A New Outlander Book!

Plus a Guide to Diana Gabaldon's Intricate Literary World

Sultry Romance and Time Travel

Fun fact: When Diana Gabaldon began writing the first book in her Outlander series, she initially viewed the historical fantasy as a "practice novel" and never planned on showing it to anyone. The very thought of it leaves us breathless! In the three decades since then, the sprawling and enthralling saga has sold more than 28 million books worldwide and the newest installment comes out later this month.

Season six of the hit Starz show based on the series is scheduled to premiere in 2022. But, as fans of the books will tell you, there's a lot you're missing if you haven't read the novels (they're huuuge). As always, if you want the complete story, the book is always better. But there's lots of material to wade through! Here we provide a guide to the elaborate Outlander universe.

Claire and Jamie

The story centers on embattled lovers Claire and Jamie. The main obstacle to their steamy, saucy passion? They were born centuries apart. Each book contains A LOT of action (wink!) and the sexy pair's globetrotting, time-traveling adventures, paired with rich historical details, will keep you thoroughly gripped. Here, we review the books in chronological order:

1. Outlander: Following WWII, former combat nurse Claire Randall is honeymooning in Scotland with her new husband, Frank, when she is suddenly whisked through time to 1743. There, amidst the tumultuous buildup to the Jacobite Risings, she encounters Jamie, a strapping Scot, and their initial conflict quickly morphs into a fiery, all-consuming desire.
2. Dragonfly in Amber: This novel bounces between present and past. Claire is trying to adjust to being back in her own time with Frank, while pining for her thrilling time with Jamie, who she believes died in battle.
3. Voyager: After discovering that Jamie didn't actually die, Claire seeks to return to the eighteenth century and reunite with him. But once she finds her way back, more trouble erupts.
4. Drums of Autumn: We find Jamie and Claire building a life for themselves in the New World. Meanwhile their daughter, Brianna, trapped in the twentieth century, searches for a way back to her parents.
5. The Fiery Cross: The threat of war looms in their North Carolina home, as Jamie and Claire fight to protect the sanctuary they've created for themselves.
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes: As political unrest continues to simmer, Claire's medical knowledge puts her in danger as rumors spread that she's a witch.
7. An Echo in the Bone: The onset of the American Revolution provides the backdrop for the interwoven storylines of multiple characters in several countries.
8. Written in My Own Heart's Blood: The Revolutionary War rages on, as our beloved characters are separated from each other in painful and terrifying ways.
9. Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone: In the new book, coming out Nov. 23, the Fraser family is finally reunited and, yet, there's more at stake than ever before.

Lord John Grey

Introduced in the second Outlander novel, Englishman Lord John Grey is one of the most complex and interesting characters in the series. Secretly gay, he lives in conflict with the expectations of society. Gabaldon's spinoff series about him started as a single short story and has grown to include multiple novels, novellas, and short stories. These historical mysteries stand alone and can be read in any order, but here is an approximately chronological list of the books, which generally take place during the time period covered in Voyager:

• Lord John and the Private Matter: Having witnessed something shocking, Lord Grey, a high-ranking officer in His Majesty's army, finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal.
• Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade: Jamie emerges on the scene as Lord Grey seeks to uncover the dangerous details of his family's history.
• Lord John and the Hand of Devils: A book-length collection of three Lord Grey novellas dealing with war, intrigue, and espionage.
• The Scottish Prisoner: The lives of Jamie and Lord Grey become enmeshed and embroiled in a thrilling tale of corruption and conspiracy.
• Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: This collection of short stories and novellas feature Lord John, Jamie, Master Raymond, and others.

Extra Fun

For the diehard fans, here's all the bonus material to complete your Outlander collection:

The Exile: This graphic novel offers a fresh look at Jamie's side of the story with gorgeous artwork from Hoang Nguyen.

The Outlandish Companion: This beautifully illustrated compendium of all things Outlander covers the first four novels of the main series, including synopses, character lists (along with family trees and genealogical notes), and more. And The Outlandish Companion 2 covers the next four books in the series.

Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook
From cook and food writer Theresa Carle-Sanders comes a cookbook celebrating the delectable flavors of the Scottish Highlands, including dishes like Beer-Battered Corn Fritters, Peppery Oyster Stew, and Conspirators' Cassoulet. A second installment draws inspiration from novels set in the American colonies with recipes like Benedicta's Steak and Mushroom Pie and Cornbread and Salt Pork Stuffing. "It's culinary time travel—and it works."

Unrivaled storytelling. Unforgettable characters. Rich historical detail. These are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon's work. Her sweeping tale has earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans—us included!

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon