This filled my heart with such nostalgia!

I had completely forgotten how much I truly love this series. It was an absolute delight to read the recaps of the books and get a peek into Diana's mind regarding it all. She is such a talented, humble, and amazing person as well as a writer. Her work has the power to transport readers to another world and make them fall in love with the characters and the story.

I'll definitely have to do a reread of the series again in the future. I can't wait to immerse myself in that magical world once more and experience all the emotions and adventures it has to offer.

PS - There is a lot you can skim over in this or not choose to read at all, which is nice! I had the freedom to pick and choose what interested me the most. This made the reading experience even more enjoyable and personalized. It's great to have the option to focus on the parts that truly capture your attention and skip over the rest.

Overall, I'm so glad I came across this and was reminded of my love for this wonderful series. It's definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story with a touch of romance and mystery.

The Outlandish Companion is an absolute must-read for every die-hard fan of the Outlander series. Even for those who haven't yet delved into Diana Gabaldon's captivating world, the sections that explore her writing technique, research methods, academic background, and the charming folk lore sprinkled throughout are sure to pique their interest. However, I'm afraid that the remaining 600 pages might seem a bit overwhelming and perhaps lost on non-lovers of the series. Fortunately, I count myself among the passionate fans.

It has been several years since I last read the first four books: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn. Part One of this companion provides a concise synopsis of each book, condensed to approximately 15 pages. This allows readers to quickly refresh their memories and gain a general understanding of the storylines before delving into the more intricate details, the whys and hows behind every aspect of the narrative. And yes, you truly have to be a dedicated lover of the series to fully appreciate Jamie and Claire's horoscopes.
Part Two focuses on the characters, categorizing them as Mushrooms, Onions, or Hard Nuts. I'll leave it to you to discover which characters fall into each category. But perhaps the most useful section for me, the one that makes me want to keep this book in my library indefinitely, is the Cast of Characters. With hundreds, if not thousands, of characters in the Outlander universe, keeping them all straight can be a daunting task. Thankfully, this book includes every character, each described in a short paragraph. It's the perfect reference when you're reading Drums of Autumn and can't quite recall how Jared Munro Fraser fits into Jamie's family tree. (For the record, he's a cousin.)
After Part Two, you'll explore Family Trees (Part Three), a Glossary and Pronunciation Guide (Part Four), both of which are filled with fascinating tidbits of information that you never knew you needed to know. My next favorite section was Part Six, Research. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the exchanges between Diana Gabaldon and her numerous online friends and collaborators. Their insights and questions challenged her writing in a way that only served to make it better. Additionally, if you've ever entertained the idea of writing historical fiction, this section provides a valuable glimpse into what you can expect... namely, spending a significant amount of time in the library.
Part Seven was also a quick and interesting read, covering topics such as Where Titles Come From and The Gabaldon Theory of Time Travel. As an avid reader of all things Outlandish, I'll admit that I've never fully grasped her theory of time travel. This section provided a concise tutorial that I'm sure will be helpful as I continue to read the upcoming books.
I haven't covered every section of this companion, as this review would be as long as one of Gabaldon's novels if I did! I've only focused on the ones that I truly enjoyed reading. While some sections of this companion may not need to be read over and over again, there is an abundance of information that will be invaluable to the Outlander lover and enthusiast. The book is truly worth its weight in gold (and gemstones) just for the section on characters. So, sit back, relax, and have an Outlandishly good time reading this wonderful companion! It's well worth the investment of your time.

I am not typically the kind of person who skims through a book, engages in speed-reading, or skips entire sections. However, for a book presented in this particular format, I chose to make an exception. There are likely some die-hard fans of the Outlander series who have read every single word of this, and indeed, there is a wealth of interesting information within its pages. Nevertheless, not all of the content is worthy of the time spent reading it. For example, the horoscope sections seem rather superfluous.

Much of the information could easily have been posted on the author's website or blog. I fail to understand why she felt the need to publish a massive book instead of making this content accessible to everyone via the internet. I would suggest checking this out from your local library first, as I did, and then making a decision as to whether it is worth purchasing.

I derived the most enjoyment from the "Characters" section, the FAQ's, and the "Controversy" section. Overall, it was fascinating to gain the author's perspective on her characters and their actions. I particularly appreciated Gabaldon's defense of Frank Randall. I believe that the animosity he receives from some fans is unjustified.

Warning: This book does contain spoilers for the first four books in the series. Therefore, it is advisable not to pick it up until you have read at least that far.

I truly love this book!

I have discovered that her books are extremely engaging and complex.

Whenever a new one is released, I require a bit of a refresher on what has occurred previously.

In the past, I would re-read the initial books.

But now, as we have reached this stage in the series, it takes a significant amount of time.

Thanks to the companion, I am able to read the synopsis of each book and recall where each character was left when we last encountered them.

It is truly wonderful!

However, I do wish that she could update it as two or perhaps it's three now, books have been published since.

*HINT*

This is truly an outstanding reference for fans who might have the desire to return to the captivating world of Outlander.

It offers a wonderful alternative to rereading the extensive thousands of pages or spending hundreds of hours listening to the audiobook.

I am particularly relishing the “short” (albeit still quite detailed) synopses of each novel.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when engaging with the immersive story on a moment-by-moment basis, it can be extremely challenging to keep track of all the intricate plot lines.

Secondly, with book 9 set to be released in November, I simply don't believe I have the luxury of time to revisit the entire series.

Moreover, I just so happen to be an individual who takes great pleasure in listening to authors discuss their creative process, and this resource provides a wealth of such content as well.

Overall, it is a valuable and engaging tool for any Outlander fan.

I absolutely adore, love, and am completely痴迷于 the Outlander series. Therefore, it goes without saying that I simply had to拥有 this book.

I found that it contained numerous interesting elements, which truly piqued my interest. However, there were also quite a few parts that I wasn't particularly eager to read, but that's perfectly fine as it was exactly what I had anticipated.

I was extremely pleased to finally learn how to pronounce those Gaelic words. But seriously, why on earth didn't she arrange the Foreign Language Glossary in alphabetical order? It was such a pain in the neck to look up anything.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy reading her email exchanges with her computer group as she was working out ideas. That was truly fascinating. And I adored her footnotes, which were hilarious.

This book would make a great gift for someone who is a fan of the series, but it's not an absolute must-read.

I really enjoyed this book.

It provided me with a wonderful escape from the daily grind.

However, I firmly believe that no author should feel pressured to justify every single decision they made while writing their books.

We should read books mainly for the pleasure and entertainment they offer.

After all, most of them are works of fiction.

We don't need to analyze and dissect every detail to the point of overthinking.

Just relax, let go, and immerse ourselves in the story.

By doing so, we can truly enjoy the magic that books have to offer.

We should remember that the primary purpose of reading fiction is to have fun and expand our imagination.

So, don't take books too seriously and simply enjoy the ride.

A wonderful reference book for those of us who are completely obsessed with the Outlander series!

It is truly a gem for fans. However, there is a crucial caveat. Do not crack it open unless you have read all the books in the series. Why? Well, if you do, you will essentially be spoiling the story for yourself!

This reference book contains a wealth of information, details, and insights that are meant to enhance the reading experience after you have already journeyed through the entire series. It offers a deeper understanding of the characters, the plotlines, and the historical context. But if you access it prematurely, you will rob yourself of the excitement and anticipation that comes with uncovering the secrets and twists of the story on your own. So, for the sake of preserving the magic of the Outlander series, make sure you have completed all the books before delving into this wonderful reference book.

I absolutely loved it! This is truly a perfect “Companion” to the books. It's such a delight to “listen” to Diana Gabaldon as she shares her insights and experiences. She talks about writing her very first (and what an amazing first it is!) novel, Outlander. It's fascinating to hear about the creative process that went into bringing that story to life. Then, she describes her experience of watching as it was transformed into the wonderful mini-series. The way she tells it, you can almost picture the entire journey. And, as I listened, I couldn't help but laugh at her wonderful sense of humor. It really adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the whole thing. Overall, this is a must-listen for any fan of the Outlander series.

Loved it! This is a perfect “Companion” to the books.

I really enjoyed this book.

The glossary and pronunciation guide were especially helpful.

It was truly wonderful to gain some more in-depth background information about the series.

We learned what inspired it, and the reasons why some things happened in the particular way they did.

However, on the downside, I felt that the book was rather long-winded and there was a fair amount of redundancy in certain places.

It seemed as if some points were repeated over and over again, which could have been avoided to make the reading experience more streamlined.

Nevertheless, overall, it is still a good resource.

It provides valuable insights and details that fans of the series will surely appreciate.

Despite its flaws, it is worth having for those who want to know more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the series.

Like the title indicates, this serves as a companion to the series and ought to be read subsequent to going through the first four books.

As it encompasses summaries of the entire books and a comprehensive character index, spoilers are plentiful. Evidently.

It is recommended for those individuals who have completed the first four books and are in need of an Outlander crash course.

This companion provides a convenient way for readers to quickly review and refresh their memories of the events and characters in the series.

Whether you're looking to prepare for the next installment or simply want to have a better understanding of the overall story arc, this companion is a valuable resource.

So, if you've already devoured the first four books of the Outlander series and are eager for more, be sure to check out this companion.

It will surely enhance your reading experience and help you stay engaged with the captivating world of Outlander.

This book is probably not the best choice for general reading purposes.

However, it does serve as an excellent reference tool.

It contains a wealth of information that can be extremely useful for those who are researching specific topics or seeking detailed knowledge in a particular area.

The content is presented in a clear and organized manner, making it easy to navigate and find the relevant information.

Although it may lack the engaging narrative and entertainment value that some other books offer, its practicality and comprehensiveness make it a valuable addition to any library or research collection.

So, while it may not be the first book you reach for when you're looking for a good read, it can definitely come in handy when you need to look up facts or figures.

In conclusion, this book has its own unique merits as a reference tool, despite not being the most exciting or enjoyable to read cover to cover.