# Tell me about the Outlander series
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 2, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184 "2012-08-02T16:25:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/1 "2012-08-02T16:25:35Z")
One of my girlfriends is waaaay into this series. Anyone here love it, too? Or hate it?
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/2 "2012-08-02T16:43:41Z")
I like the premise - WWII-era woman finds herself in 18th century Scotland - but after reading the first two books, it’s far too romance-y and not enough historical-fictiony for me. But you’re right, a lot of people love 'em. I think you need to like romances if you’re really going to get into them.
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### Author:  [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/3 "2012-08-02T16:49:59Z")
What **Athena** said.
I’ve read just the first one and would characterize it as a bodice-ripper. It’s not fair to judge a series based on one book, but I figure that since the first was so successful, Gabaldon probably stayed with the formula. This would mean that Jamie and Claire would have an on-again/off-again “relationship”. They argue, she runs away, he chases her, he tears off her clothes, she swoons. Which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/4 "2012-08-02T16:59:47Z")
Hmmm… NOT what I’m looking for. Not even close. Appreciate the heads-up.
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/5 "2012-08-02T18:24:41Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#):
>
> What **Athena** said.
>
> I’ve read just the first one and would characterize it as a bodice-ripper. It’s not fair to judge a series based on one book, but I figure that since the first was so successful, Gabaldon probably stayed with the formula. This would mean that Jamie and Claire would have an on-again/off-again “relationship”. They argue, she runs away, he chases her, he tears off her clothes, she swoons. Which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for.
If anything, the second was worse than the first as far as bodice-ripping. In fact, I’m not sure I even got through the entire second book.
Sorta sucks, because the non-romance parts are pretty good.
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### Author:  [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/6 "2012-08-02T18:33:41Z")
> [@Athena](#):
>
> I like the premise - WWII-era woman finds herself in 18th century Scotland - but after reading the first two books, it’s far too romance-y and not enough historical-fictiony for me. But you’re right, a lot of people love 'em. I think you need to like romances if you’re really going to get into them.
Slight hijack but are there any recommended books of this type with good “historical-fictiony” parts.
_Fallam’s Secret_ by Denise Giardina is a similar concept that I read several years ago and like but I confess I don’t remember too well.
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### Author:  [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/7 "2012-08-02T19:10:01Z")
I loved the first book but liked each subsequent book less and less.
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/8 "2012-08-02T19:12:59Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#):
>
> Slight hijack but are there any recommended books of this type with good “historical-fictiony” parts.
What do you mean by “books-of-this-type”? Just historical fiction, or historical fiction with a bend towards Scotland, or historical fiction/romance blends, or…?
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### Author:  [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/9 "2012-08-02T19:17:30Z")
I just finished the first book yesterday. One part fantasy, one part historical fiction, one part porn with heavy BDSM themes. I don’t like how the evil guy on top of all his evilness is actually gay (bi?) and a sadist.
But it is interesting enough to get me started on book the second, although 10 pages in I am seriously lost The continuity between book 1 and book 2 so far evades me, but it might be because I am 10 pages in.
(For what its worth I bought 5 books for a dollar at a yard sale, brand new.)
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### Author:  [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/10 "2012-08-02T19:58:19Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#):
>
> But it is interesting enough to get me started on book the second, although 10 pages in I am seriously lost The continuity between book 1 and book 2 so far evades me, but it might be because I am 10 pages in.
When I read them, I seem to remember having to skip #2, read #3, then go back and read #2 to understand it.
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### Author:  [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/11 "2012-08-02T19:58:33Z")
> [@Athena](#):
>
> What do you mean by “books-of-this-type”? Just historical fiction, or historical fiction with a bend towards Scotland, or historical fiction/romance blends, or…?
Good question. I was thinking mostly of the modern person is a historical setting although the Scotland just link would be a plus for me.
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### Author:  [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/12 "2012-08-02T20:48:37Z")
I liked the first three books very much, the fourth was still okay. The rest are okay, but the entire series suffered with the introduction of the adult Brianna.
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### Author:  [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/13 "2012-08-02T21:13:12Z")
I bought the first book shortly after it came out, by accident. A friend had recommended a historical-type romance about time travel. She couldn’t recall the author or the title. I browsed my local bookstore & came across “Outlander.” Then proceeded to get the intended recommender and everyone else at work hooked.
Each time I finish a book I missed my friends Jamie & Claire. Love 'em!
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### Author:  [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/14 "2012-08-02T21:53:29Z")
I don’t think I’d call any of the books in this series ‘bodice-rippers’, having read many a bodice-ripper in my time. There is less and less ‘romance’ in each book with more of the emphasis being on the current events of whatever time they are in and how the characters are able to influence those (or not).
But a good (short) way to see for yourself how you would feel about taking on one of the larger books is to read one of the Lord John Grey series. Grey is a subsidiary character in some of the Outlander series and Gabaldon has written some entertaining books about Grey’s various adventures that aren’t nearly as long as the Outlander books, with little to no romance and no requirement to believe in time-travel.
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### Author:  [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/15 "2012-08-03T03:24:11Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#):
>
> Slight hijack but are there any recommended books of this type with good “historical-fictiony” parts.
>
> _Fallam’s Secret_ by Denise Giardina is a similar concept that I read several years ago and like but I confess I don’t remember too well.
Post #16 in the Recommendation Compendium Stickie includes threads on time travel fiction and historical fiction. A favorite of many readers is _Time After Time_ by Jack Finney.
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### Author:  [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/16 "2012-08-03T13:09:09Z")
I read the first book when I was a hormonal teenager, and even in that heated state found the love scenes just too much and too annoying. Plus, there’s a spanking scene that I guess is supposed to be hot but really is not.
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### Author:  [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/17 "2012-08-03T13:46:48Z")
I adore these books, and I’m not a big romance fan at all. I find them fascinating despite the valid complaints mentioned in this thread. Something about Gabaldon’s writing clicks with me. The books are admittedly melodramatic and slightly ridiculous and I still love them. I’ve read them multiple times and they hold up. The third book is my favorite.
The spinoff series featuring Lord John is not as good, although it’s getting better with each book - I really liked the last one, which is half Jamie and half John. Lord John is my favorite secondary character from the Outlander series.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/18 "2012-08-03T14:51:41Z")
Okay, I was confused for a minute. There’s also a series by Jerry Axler but I checked and it’s Outlanders not Outlander.
For the record, not a romance series. More of a SF post-apocalypse thriller about one man’s battle against evil aliens and mutants. If any bodices get ripped in this series, it is incidental to someone being stabbed in the chest.
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### Author:  [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/19 "2012-08-03T16:09:18Z")
Is it really sad that while watching the Olympic fencing I wanted to see a Jamie-like person come out with a huge broadsword and scare them witless?😉
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-outlander-series/630184/20 "2012-08-03T17:24:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Okay, I was confused for a minute. There’s also a series by Jerry Axler but I checked and it’s Outlanders not Outlander.
>
> For the record, not a romance series. More of a SF post-apocalypse thriller about one man’s battle against evil aliens and mutants. If any bodices get ripped in this series, it is incidental to someone being stabbed in the chest.
This must be the one that is also a movie.
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