Review – The Outlandish Companion

The Outlandish Companion
By Diana Gabaldon
Published in Canada by Doubleday Canada Ltd, Toronto, Ontario

Hardcover includes numerous pictures and drawings
577 pages
Publication date June 29, 1999

Review by Lynn Boland Richardson

With more than three million books in print, New York Times best-selling author Diana Gabaldon's latest historical and romantic fiction publication The Outlandish Companion follows her critically acclaimed novels, Outlander, Dragonfly In Amber, Voyager and Drums of Autumn. Readers around the world have impatiently awaited additional books that unravel the yarn of Jamie and Claire Fraser's 18th century Scottish Highland and early American tale.

Gabaldon's recent publication is a compendium of tidbits, trivia and all things important to understanding and participating in the evolution and development of the novel characters and events. There can be no question that the cult-like Tolkienesque following is a direct result of the exemplary and outstanding quality of the literature that, while providing a keyhole into Scottish Highland history, also functions in the realm of memorable literature of a modern age. Add to this popularity new media and the never ending World Wide Web and the result is astounding. More than 200 currently operating Internet sites are completely or in part devoted to discussions and revelations concerning Gabaldon's themes, plot structure, characters, and anything even remotely related to the books. There is actually a couple of fan sites where visitors can vote on actors deemed fit to play the roles of selected characters, if in the future a movie or television mini series is produced based on the books. Two very prestigious and prominent movie production companies have in recent months approached Gabaldon with serious offers. Gabaldon takes all this in stride, responding in her polite and highly intellectual manner to producers and fans alike. She makes time to respond to those who respect her craft, sorting through piles of email and inquiries that would resink the Titanic. This is one of the main forces behind the creation of The Outlandish Companion. There were so many questions to answer and the interest in the era, characters and writing process were overwhelming. According to Gabaldon, The Outlandish Companion, is "…somewhat different from the novels that I write, not only in its content, but in its form and substance. Normally, the only really important thing in a book is the story, and while the mechanical details such as design and copyediting are certainly not unimportant, they aren't vital. This particular volume is much more than the sum of its words, though, and much more the product of dedication…"

Historical fiction requires depth of mind and finely honed research capabilities, in order that the attention to detail remains consistent. Because the average reader does not commonly understand historical eras it is that very attention to the layering of detail pertinent to the era that creates effective visual images. Gabaldon accomplishes this better than any other author does, past or present. This attention to detail and accuracy, historically, medically, linguistically, musically, artistically, is what blurs the reader's boundary between fiction and reality, resulting in numerous Internet sites where onlookers sometimes forget the characters are not real. Thus in the realm of famous series books with massive followings, both Tolkien's Bilbo Baggins and Gabaldon's Jamie Fraser will remain memorable characters well past their appearances in their specific venues...However, if given the choice, I would pick the taller less hairy-footed man! ..And lets face it, the character Jamie Fraser possesses every quality physically and mentally the perfect man would have and …put him in a kilt to boot...well the rest is history!

The Outlandish Companion is a gift from Diana to her readers. No other author in the history of modern literature has provided her loyal consumers with the trivia, methodology and process of the creation craft. The book cover and the front page of the book include the following information: "The Outlandish Companion, In Which Much Is Revealed Regarding Claire and Jamie Fraser, their Lives and Times, Antecedents, Adventures, Companions, and Progeny, with learned Commentary (and Many Footnotes) by their Humble Creator". Certainly, other authors have published companions, but none come even close in content and delivery. Similarly, Gabaldon's first four novels continue to sell at a shocking rate with many stores selling more than one hundred copies of the 1991 publication of Outlander during a four month period in 1999. No other publication in this category during the 1990's has sold this volume and sustained it over a period of 9 years. Good literature has proven itself timeless.

This must-read ultimate companion includes a behind the scene detailed glimpse of this epic saga's creation: A full synopses of the four previous novels, a complete listing of characters origins titled, "Mushrooms, Onions, and Hard Nuts", family trees, horoscopes, genealogical notations, drawings, a comprehensive glossary and pronunciation guide for, amongst other things, Gaelic and foreign terms and Gabaldon devotes an entire section to the "Outlandish Web Sites and Online Venues".

The historically accurate Botanical medicine and natural healing remedies and applications detailed in both the Companion and the previous novels rivals Jean M. Auel's descriptive medical details in "The Clan of the Cave Bear" series. This may be largely due to the fact that Gabaldon holds a master's degree in marine biology and a Ph.D. in ecology, and worked for many years as a professor, wrote text books, a scholarly journal, a comic book for Disney and more specifically, specialized in scientific computation. The implementation of scientific methodology enhances the historical value of this literature. Not surprisingly, the educator in Gabaldon emerges and is visible in the literary forums specifically, CompuServe readers and Writers Ink Group and the Gallery of Authors' voices. Uncountable lecture, speaking engagements and book signings bring the realities of writing to a place where readers, writers and interested parties can relate to the person and the process. When making the transition to novelist from professor, Gabaldon missed the teaching and thus makes up for that twofold with a bevy of world readers as her classroom.

The Outlandish Companion includes a section of work about future books specifically, the next two books in the Outlander series currently titled The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Ashes and Snow. These lengthy lures are more than adequate in sustaining the reader's suspense in the continuing success of Claire and Jamie Fraser's explosive and spicy saga. This visually pleasing text will make a treasured addition to any home or library. Diana Gabaldon has three books currently under contract, and is working on all simultaneously.