robert Ian MacKenzie and Allan Scott Douglas for one novella. All did fab and enhanced their stories.
Original Review:
I was thrilled when I got the email from the library that it was my turn for this book. I've been on the waiting list for months. Woohoo! My turn!
This is an anthology, but instead of reviewing thoroughly all the stories in it, I'm going to focus on the three that I have previously not read and reviewed. Though, yes, I couldn't help myself and re-read all the ones I've read from prior releases.
And, that reminds me, speaking of prior releases, this collection is seven novellas, but only two were brand new when it released. Just to help respond to any confusion, four were previously published separately, but also together in the UK only release of Trail of Fire. A fifth, Virgins, was released separately and in the Dangerous Women anthology. The only two new ones are: A Beautiful Green and Besieged, both from the Lord John side of the Outlander universe.
For reference, here are the ones included showing series/time order:
“A Fugitive Green" (Lord John #0.25, Outlander #2.5; 1744) Hal Grey and Minnie
“The Custom of the Army" (Lord John #2.75; 1759) John Grey
“A Plague of Zombies" (Lord John #3.5; 1761) John Grey
“Besieged" (Lord John #3.75; 1762) John Grey
"Virgins" (Outlander #0.5; 1740) Jamie Fraser, Ian Murray
"The Space Between" (Outlander #07.5; 1778) Michael Murray, Joan MacKimmie, Master Raymond
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" (Outlander #8.5) Jerry and Dolly MacKenzie
Here are my thoughts on the three, I had not read to this point:
Virgins
An Outlander prequel adventure for a young Jamie Fraser and Ian Murray
Just after Jamie's lashing at Ft. William and the death of his father, Jamie escapes with the help of Dougal and Murtagh to join Ian in France for mercenary work protecting valuables being shipped from place to place. They encounter exiled Jews and a coming of age adventure. Both Ian and Jamie learn a thing or two about women.
My heart went out to Jamie as he grieves and tries to work through his guilt, but I also was highly amused to see this pair of young men come of again with curiosity about being with a woman. Jamie and Ian's brotherhood was a heartwarming best part.
A Fugitive Green
I always wanted to get Hal and Minnie's story after all the hints in the Lord John and the Outlander series books.
I wasn't disappointed with what I got. I enjoyed getting Minnie's early history and being alongside as she displayed her amazing brains and talent. My heart nearly broke for Hal when the situation with Nathaniel Twelvetrees, Hal's first wife Esme, the affair, and Hal's grief after. The excitement of seeing the conniving Reginald Twelvetrees going against this younger Hal and the raw time after Hal's father's death, his wife's death, and the duel. So much! Wanted a little more of Hal and Minnie at the end, but that was just me being greedy. I was definitely riveted.
Beseiged
A John Grey novella
Lord John is finishing up his stint as military governor of Jamaica when his step-father, General Stanley arrives to solicit his help in retrieving his mother and his cousin's family from Cuba since the British are planning to attack Havana Harbor and the Spanish would likely take prisoner any British subject still on the island when that happened. Naturally, difficult becomes even more complicated when he finds himself in the midst of a slave revolt, yellow fever, and some luck to keep his family safe.
This one needs to be read after A Plague of Zombies for some elements to make sense, and it also has strong connections to A Custom of the Army, as well because of the return of Malcolm Stubbs. I loved the update on the Azeel and Rodrigo (might have the name wrong, there) as well as seeing Tom Bird assisting Lord John to rescue his mother and his cousin, Olivia's family.
It was exciting and poignant and left things with strings still dangling for what is to come in the rest of the Outlander world.
All in all, this collection was just what I wanted it to be. Those looking for updates on Jamie and Claire between larger novels might be disappointed, but those looking for any part of the Outlander world particularly Lord John Grey's adventures and those of his family and friends will see more to love. The rereads of novellas I got before was fun, but the three new to me stories were amazing and will become their own re-reads in time. Definitely worth it for fans though probably not a good place to start for new Outlander world readers.
Book Thoughts as I read
A collection of seven novellas from the Outlander universe with five previously published and two unpublished. I'm eager to read this one for the unpublished and Virgins, the only published one I've missed 'til now.
For reference, here are the ones included in series/time order:
The Series
“A Fugitive Green" (Lord John #0.25, Outlander #0.75; 1744)
“The Custom of the Army" (Lord John #2.75; 1759)
“A Plague of Zombies" (Lord John #3.5; 1761)
“Besieged" (Lord John #3.75; 1762)
"Virgins" (Outlander #0.5; 1740)
"The Space Between" (Outlander #07.5; 1778)
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" (Outlander #8.5)
And here are my thoughts for the novellas in order that they appear in the book:
The Custom of the Army 5 stars
Reread. The first sentence cracks me up yet again, "All things considered, it was probably the fault of the electric eel. John Grey could- and for a time, did- blame the Honorable Caroline Woodford, as well. And the surgeon. And certainly that blasted poet. Still... no, it was the eel's fault."
I always find John's books just as fascinating as the larger stories of Jamie and Claire, I know, astounding, but there you have it. I totally enjoyed immersing myself back in this John Grey adventure where he ends up in The Battle for Quebec fighting with Highlanders on the Plains of Abraham, encountering his cousin's husband, Malcolm Stubbs, Manoka, Charlie Carruthers, and a certain Major Snively with repercussions and the rest of the story for the last two in The Scottish Prisoner.
The Space Between 4 stars
A mysterious Raymond story and the Comte St. Germaine introduced in Dragonfly in Amber, yes!
Joan MacKimmie (Laoghaire's daughter) and Michael Murray (Ian and Jennie's son).
Just after Ian's death, Michael escorts Joan to Paris to be a nun and to get away from the 'voices'. The Comte encounters Master Raymond with a burning need to understand more about traveling through the stones. Two threads left dangling.
A Plague of Zomibies 5 stars
Lord John Grey in Jamaica
Faced with loa, Maroons, Mrs. Abernathy, murder, zombies, and a slave rising, John has his hands ful in this deadly island paradise.
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows 4 stars
The story of Roger Mackenzie's parents, Jerry and Dolly, during WWII and a chance encounter with Captain Frank Randall showing how tough the war was on everyone.
Such a poignant and bittersweet tale. I loved learning the fate of this lovely couple.
Virgins 4 stars
An Outlander prequel adventure for a young Jamie Fraser and Ian Murray
Just after Jamie's lashing at Ft. William and the death of his father, Jamie escapes with the help of Dougal and joins Ian in Fran for mercenary work protecting valuables being shipped from place to place. He encounters exiled Jews and a coming of age adventure. Both Ian and Jamie learn a thing or two about women.
A Fugitive Green 5 stars
I always wanted to get Hal and Minnie's story after all the hints in the Lord John and the Outlander series books.
Loved getting this one. It's possible it will be my favorite of the collection just because I've been wanting this story fleshed out for so long and I wasn't disappointed with what I got. I enjoyed getting Minnie's early history and being alongside as she displayed her amazing brains and talent. My heart nearly broke when the situation with Nathaniel Twelvetrees, Hal's first wife Esme, the affair, and Hal's grief after. The excitement of seeing the conniving Reginald Twelvetrees going against this younger Hal and the raw time after Hal's father's death, his wife's death, and the duel. So much! Wanted a little more at the end, but that was just me being greedy. I was definitely riveted.
Beseiged
A never before released John Grey novella
Lord John is finishing up his stint as governor of Jamaica when his step-father, General Stanley arrives to solicit his help in retrieving his mother and his cousin's family from Cuba since the British are planning to attack Havana Harbor. Naturally, difficult becomes even more complicated when he finds himself in the midst of a slave revolt, yellow fever, and some luck to keep his family safe. This one needs to be read after A Plague of Zombies for some elements to make sense, and it also has strong connections to A Custom of the Army, as well.
It was exciting and poignant and left things with strings still dangling for what is to come in the rest of the Outlander world.
All in all, this collection was just what I wanted it to be. Those looking for updates on Jamie and Claire between larger novels might be disappointed, but those looking for any part of the Outlander world particularly Lord John Grey's adventures and those of his family and friends will see more to love. The rereads of novellas I got before was fun, but the three new to me stories were amazing and will become their own re-reads in time. Definitely worth it for fans though probably not a good place to start for new Outlander world readers.
Original Review:
I was thrilled when I got the email from the library that it was my turn for this book. I've been on the waiting list for months. Woohoo! My turn!
This is an anthology, but instead of reviewing thoroughly all the stories in it, I'm going to focus on the three that I have previously not read and reviewed. Though, yes, I couldn't help myself and re-read all the ones I've read from prior releases.
And, that reminds me, speaking of prior releases, this collection is seven novellas, but only two were brand new when it released. Just to help respond to any confusion, four were previously published separately, but also together in the UK only release of Trail of Fire. A fifth, Virgins, was released separately and in the Dangerous Women anthology. The only two new ones are: A Beautiful Green and Besieged, both from the Lord John side of the Outlander universe.
For reference, here are the ones included showing series/time order:
“A Fugitive Green" (Lord John #0.25, Outlander #2.5; 1744) Hal Grey and Minnie
“The Custom of the Army" (Lord John #2.75; 1759) John Grey
“A Plague of Zombies" (Lord John #3.5; 1761) John Grey
“Besieged" (Lord John #3.75; 1762) John Grey
"Virgins" (Outlander #0.5; 1740) Jamie Fraser, Ian Murray
"The Space Between" (Outlander #07.5; 1778) Michael Murray, Joan MacKimmie, Master Raymond
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" (Outlander #8.5) Jerry and Dolly MacKenzie
Here are my thoughts on the three, I had not read to this point:
Virgins
An Outlander prequel adventure for a young Jamie Fraser and Ian Murray
Just after Jamie's lashing at Ft. William and the death of his father, Jamie escapes with the help of Dougal and Murtagh to join Ian in France for mercenary work protecting valuables being shipped from place to place. They encounter exiled Jews and a coming of age adventure. Both Ian and Jamie learn a thing or two about women.
My heart went out to Jamie as he grieves and tries to work through his guilt, but I also was highly amused to see this pair of young men come of again with curiosity about being with a woman. Jamie and Ian's brotherhood was a heartwarming best part.
A Fugitive Green
I always wanted to get Hal and Minnie's story after all the hints in the Lord John and the Outlander series books.
I wasn't disappointed with what I got. I enjoyed getting Minnie's early history and being alongside as she displayed her amazing brains and talent. My heart nearly broke for Hal when the situation with Nathaniel Twelvetrees, Hal's first wife Esme, the affair, and Hal's grief after. The excitement of seeing the conniving Reginald Twelvetrees going against this younger Hal and the raw time after Hal's father's death, his wife's death, and the duel. So much! Wanted a little more of Hal and Minnie at the end, but that was just me being greedy. I was definitely riveted.
Beseiged
A John Grey novella
Lord John is finishing up his stint as military governor of Jamaica when his step-father, General Stanley arrives to solicit his help in retrieving his mother and his cousin's family from Cuba since the British are planning to attack Havana Harbor and the Spanish would likely take prisoner any British subject still on the island when that happened. Naturally, difficult becomes even more complicated when he finds himself in the midst of a slave revolt, yellow fever, and some luck to keep his family safe.
This one needs to be read after A Plague of Zombies for some elements to make sense, and it also has strong connections to A Custom of the Army, as well because of the return of Malcolm Stubbs. I loved the update on the Azeel and Rodrigo (might have the name wrong, there) as well as seeing Tom Bird assisting Lord John to rescue his mother and his cousin, Olivia's family.
It was exciting and poignant and left things with strings still dangling for what is to come in the rest of the Outlander world.
All in all, this collection was just what I wanted it to be. Those looking for updates on Jamie and Claire between larger novels might be disappointed, but those looking for any part of the Outlander world particularly Lord John Grey's adventures and those of his family and friends will see more to love. The rereads of novellas I got before was fun, but the three new to me stories were amazing and will become their own re-reads in time. Definitely worth it for fans though probably not a good place to start for new Outlander world readers.
Book Thoughts as I read
A collection of seven novellas from the Outlander universe with five previously published and two unpublished. I'm eager to read this one for the unpublished and Virgins, the only published one I've missed 'til now.
For reference, here are the ones included in series/time order:
The Series
“A Fugitive Green" (Lord John #0.25, Outlander #0.75; 1744)
“The Custom of the Army" (Lord John #2.75; 1759)
“A Plague of Zombies" (Lord John #3.5; 1761)
“Besieged" (Lord John #3.75; 1762)
"Virgins" (Outlander #0.5; 1740)
"The Space Between" (Outlander #07.5; 1778)
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" (Outlander #8.5)
And here are my thoughts for the novellas in order that they appear in the book:
The Custom of the Army 5 stars
Reread. The first sentence cracks me up yet again, "All things considered, it was probably the fault of the electric eel. John Grey could- and for a time, did- blame the Honorable Caroline Woodford, as well. And the surgeon. And certainly that blasted poet. Still... no, it was the eel's fault."
I always find John's books just as fascinating as the larger stories of Jamie and Claire, I know, astounding, but there you have it. I totally enjoyed immersing myself back in this John Grey adventure where he ends up in The Battle for Quebec fighting with Highlanders on the Plains of Abraham, encountering his cousin's husband, Malcolm Stubbs, Manoka, Charlie Carruthers, and a certain Major Snively with repercussions and the rest of the story for the last two in The Scottish Prisoner.
The Space Between 4 stars
A mysterious Raymond story and the Comte St. Germaine introduced in Dragonfly in Amber, yes!
Joan MacKimmie (Laoghaire's daughter) and Michael Murray (Ian and Jennie's son).
Just after Ian's death, Michael escorts Joan to Paris to be a nun and to get away from the 'voices'. The Comte encounters Master Raymond with a burning need to understand more about traveling through the stones. Two threads left dangling.
A Plague of Zomibies 5 stars
Lord John Grey in Jamaica
Faced with loa, Maroons, Mrs. Abernathy, murder, zombies, and a slave rising, John has his hands ful in this deadly island paradise.
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows 4 stars
The story of Roger Mackenzie's parents, Jerry and Dolly, during WWII and a chance encounter with Captain Frank Randall showing how tough the war was on everyone.
Such a poignant and bittersweet tale. I loved learning the fate of this lovely couple.
Virgins 4 stars
An Outlander prequel adventure for a young Jamie Fraser and Ian Murray
Just after Jamie's lashing at Ft. William and the death of his father, Jamie escapes with the help of Dougal and joins Ian in Fran for mercenary work protecting valuables being shipped from place to place. He encounters exiled Jews and a coming of age adventure. Both Ian and Jamie learn a thing or two about women.
A Fugitive Green 5 stars
I always wanted to get Hal and Minnie's story after all the hints in the Lord John and the Outlander series books.
Loved getting this one. It's possible it will be my favorite of the collection just because I've been wanting this story fleshed out for so long and I wasn't disappointed with what I got. I enjoyed getting Minnie's early history and being alongside as she displayed her amazing brains and talent. My heart nearly broke when the situation with Nathaniel Twelvetrees, Hal's first wife Esme, the affair, and Hal's grief after. The excitement of seeing the conniving Reginald Twelvetrees going against this younger Hal and the raw time after Hal's father's death, his wife's death, and the duel. So much! Wanted a little more at the end, but that was just me being greedy. I was definitely riveted.
Beseiged
A never before released John Grey novella
Lord John is finishing up his stint as governor of Jamaica when his step-father, General Stanley arrives to solicit his help in retrieving his mother and his cousin's family from Cuba since the British are planning to attack Havana Harbor. Naturally, difficult becomes even more complicated when he finds himself in the midst of a slave revolt, yellow fever, and some luck to keep his family safe. This one needs to be read after A Plague of Zombies for some elements to make sense, and it also has strong connections to A Custom of the Army, as well.
It was exciting and poignant and left things with strings still dangling for what is to come in the rest of the Outlander world.
All in all, this collection was just what I wanted it to be. Those looking for updates on Jamie and Claire between larger novels might be disappointed, but those looking for any part of the Outlander world particularly Lord John Grey's adventures and those of his family and friends will see more to love. The rereads of novellas I got before was fun, but the three new to me stories were amazing and will become their own re-reads in time. Definitely worth it for fans though probably not a good place to start for new Outlander world readers.
July 9, 2023
I read most of the stories/novellas here in other collections, but there were three stories/novellas that were new to me: Virgins, A Fugitive Green, and Besieged. All three were swell, but the latter two were my favorites. Combined, the three I hadn't read yet are enough to make up their own book. D.G. doesn't really do "short."
After the last couple of Outlander books, I've wanted to read more about Lord John and his family, and this collection delivers the goods. I remember really enjoying A Plague of Zombies when I read it, and Besieged is a nice sequel to that story. It was great to read Minnie and Hal's story in A Fugitive Green, although it did feel rushed at the end.
The only story I felt lukewarm toward was The Space Between. That one just didn't grab me when I read it--I was never really interested in those characters.
Virgins was pretty good, but I'd rather read a Jamie story if Claire's in it too. The Custom of the Army is another fun Lord John adventure, and A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows was great, especially for fans of Roger.
Gabaldon fans should definitely check this out.
After the last couple of Outlander books, I've wanted to read more about Lord John and his family, and this collection delivers the goods. I remember really enjoying A Plague of Zombies when I read it, and Besieged is a nice sequel to that story. It was great to read Minnie and Hal's story in A Fugitive Green, although it did feel rushed at the end.
The only story I felt lukewarm toward was The Space Between. That one just didn't grab me when I read it--I was never really interested in those characters.
Virgins was pretty good, but I'd rather read a Jamie story if Claire's in it too. The Custom of the Army is another fun Lord John adventure, and A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows was great, especially for fans of Roger.
Gabaldon fans should definitely check this out.
August 30, 2017
I'd already read 4 of the 6 stories in this collection before thanks to scooping up a copy of the UK-only book, "A Trail of Fire," on a trip to London a few years ago, but despite the two new stories here, it's "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" that I still liked the most. Gabaldon takes you straight into the gut-gripping fear that every young man fighting in the Battle of Britain in WWII must have grappled with. And for Roger to have this brief glimpse of his father is both heart-breaking and frustrating. The readers get to find out what happened next, but Roger will never know.
"Virgins" about young Jamie and Ian in France just doesn't sit right with me. I get really uncomfortable with what happens in that story.
As for the rest, it was just fun to be back in Gabaldon's writing as we wait for the next book!
"Virgins" about young Jamie and Ian in France just doesn't sit right with me. I get really uncomfortable with what happens in that story.
As for the rest, it was just fun to be back in Gabaldon's writing as we wait for the next book!
June 30, 2017
The Custom of the Army- 4 stars (read in 2012)
The Space Between (originally in The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination) - 5 stars (read in 2013)
A Plague of Zombies (originally in Down These Strange Streets) - 4 stars (read in 2011)
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 4 stars (read in 2013)
Virgins - 5 stars (read in 2016)
A Fugitive Green - 4-1/2 stars
Besieged - 5 stars
The Space Between (originally in The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination) - 5 stars (read in 2013)
A Plague of Zombies (originally in Down These Strange Streets) - 4 stars (read in 2011)
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - 4 stars (read in 2013)
Virgins - 5 stars (read in 2016)
A Fugitive Green - 4-1/2 stars
Besieged - 5 stars
September 21, 2017
SEVEN STONES TO STAND OR FALL is a collection of stories set in the Outlander world by Diana Gabaldon. When this massive book reached my doorstep, I thought it was going to be a full length book but actually it’s an anthology of short stories. Now I hesitate with calling them short stories because while they shorter in comparison to Gabaldon’s other books, the stories included here are all pretty long.Gabaldon approaches each of these stories the same way as she does with each novel. The characterization is developed right from the beginning and there’s the same level of detail to each so you can definitely expect quality stories from this author no matter what format she decides to write in.
There are seven stories in this book but a few have already been released before. The last two, Besieged and A Fugitive Green, are the new originals that are making their debut in this book. Therefore, I will be sharing my thoughts on those stories in this review.
A Fugitive Green was the one that I was most excited about. It follows the story of Minnie Rennie who I instantly fell in love with. She’s such a strong character despite her age and actually I don’t think there’s a heroine that Gabaldon has written that I don’t like. As I mentioned earlier, the author doesn’t skimp on character development and this is the story that I definitely feel that shows this the most. We see a lot of Minnie’s growth in this story and by the end, I found myself wanting more.
Besieged was a different read for me because it’s about Lord John. This is the story that I think required much more research than the others because it involves Havana. Now, I have a long-time obsession with Havana so my level of excitement was through the roof while reading this. I’m just fascinated by the city so getting to see it through Lord John’s eyes was nice.
Sadly there’s not much of Jamie but there is brief mentions and glimpses here and there. I think this is a great book for die-hard fans of the world. Each story is well-written and expertly crafted. To be honest, they don’t really feel like short stories to me. So you definitely don’t want to miss out on this one!
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
January 5, 2025
✔
The Custom of the Army
(Lord John Grey 02.75) Read 02/16/18 5*
What more can I say, but that Lord John Grey, Lieutenant Colonel of the British army, at the placement in this story (1759), remains a beloved noble, pragmatic, and favored fictional character that I would love to have dinner with.
✔A Fugitive Green (Lord John Grey series) Read Feb 2018 5*
Clever, clever Minnie and lucky, lucky Hal.
Along with steadfast Harry ;)
Reading their backstory was most enjoyable (and heartbreaking, oh Hal) of which exemplifies why Diana Gabaldon's Outlander world IS romantic!
No matter what Herself sez, la~~
A treasure read, for sure.
✔ A Plague of Zombies (Lord John Grey 03.5) Read 10/11/18 4.5*
✔ Virgins (Outlander 0.5) Read 11/20/18 solid 3.5*
“If ye’re goin’ to hell, I might as well go,too.
God knows, ye’ll never manage alone.”
Ian and Jaime aka Juan and Diego.
Brothers of the heart, to be sure.
“I've got your right.”
Remaining TBR:
Beseiged Lord John Grey seriez
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows Outlander, RogerMac's parents
The Space Between Outlander, Comte St. Germain
What more can I say, but that Lord John Grey, Lieutenant Colonel of the British army, at the placement in this story (1759), remains a beloved noble, pragmatic, and favored fictional character that I would love to have dinner with.
✔A Fugitive Green (Lord John Grey series) Read Feb 2018 5*
Clever, clever Minnie and lucky, lucky Hal.
Along with steadfast Harry ;)
Reading their backstory was most enjoyable (and heartbreaking, oh Hal) of which exemplifies why Diana Gabaldon's Outlander world IS romantic!
No matter what Herself sez, la~~
A treasure read, for sure.
✔ A Plague of Zombies (Lord John Grey 03.5) Read 10/11/18 4.5*
✔ Virgins (Outlander 0.5) Read 11/20/18 solid 3.5*
“If ye’re goin’ to hell, I might as well go,too.
God knows, ye’ll never manage alone.”
Ian and Jaime aka Juan and Diego.
Brothers of the heart, to be sure.
“I've got your right.”
Remaining TBR:
Beseiged Lord John Grey seriez
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows Outlander, RogerMac's parents
The Space Between Outlander, Comte St. Germain
November 13, 2019
Amo la saga Forastera de Diana Gabaldon, sí. Este libro, sin embargo, me ha dejado un mal sabor de boca respecto a toda la serie. Algunas de estas historia me gustaron (sobre todo, "El Verde Fugitivo", la historia sobre Minnie y el duque de Parloe, y "El espacio intermedio", sobre Michael Murray, Joan McKimmy y el, supuestamente muerto, duque de Saint Germain).
Por otro lado, algunas historias, en cambio, no me resultaron muy atractivas o como yo las esperaba (por ejemplo, "Virgenes", de Jamie e Ian, se me hizo muy tediosa y confusa).
Sin embargo, como decía antes, en términos generales me ha gustado (no tanto como la saga, eso sí) pero no superó mis expectativas.
Aún me quedan los libros y relatos de Lord John Grey. ¡Voy a por ellos pronto!
Por otro lado, algunas historias, en cambio, no me resultaron muy atractivas o como yo las esperaba (por ejemplo, "Virgenes", de Jamie e Ian, se me hizo muy tediosa y confusa).
Sin embargo, como decía antes, en términos generales me ha gustado (no tanto como la saga, eso sí) pero no superó mis expectativas.
Aún me quedan los libros y relatos de Lord John Grey. ¡Voy a por ellos pronto!
August 2, 2017
Had to get my Outlander fix. I had not read any of these books. I like some better than others. I especially like the Introduction page where it lists all of the books in chronological order with a description of each. Can't wait for the next book to come out.
January 15, 2018
I absolutely loved this story. I always wondered about Hal and Minerva's relationship. Now I know.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and a great addition to the Lord John Grey series.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and a great addition to the Lord John Grey series.
February 2, 2021
A collection of seven novellas set in the universe of Outlander. Inconsistent in quality but with a writer like Gabaldon you can safely assume the range is narrower than it would be with most. The variety of time periods, characters and themes was also pleasantly broad. I have recorded my thoughts on each 'stone' below:
‘The Custom of the Army’
Writing this small can’t be good for my eyes.
Not much to say about this first story. It appears to be another case of Gabaldon finding a historic moment and basing a story on it, though said story is engaging with some fun moments. It’s highlight, though, is John Grey - one of the best characters in the series and forever reminding me of his excellent musical theme in the TV show.
‘The Space Between’
One of my main reasons for getting this book, as this story pertains to a substory of Outlander that’s always been particularly interesting to me. Fast-paced and mysterious - I also liked the focus on previously lesser-explored characters.
‘A Plague of Zombies’
Something fun and different. The resolution felt a bit sloppy but the overall mood to the Novella was a pleasant change. Never thought I’d encounter zombies in this fictional universe.
‘A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows’
My favourite ‘stone’ so far. Expands on a thread left hanging from the core series, leans into the lore nicely and has a very emotional story. The prose style also seems marginally better than the others so far.
‘Virgins’
Started off a little dull but got much better towards the end. Was nice to see Jamie and Ian together, something that didn’t happen enough during the core series.
‘A Fugitive Green’
Possibly my new favourite. The ranking order is becoming difficult. At varying times amusing, dramatic and emotional. Not to mention a story that makes hitherto minor characters into main characters and actually feels like a complete story.
‘Besieged’
Nothing too exciting in this one, but decent as a semi-sequel to a couple of the earlier ‘stones’. Also good to have another Lord John Story.
‘The Custom of the Army’
Writing this small can’t be good for my eyes.
Not much to say about this first story. It appears to be another case of Gabaldon finding a historic moment and basing a story on it, though said story is engaging with some fun moments. It’s highlight, though, is John Grey - one of the best characters in the series and forever reminding me of his excellent musical theme in the TV show.
‘The Space Between’
One of my main reasons for getting this book, as this story pertains to a substory of Outlander that’s always been particularly interesting to me. Fast-paced and mysterious - I also liked the focus on previously lesser-explored characters.
‘A Plague of Zombies’
Something fun and different. The resolution felt a bit sloppy but the overall mood to the Novella was a pleasant change. Never thought I’d encounter zombies in this fictional universe.
‘A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows’
My favourite ‘stone’ so far. Expands on a thread left hanging from the core series, leans into the lore nicely and has a very emotional story. The prose style also seems marginally better than the others so far.
‘Virgins’
Started off a little dull but got much better towards the end. Was nice to see Jamie and Ian together, something that didn’t happen enough during the core series.
‘A Fugitive Green’
Possibly my new favourite. The ranking order is becoming difficult. At varying times amusing, dramatic and emotional. Not to mention a story that makes hitherto minor characters into main characters and actually feels like a complete story.
‘Besieged’
Nothing too exciting in this one, but decent as a semi-sequel to a couple of the earlier ‘stones’. Also good to have another Lord John Story.
May 25, 2024
hab‘s geschafft!
das war… naja gehen wir einfach die einzelnen geschichten nacheinander durch.
vorwort dazu allerdings: wenn es schon eine chronologie am anfang des buches gibt, warum sind die kurzgeschichten dann nicht chronologisch in diesem buch angeordnet? wieso sollte ich denn, wenn ich am anfang nochmal auf die reihenfolge hingewiesen werde, sie durcheinander lesen? well i digress (und die review gibts chronologisch bitte danke)
unschuldsengel: 2 sterne
hab nicht viel zu sagen, außer, dass diese story mir absolut gar nichts gegeben hat
minervas geheimnis: 4 sterne
richtig gut, weil tatsächlich etwas passiert ist und die charaktere mir durch die lord john romane schon bekannt und sympathisch waren. minnie ist eine tolle erzählfigur und diese eine meiner liebsten geschichten! abzug gibts für das sehr abrupte ende, wobei ich das gefühl habe, dass das grundsätzlich gabaldon‘s stil in ihren kurzgeschichten ist
lord john und der usus der armee: 2 sterne
auch hier wieder: unnötig all in all, wenn man mal davon absieht, dass sich in einer der nächsten kurzgeschichte darauf bezogen wird. aber honestly viel zu langes vorgeplänkel für viel zu wenige erklärungen hintenraus
lord john und der herr der zombies: 4 sterne
auch eine meiner persönlichen favoriten, denn hier scheint gabaldon‘s humor, den sie gerne in die lord john geschichten packt, deutlicher hervor und die geschichte ist von anfang bis ende wirklich spannend gewesen, trotz des etwas abwegig wirkenden themas
die kanonen von el morro: 3 sterne
etwas zu lang und auch das ende war mir wieder zu abrupt, aber grundsätzlich nicht verkehrt
die stille des herzens: 2,5 sterne
warum genau musste der comte st germain für diese kurzgeschichten unbedingt wiederauferstehen? und da ich band 7 der outlander reihe noch nicht gelesen habe, hatte ich jetzt auch keine wirkliche verbindung zu joan und michael, weswegen mich das ende auch hier nur verwirrt hat
wie ein blatt im wind: 3,5 sterne
guter abschluss und der schluss war wirklich herzzerreißend. hier hätte ich mir jerrys zeit in der vergangenheit etwas anders vorgestellt, aber vielleicht wird das in echo der hoffnung ja nochmal besser erklärt, let‘s see
das war… naja gehen wir einfach die einzelnen geschichten nacheinander durch.
vorwort dazu allerdings: wenn es schon eine chronologie am anfang des buches gibt, warum sind die kurzgeschichten dann nicht chronologisch in diesem buch angeordnet? wieso sollte ich denn, wenn ich am anfang nochmal auf die reihenfolge hingewiesen werde, sie durcheinander lesen? well i digress (und die review gibts chronologisch bitte danke)
unschuldsengel: 2 sterne
hab nicht viel zu sagen, außer, dass diese story mir absolut gar nichts gegeben hat
minervas geheimnis: 4 sterne
richtig gut, weil tatsächlich etwas passiert ist und die charaktere mir durch die lord john romane schon bekannt und sympathisch waren. minnie ist eine tolle erzählfigur und diese eine meiner liebsten geschichten! abzug gibts für das sehr abrupte ende, wobei ich das gefühl habe, dass das grundsätzlich gabaldon‘s stil in ihren kurzgeschichten ist
lord john und der usus der armee: 2 sterne
auch hier wieder: unnötig all in all, wenn man mal davon absieht, dass sich in einer der nächsten kurzgeschichte darauf bezogen wird. aber honestly viel zu langes vorgeplänkel für viel zu wenige erklärungen hintenraus
lord john und der herr der zombies: 4 sterne
auch eine meiner persönlichen favoriten, denn hier scheint gabaldon‘s humor, den sie gerne in die lord john geschichten packt, deutlicher hervor und die geschichte ist von anfang bis ende wirklich spannend gewesen, trotz des etwas abwegig wirkenden themas
die kanonen von el morro: 3 sterne
etwas zu lang und auch das ende war mir wieder zu abrupt, aber grundsätzlich nicht verkehrt
die stille des herzens: 2,5 sterne
warum genau musste der comte st germain für diese kurzgeschichten unbedingt wiederauferstehen? und da ich band 7 der outlander reihe noch nicht gelesen habe, hatte ich jetzt auch keine wirkliche verbindung zu joan und michael, weswegen mich das ende auch hier nur verwirrt hat
wie ein blatt im wind: 3,5 sterne
guter abschluss und der schluss war wirklich herzzerreißend. hier hätte ich mir jerrys zeit in der vergangenheit etwas anders vorgestellt, aber vielleicht wird das in echo der hoffnung ja nochmal besser erklärt, let‘s see
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2018
RESEÑA COMPLETA ➜
A estas alturas del partido ya todos deben de saber lo mucho que amo la serie “Forastera”, así que cuando vi que Salamandra iba a publicarlo literalmente brinqué de alegría y a penas y lo tuve en mis manos me puse a leerlo pues tres de las siete historias están protagonizadas por uno de mis personajes favoritos de la serie, John Grey.
Pero antes de ponerme a fangirlear por Grey, dejen les explico sobre el libro pues por ahí en la entrada donde lo anuncié he visto que tienen algunas dudas respecto a él. Siete piedras para caer o resistir no es el octavo libro de Forastera, es sólo un libro que recopila siete relatos cortos que Diana ha escrito para diferentes antologías. Ya saben que en USA es muy común que varios autores se junten para crear antologías dedicadas a ciertos temas así que estos relatos son originales de esas siete antologías que obviamente están ambientados en el mundo de Forastera.
Ahora bien, ¿se pueden leer de manera independiente? Sip, sip, sip. A excepción de un pequeñísimo spoiler de “Ecos del pasado”, los relatos se pueden leer de manera independiente y no afecta para nada en la lectura de la serie principal, de hecho la mayoría de los relatos pueden ser leídos sin conocer nada de la serie, pero obviamente van a disfrutar más de ellos si conocen a los personajes pues varias veces se mencionan a los personajes principales.
Una vez aclarado las dudas… Siete piedras para caer o resistir se compone de siete relatos, que son:
La costumbre del ejército.- Donde John Grey es el protagonista y tiene que viajar a Canadá para servir de testigo a un viejo amigo que está siendo enjuiciado. Pero aunque su propósito es sencillo, cuando llega a Quebec se ve envuelto en un secreto familiar, una batalla y un amorío con un indio que le enseñará muchas cosas.
Debo decir que este relato me gustó bastante pues hasta ahora sólo había podido ver a Grey en un plan muy serio pero aquí lo vemos llevar una vida mucho más relajada que nos permite conocer otro aspecto de él.
El espacio intermedio.- En este relato Michael Murray (el hijo mediano de Ian y Jenny) es el protagonista y en el veremos al joven escocés escoltar a Joan MacKammie (hermana menor de Marsali) hasta un convento en Francia donde piensa unirse a las hermanas.
Este relato me ha gustó porque en el veremos a muchos viejos conocidos de la serie, como la hermana Hildegarden y a Saint German que no estaba tan muerto y quien de hecho cuenta un secreto que lo hará muy similar a Claire.
Una plaga de zombis.- En este relato John Grey tiene que detener una rebelión de esclavos pero en el proceso de averiguar cómo, se encuentra con lo que los aldeanos dicen son zombis. Un enemigo completamente desconocido para él.
A pesar de que amo a Grey, este es el relato que menos me ha gustado del libro.
Una hoja en el viento de todos los Santos.- Al Capitán Jerry Mackenzie se le pide realizar una misión ultra secreta que permitirá descubrir uno de los secretos más terroríficos de los Nazis, pero antes de llegar a cumplir la misión, Mackenzie desaparece sin dejar rastro alguno.
Este relato ha sido mi favorito y está protagonizado por los papás de Roger Mackenzie cuando este era apenas un bebé. Ya sabemos que Roger es un viajero en el tiempo y también sabemos que está habilidad es hereditaria así que gracias a este relato sabemos a cuál de sus padres se debe el que pueda pasar por las piedras.
Vírgenes.- Este es el único relato del libro protagonizado por uno de los personajes principales de la serie, en concreto les hablo de Jamie Fraser que a sus 19 años ha tenido que dejar Escocia para unirse con Ian Murray de 20 a una banda de mercenarios pues los casacas rojas han puesto precio a su cabeza.
Este es mi segundo relato favorito por el simple hecho de mostrarnos a un Jamie mucho menos experimentado y mucho más ingenuo. Hasta ahora sólo habíamos conocido a un Jamie capaz de todo con mucha experiencia que prácticamente lo hace un súper hombre, pero en este relato lo vemos como un joven inocente que apenas sabe algo de la vida. Un lado mucho más torpe que sin duda he disfrutado.
Un verde fugitivo.- Harold Grey (hermano mayor de John) conoce a Minnie, una aprendiz de libros raros que ha sido enviada a Inglaterra con el fin de encontrar libros incunables.
Bien, en realidad esta historia ni me gustó ni me desagrado, es entretenida y Jamie sale pero en realidad es ñeeh…
Sitiados.- John Grey quiere regresar a casa después de su aventura con los zombis pero antes de hacerlo termina en Cuba donde el ejército inglés está planeando sitiar La Habana donde descubre se encuentra su madre.
De nuevo en este relato Grey es el protagonista y de nuevo volvió a encantarme con esa mente ágil suya.
Para terminar de hablarles de este libro me gustaría decirles que Diana Gabaldon incluyó una cronología para saber perfectamente donde encajar cada relato y además de hablarnos de manera breve de cada uno de ellos nos cuenta a que antología pertenece cada relato. Sin duda alguna esta cronología es un regalo perfecto de la autora pues al menos yo si soy de las que disfruta mucho saber el orden cronológico de las cosas.
May 9, 2018
I don’t normally choose to read short stories, but I thoroughly enjoyed these. They fill in tangential storylines from the Outlander series, and gave a little more of Gabaldon’s enjoyable, well-researched writing.
July 21, 2019
Die Kurzgeschichtensammlung war wirklich sehr schön! Klar manche wären besser als andere, aber bis auf eine die eher mittelmäßig war, fand ich alle gut und sehr lesenswert! Für Outlander Fans ❤️
July 5, 2022
En conjunto, todos los relatos me han gustado mucho. Quiero destacar, en especial, EL espacio intermedio, Una hoja en el viento de todos los santos y Vírgenes. Sobre todo el segundo, me ha encantado conocer la historia de los padres de Roger aunque haya dolido lo suyo.
Es una colección de historias cortas que debe leerse tras Escrito en la sangre de mi corazón, el octavo libro de la saga Forastera, que nos dará cierta información sobe algunos personajes secundarios a los que hemos seguido en las novelas. He decicido leerlo ahora con vistas a cuando salga el noveno libro, Cuenta a las abejas que me fui, que en España está por salir dentro de muy poco tiempo. La verdad es que como he dicho, me han gustado mucho todos los relatos a pesar de que claro está, no todos por igual.
Es una colección de historias cortas que debe leerse tras Escrito en la sangre de mi corazón, el octavo libro de la saga Forastera, que nos dará cierta información sobe algunos personajes secundarios a los que hemos seguido en las novelas. He decicido leerlo ahora con vistas a cuando salga el noveno libro, Cuenta a las abejas que me fui, que en España está por salir dentro de muy poco tiempo. La verdad es que como he dicho, me han gustado mucho todos los relatos a pesar de que claro está, no todos por igual.
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