Chronology of the Outlander series
The Outlander series includes three kinds of stories:
The Big, Enormous Books that have no discernible genre (or all of them);
The Shorter, Less Indescribable Novels that are more or less historical mysteries (though dealing also with battles, eels, and mildly deviant sexual practices);
And
The Bulges—These being short(er) pieces that fit somewhere inside the story lines of the novels, much in the nature of squirming prey swallowed by a large snake. These deal frequently—but not exclusively—with secondary characters, are prequels or sequels, and/or fill some lacuna left in the original story lines.
Now. Most of the shorter novels (so far) fit within a large lacuna left in the middle of VOYAGER, in the years between 1757 and 1761. Some of the Bulges also fall in this period; others don’t.
So, for the reader’s convenience, here is a detailed Chronology, showing the sequence of the various elements in terms of the storyline. _However, it should be noted that the shorter novels and novellas are all designed suchly that they may be read alone_, without reference either to each other or to the Big, Enormous Books—should you be in the mood for a light literary snack instead of the nine-course meal with wine-pairings and dessert trolley.
OUTLANDER (novel)—If you’ve never read any of the series, I’d suggest starting here. If you’re unsure about it, open the book anywhere and read three pages; if you can put it down again, I’ll give you a dollar. (1946/1743)
DRAGONFLY IN AMBER (novel)—It doesn’t start where you think it’s going to. And it doesn’t end how you think it’s going to, either. Just keep reading; it’ll be fine. (1968/1744-46)
VOYAGER (novel)—This won an award from EW magazine for “Best Opening Line.” (To save you having to find a copy just to read the opening, it was: “He was dead. However, his nose throbbed painfully, which he thought odd, in the circumstances.”) If you’re reading the series in order, rather than piecemeal, you do want to read this book before tackling the novellas or the Lord John novels. (1968/1766-67)
LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS/”Lord John and the Hellfire Club” (novella)—Just to add an extra layer of confusion, The Hand of Devils is a collection that includes three novellas. The first one, “Lord John and the Hellfire Club,” is set in London in 1757, and deals with a red-haired man who approaches Lord John Grey with an urgent plea for help, just before dying in front of him. [Originally published in the anthology Past Poisons, ed. Maxim Jakubowski, 1998.]
LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER (novel)—Set in London, in 1758, this is a historical mystery steeped in blood and even less-savory substances, in which Lord John meets (in short order) a valet, a traitor, an apothecary with a sure cure for syphilis, a bumptious German, and an unscrupulous merchant prince.
LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS/”Lord John and the Succubus” (novella)— The second novella in the Hand of Devils collection finds Lord John in Germany in 1758, having unsettling dreams about Jamie Fraser, unsettling encounters with Saxon princesses, night-hags, and a really disturbing encounter with a big, blond Hanoverian graf. [Originally published in the anthology Legends II, ed. Robert Silverberg, 2004.]
LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE (novel)—The second full-length novel focused on Lord John (but it does include Jamie Fraser) is set in 1759, deals with a twenty-year-old family scandal, and sees Lord John engaged at close range with exploding cannon and even more dangerously explosive emotions.
LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS/”Lord John and the Haunted Soldier” (novella)—The third novella in this collection is set in 1759, in London and the Woolwich Arsenal. In which, Lord John faces a court of inquiry into the explosion of a cannon, and learns that there are more dangerous things in the world than gunpowder.
“The Custom of the Army” (novella)—Set in 1759. In which his lordship attends an electric-eel party in London and ends up at the Battle of Quebec. He’s just the sort of person things like that happen to. [Originally published in Warriors, eds. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, 2010.]
THE SCOTTISH PRISONER (novel)—This one’s set in 1760, in the Lake District, London, and Ireland. A sort of hybrid novel, it’s divided evenly between Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey, who are recounting their different perspectives in a tale of politics, corruption, murder, opium dreams, horses, and illegitimate sons.
“Plague of Zombies” (novella)—Set in 1761, in Jamaica, when Lord John is sent in command of a battalion to put down a slave rebellion and discovers a hitherto unsuspected affinity for snakes, cockroaches, and zombies. [Originally published in Down These Strange Streets, eds. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, 2011.]
DRUMS OF AUTUMN (novel)—This one begins in 1766, in the New World, where Jamie and Claire find a foothold in the mountains of North Carolina, and their daughter, Brianna, finds a whole lot of things she didn’t expect, when a sinister newspaper clipping sends her in search of her parents. (1968-1969/1766-67)
THE FIERY CROSS (novel)—The historical background to this one is the War of the Regulation in North Carolina (1767-1768), which was more or less a dress rehearsal for the oncoming Revolution. In which Jamie Fraser becomes a reluctant Rebel, his wife, Claire, becomes a conjure-woman and runs into a ghost. Something Much Worse happens to Brianna’s husband, Roger, but I’m not telling you what. This won several awards for “Best Last Line,” but I’m not telling you that, either. (Mid-1760s)
A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES (novel)—Winner of the 2006 Corine International Prize for Fiction, and a Quill Award (this book beat novels by both George R. R. Martin and Stephen King, which I thought Very Entertaining Indeed). All the books have an internal “shape” that I see while I’m writing them. This one looks like the Hokusai print titled “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.” Think tsunami—two of them. (Early to mid-1770s/1970-71)
AN ECHO IN THE BONE (novel)—Set in America, London, Canada, and Scotland. The book’s cover image reflects the internal shape of the novel: a caltrop. That’s an ancient military weapon that looks like a child’s jack with sharp points; the Romans used them to deter elephants, and the Highway Patrol still uses them to stop fleeing perps in cars. This book has four major story lines: Jamie and Claire; Roger and Brianna (and family); Lord John and William; and Young Ian, all intersecting in the nexus of the American Revolution—and all of them with sharp points. (1777-1778/1972)
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD (novel)—The eighth of the Big Enormous Books, this will probably be published in 2013. It begins where An Echo in the Bone leaves off, in the summer of 1778 (and the autumn of 1973—or possibly 1974, I forget exactly).
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” (short story (no, really, it is))— Set (mostly) in 1941–43, this is the story of What Really Happened to Roger MacKenzie’s parents. [Originally published in the anthology Songs of Love and Death, eds. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, 2010.]
“The Space Between” (novella)—Set in 1778, mostly in Paris, this novella deals with Michael Murray (Young Ian’s elder brother), Joan MacKimmie (Marsali’s younger sister), the Comte St. Germain (who is Not Dead After All), Mother Hildegarde, and a few other persons of interest. The space between what? It depends who you’re talking to. [To be published in early 2013 in the anthology The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Dominiation, ed. John Joseph Adams.]
“Virgins” (novella)—Set in 1740, in France. In which Jamie Fraser (aged nineteen) and his friend Ian Murray (aged twenty) become young mercenaries. [To be published in late 2012, in the anthology Dangerous Women, eds. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois.]
NOW REMEMBER . . .
You can read the short novels and novellas by themselves, or in any order you like. I would recommend reading the Big, Enormous Books in order, though.
P.S. There are a couple of other books to note here, though they don’t fit conveniently into the Chronology above:
THE EXILE (graphic novel) – written by me, and illustrated by the delightful artist Hoang Nguyen, this is OUTLANDER from Jamie’s point of view. Since there are lots of things that Claire (the outlander) didn’t see, didn’t understand, or was purposely left out of, this book shows you some of what she missed.
THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION – This is a non-fiction book, supplying background, trivia, commentary and general Stuff on the first four novels of the series. There are detailed synopses (for those who don’t want to re-read the whole series when a new book comes out, but would like to refresh their memories), articles on how I work, do research, develop characters, etc., a detailed bibliography of the main references I used while writing the first four books, a Cast of Characters listing—in case you don’t recall immediately who someone is—a Gaelic pronunciation guide and glossary, appendices on Poetry and Quotations used in the books, and so on. [There is a second COMPANION in the works, this one meant to cover the next four books in the main series, as well as the shorter novels and stories listed above. With luck, this will be out shortly after WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD is published.]
Thanks for this lovely chronology. It’ll come in handy when I push…er…suggest someone read THE books. ; )
BEST. SERIES. EVER!!!!!
Two things:
1. Has anyone ever taken you up on the dollar challenge??
2. The 2oth century storyline where Echo ends is in 1980.
Yeah, Barbie. I think she may have been a bit tired when she got online. The same thing happens to me sometimes. She’s also mentioned that she thinks the storyline will end around 1800. Well, add 202 years to that, and you get 2002, which means that Brianna and Roger’s grandchildren (if there are any) could conceivably travel through the stones and meet Jamie and Claire. Depending on whether or not it’s by accident, they could arrive at one of their deathbeds, or if they manage to “steer (i.e., think of an exact date maybe?),” they might get a chance to know them. I can think of so many different scenarios involving another generation of Mackenzies, it’s not funny!
MaryAnn, I haven’t thought about seeing Brianna and Roger’s grandchildren, but I certainly want to see Jemmy, as well as Germain and the other “current” children in the series, grow into adulthood.
I loved the interesting parts that were tied to past and future events in THE OUTLANDER and I think DRAGONFLY IN AMBER. For instance : Jamie’s ghost watching Claire combing her hair in the bed and breakfast, J and C going into the cave and finding two skeletons laying in the position THEY sleep in, and then Claire examining the skeleton of the woman SHE would kill in the cave in Jamaica.
When I read where they discovered the skeletons in the cave I thought Noooooooooooo! I’m not ready to have them die EVER. LOL
I have to say this is the BEST series I’ve ever read (several times waiting for the next book!) I had a stroke about three years ago and this series helped me exercise my mind. The seconded time through it was like reading it for the first time. Each time my memory got better.
I wonder if Roger will encounter is father sometime when traveling through time and grab on to him and bring him through with him???? Just a thought………..Diana’s stories set my imagination going like crazy! Can’t wait for MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD!
Cathy
Try working your way through the series on audiobooks! I, too, have read every one of the novels multiple times (I used to reread them all just before a new one was released.) I spend an hour a day in the car commuting to and from work and a couple of years ago decided to try out the audio versions of my favorite books (can you say “obsession”?) It took 9 months to get through the entire series, but was well worth it. I found all sorts of new things in listening to them. The reader, Davina Porter I believe, is amazing.
Cathy,
You are so right about listening to the audiobook. Davina Porter has to be one of the best narraors that I’ve ever listened to. The books are an emotional roller coaster. During the time that Claire and Jamie are apart leave me with way too much anxiety. I feel like they are real characters – who have lead these amazing and mystifying lives.
Barbie,
Just because Echo ended in 1980, it doesn’t necesarily mean that BLOOD will pick up from there.
The 1973 or 1974 reference could mean that the 20th century storyline starts with something other than the MacKenzie family’s return.
Sheila
Cannot wait for WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD! Still waiting for these books to be a TV series!
I hope they never attempt a TV series or even movies out of the Outlander series … The stories would be butchered beyond recognition for the sheer quantity of detail that would be left out. It would be like an abused & maimed animal for which I would surely cry.
I just came across your post on the chronology of Outlander. Now that you have seen the TV series, what are your thoughts? Your point is very true about the quantity of detail. I think they have done a terrific job paring it down to fit TV.
Funny to find your post 3.5 years later.
I can’t wait for the new one!!!
I’m beyond excited waiting for MOBY… And the chrononlogical order makes it easier to wait while I read the spinoffs. I really did like the one on Rogers’s parents.
I am also soooo excited about MOBY. Will try the spinoffs next.
Diana
I’ll add my comment to Zan Marie’s. This chronology will be helpful in introducing new readers to your works.
Jerry
Thank you so much for coming out with this series. You do a fantastic job with your story lines.
Since I had read the shorts novels, the big is even more interesting because one knows more about the secondary characters For Exemple, first time I read AN ECHO IN THE BONE, I haven’t read yet LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE,. This time, I know what matter between Lord John and Percy Wrenwright (sorry, I’m not sure of the orthograph…) and the book is more intense for me.
In the same way Lord John was just a secondary characters for me, before I learn to know him better thanks to the shorts novels. Now I’m attached to him in the same way I’m attached to Jamie and Claire (except that he can’t compete with the serious crush I have for Jamie of course !!!!), and I discovered that sex scene between two men can be as arousing as hetero scene. I can’t explain how it works, but it works !
Thank you Diana for making me discover this about me
I want my dollar.
(I like Lord John series though)
Dear Suhi–
Send me a self-addressed stamped envelope. [g]
–Diana
LOL. I just might
Seriously?!
Suhi,
Not irrate in any way but………..Are you deaf, dump, and blind!, or can you really not read or feel emotion, passion, anxiety, and all that good stuff! sorry…….but what the hell is wrong with you……you want your dollar becasue this did not grip you immediately, if only for Diana’s writing, which by the way is fabulous.
I am at wits end waiting for the next one…..
Laters
Thanks for this great chronology! I have read everything so far – some of them twice. I’ve also listened to all of them and have started listening again. I searched everywhere to try to make sure I read them in the right (or best) order. Looks like I’ve done OK. Thanks so much for all of your works…I LOVE them all! I can’t wait for MOBY…and I’m sure hoping it won’t be the last BIG, ENORMOUS book !!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been wondering about the shorter books for a while, and now I know how they fit in! I’ll be reading more of your wonderful books soon!!!
Just came across your chronology-thanks it’s great and I have now realised I have missed a few novellas I wasn’t aware of so very pleased to know I can read those before Moby arrives. I have had serious withdrawal symptoms waiting for book eight!
Not sure my husband will be as pleased though. He is regularly heard to comment ‘You’re not reading that again?!’ as I pick up Cross Stitch once more ( this will be at least the fourth time) and work my way through the whole series.
Thanks Diana for your wonderful books. I don’t think I’m a serial fan really! I just find it hard finding other reading material that grab me as much as your books do.
Thank you for this! I printed it out and tucked it in the front of my Outlander hardcover. I can imagine my granddaughter finding it some day and having the joy of reading all my hardcovers in the right order. I’m saving them for future generations. I have a set of paperbacks to loan out. I do my own rereading on the kindle.
Yes, I own three sets of your books. Just yours. Nobody else writes well enough to warrant even two sets.
Agreed!
Carolyn,
Me too, plus I have all of the Unabridged audio books! I love to re-read them.
Diana,
Can you tell me why you recommend Voyager be read before the Lord John Novels? Chronologically it happens after. Although I have read all of these many times over, maybe I missed something that would make it better to read Voyager beforehand.
Dear Lexy–
In fact, all the Lord John novels and stories fit into the six-year (so far) gap when Jamie was a prisoner at Helwater. This is a fairly small part of VOYAGER, but an important one, as showing the evolution of John and Jamie’s relationship. IF you read the Lord John stories (including SCOTTISH PRISONER) before Helwater, you wouldn’t have any real idea why Jamie was _at_ Helwater, let alone what the arc of his friendship with John had been. Reading the shorter books and stories after VOYAGER fills in quite a bit of detail regarding that part of VOYAGER, but the short pieces are primarily focused on Lord John’s life (aside from SCOTTISH PRISONER, which is a half-and-half novel), and thus aren’t impaired by the reading of VOYAGER–since there is otherwise very little information given about Lord John’s life at that time in the main books.
–Diana
Thank you Diana, I knew there was a completely logical explanation for this…lol Having read the series and all its extension so many times, I tend to forget that someone new to the series would not have the information already stored in my brain.
My friend sent me your first four books. It took me FOREVER to get through the first half of the first book. I must have started it three times before I got far enough in it to get hooked. I now have read everything at LEAST four times. It seems like everyone is now family and I can’t wait to see what happens to them. If ever you decide to end the story, I will feel like I have lost a part of my life!
Thanks so much for this! It’s very helpful! The Big Books were recommended to me a few months ago, and I read them in less than two months. SOOOOOOO good! I am now re-reading the whole series with the intent of including the LJ Grey books and other stories.
Thanks so much for all your hard work! Your stories are amazing and your writing is superb! I am eagerly awaiting all the upcoming books/novellas/short stories!
Need more! Read the “Outlander” series five times. Would love to see Ian with own series as Lord John and still waiting for the next one. Waiting for Jamie to explore through the stones and see modern world and how he fits remember him dreaming of talking on the phone to Jemmie? FEED ME!!!
There should be a contest to see who has read the complete series the most number of times! I have lost count
Thank you so much for your prodigious works…roll on 2013 for MOBY. Wonder how many people will NOT watch the forthcoming Sony series; your books’ characters are so real they cannot be sullied by poor visual protrayal.
I agree! Reading the books and then listening to them has given me my own interpretation of how each character looks and sounds – I feel like they are all my best friends. I know I would love to see a series or movie – if I had never read the books. No one will ever look and sound the way they do in my mind’s eye. And, I’m always so disapointed with movies and how much they leave out of the books. And all of the AMAZING love scenes are such a big part of the story – how can any movie or TV network include all of those? They won’t and it will leave huge holes in the story!! So, I’m really torn about seeing and actual movie or series!!
I understand where you’re coming from Jo. On the other hand, when I’m reading the books, I always visualize the guy that played Lucius Malfoy (sp?) in the Harry Potter films as Jack/Frank. *snorts* I don’t know if he likes playing jerks (that’s the nice word for it), but that actor is so good at it, that I visualized him as Jack Randall the first time I read the series! I make that comment because I’ve also seen the Mel Gibson flick The Patriot, another film that he was in, and boy, did he ever play the jerk as a British (I despise that term, to me, Scotland, et al, are separate countries, period) officer!
That’s exactly who I picture as Jack Randall, too! His name is Jason Issacs, and I’m sure he’s a very nice man, but he plays the evil creep very well.
Diana! Hearing from you is always a treat! Thank you for the chronology … Most Useful! Plus – Oh, My! – there are two I’ve not read! Goodie! Ditto comments from Zan Marie, Barbie, Carolyn, et al.
Just for the pleasure, the french song for child that Fergus teach to Gervais, I don’t remenber if it was in THE FIERY CROSS or in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. I must read all the books again !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M3sxU27Bqg&feature=related
Learned this one in school, Laurence! Merci beaucoups, je me la souviens!
Diana – makes me look over at my bookshelves, just to check which ones I have – and are they in the ‘right’ order. Still working on getting the French editions, but the English ones are present and accounted for. Thanks again for providing all of us with a great escape time and time again – I think I’ve read/listened to the series more than 8 or 9 times over the years, and I always seem to read/hear something that I’d forgotten.
Moi aussi, Ruth! Et merci beaucoups, Laurence! I, too enjoy reading the series many times, and always find “new” funny things, facts, and comforts. Molto bene, Diana!
It’s a pleasure to share it with you