Are you wondering what to do, now that you’ve finished MOBY? (aka WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD)? Well, most people just go back to the beginning and start re-reading OUTLANDER. [g]
As an alternative/addition to this tried and true strategy, though, you might want to watch the brand-new (and looooooong-awaited) tv show of the series, which is about to debut on the STARZ premium-cable channel in the US. AUGUST 9th! 9PM! (It airs at 9 PM in each time zone, so it’s always on Saturdays at nine o’clock, at least in the US.*)
I think Ron D. Moore and Starz have done a wonderful job of adapting OUTLANDER into a 16-episode first season (they’ll be doing one season per book, assuming the first one is a success–and that’s up to you. I think it’s amazing, and hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!
*(It will be launching on Showcase in Canada, August 24th, on SoHo Foxtel in Australia on August 14th, and on various dates–not yet announced–in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan, China, Germany, and a number of other places that I can’t mention yet as their licensing contracts are still being negotiated with SONY. (SONY owns the international rights to the show; it’s _their_ business to arrange licensing deals world-wide, not mine.)
I’ve read all the books and would love to see the movie, but don’t have television. I’m hoping the movie will be available on CDs. Any rumors of this?
Dear Lynn–
Well…it’s not a movie, it’s a weekly television show (ala Game of Thrones). Do you know of _any_ TV show that isn’t eventually released on DVD?
Hope you enjoy it when you get it!
–Diana
Diana,
Just finished watching Ep. 6 TWICE!!!! To say that reading these scenes in the book (which I have done at least 8 times) and seeing them on the screen is the same is an understatement. These images are now burned into my brain permanently. There would be no way NOT to watch them even though I cringe.
Wonderful writing, perfect casting and acting, and kudos to Ron Moore for the wonderful adaptation. Exceeds every expectation that I had!!
Thank you,
Linda
I agree with your opinion absolutely!
As much as I wanted the show to follow the movie to the letter, I’ve realized it’s an adaptation after all.
The changes introduced by the show’s creators are not significant to the main story line and at times
augment the underlying issues ( like for example the oppression of Scots under the British rule).
Great show I will cherish for years to come!
Ivona
pardon à Madame Gabaldon,
depuis des années ma mère lit vos livres. elle a essayé un nombre incroyable de fois de me les faire lire… j’ai toujours résisté, pourquoi ? je ne sais pas.
je suis tombée depuis 2 semaines sur la série OUTLANDER.
j’adore, c’est fabuleux et magnifique. je suis transportée dans les Highlands aussitôt. quel bien fou de faire un tel voyage !
donc 1000 pardons à Mme Gabaldon de n’avoir pas encore lu ses livres.
mais je vous fais une promesse : je vais rectifier et les lire au plus vite.
et dans mon pays une promesse se se fait pas non plus à la légère !
merci pour ce beau voyage à l’écrit comme sur l’écran.
Karine
Dear Karine–
Merci beaucoup! [g]
–Diana
Diana,
This is my second post today on this blog. I have a question that I hope you can clarify. On CompuServe this morning, there are some posts referring to “Claire’s wristwatch” in the opening scenes of the episode. Then there is a post that someone says that Ron had tweeted that it was “Frank’s wristwatch” that he had placed there to make the connection from Frank to Jack. It is a man’s watch in the scene but I guess that I just don’t get the reason for it being there and the implications of it. I mean, a modern wristwatch in this 1743 scene???
Thank you.
Linda
If you watch the first episode again, you’ll notice that Clair goes through the stones with her watch still
on her wrist. Then after she’s shot at by an English soldier she starts running, trips over something
and tumbles. When she gets to her feet again, she doesn’t have the watch anymore and the narrow belt is
gone as well.
Ivona
Correct me if I’m wrong, but did I see Ms. Gabaldon as a guest during the “Gathering” episode. I believe Mrs. Fitz commented on her dress…….If not, then she has a spot on double!
Love the books, love the show. I’m a dedicated follower and I’ve converted my husband. Although he hasn’t read the books, he is enjoying the show. And, pestering me to answer questions that would ruin the show for him!
Each episode leaves you wanting more – just like the books. I am so glad I was introduced to the Outlander series over 10 years ago.
Congratulations, Ms. Gabaldon!!!
Thank you, Anita!
Yes, that was me. [g] If you scroll back to the February entries for this blog, you’ll find the story of my Brief Career as a TV Actor. [g] Lots of fun!
Best,
–DIana
Diana, you have given me one of the very best presents I have ever received. The world of Jamie & Claire. My daughter used to buy the books for me as gifts, she is now borrowing them to read. Love ye!
Hi.
I read Outlander in 1991, and was hooked! Since then I have bought, read and loved all the the other books in the series, as soon as they have been published (including all the John Grey books, plus all those others with “extra bits” of Jamie and Claire’s story in them) .
And now I find that I am absolutely LOVING the new TV series which is being shown on Showcase TV in Canada! Everyone involved has done a wonderful job of bringing the story to life on screen… in fact I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job of it!
But I do have a question that I have not seen answered anywhere, and that is: “When will the DVDs of this series become available???” (“And why are they not available yet? “)
Of course, we all know that there WILL have to be DVDs of the series produced (for sale), at some point… but personally I am hoping that this will happen sooner rather than later .
The reason is that I am very hard of hearing and even with the use of my “state-of-the-art” excellent hearing aids, plus my very good knowledge of the storyline (from reading and re-reading all the books), still I find that I am having a lot of difficulty following the dialogue in the TV show. (I don’t like using closed caption because all sound, including all the other background sounds are blocked out for that…which means you miss the music, sword fight sounds, etc all of which are important, too).
On the other hand, with DVD format, I could activate the subtitles while still watching and listening to all the original soundtrack (speech plus other sound effects) at the same time… and I know from experience that this (adding the subtitles) would help viewers like me a LOT with following the fine points of the action!!!
Plus, with a DVD, I could watch the same episode over and over, if I really need to clarify something.
So for those of us who are hard-of-hearing, how about giving us a hint as to when the DVDs of this series will be available for purchase? I promise I will be first in line to buy the whole series, whenever that day arrives!
thanks,
Barbara
I am enjoying the series tremendously. It’s wonderful that books that are so real in my imagination are being brought to life on the small screen. Of course, any adaptation will have small alterations from the original work. The Harry Potter I picture in my mind when I’m reading the book is somewhat different than Daniel Radcliffe (his hair is way messier for sure) just as I imagine Jamie and Claire differently when I’m reading. I think Sam and Caitriona are doing an awesome job and will only improve as time goes by. Plus, I’m pretty sure Sam could speak Gaelic, Russian or just read names from the phone book and I could sit and watch him all day.
LOL – I too could watch Sam read the phone book all day long!!!
Oh, I’ve waited what…about 16 years for this to happen! Perhaps a late starter ,but I started reading the books in -98, then re-read the series every time a new book came out. I am SO excited that the show is available in Sweden also, and I’m now anxiously awaiting the next episode. I think Sam is an excellent Jamie and he makes me still want to find a redheaded Scot to marry (though my fiancée might be opposed…). The whole series is just WONDERFUL so far. Thank you thank you thank you Diana for writing this, and seeing it through to TV. I hope I will be able to see all books turn into TV or movies.
Many regards and more thanks!
Ingela
Hello Diana,
Best summer ever filled with Outlander! I am almost done with Written in My Own Heart’s Blood (excellent!) and I am so happy with the TV series on Starz. It is amazing watching a story come to life, especially one where you can be so emotionally invested in characters. I had tears in my eyes looking at Jamie and Claire’s faces. I know we were all very interested in who would be cast to be Jamie and Claire. Sam and Caitriona and both wonderful and beautiful. My anticipation waiting for the premiere rubbed off on my family and my husband and daughter are big fans now also.
Thank you so much for writing the story of Jamie and Claire. I eagerly await the next episodes in January and I look forward to your next amazing book.
You have to be so proud – I hope you are!
Best wishes,
Kathleen
By the way, I understand why many viewers don’t like (and don’t want) subtitles.
I do admit that if you are not used to them, then they can be a bit annoying and distracting. (In fact, before I became hard-of-hearing, I didn’t used to like them all that much, either.)
BUT I also think that any person who watched TV (or films) with subtitles very often, would soon get used to them , and would no longer be bothered by them at all (with or without a hearing problem)..
However, for hard-of-hearing persons, like myself, subtitles are a complete lifesaver!!
And this is why DVDs are a good compromise, (and a good addition to the TV broadcasts) . With a DVD, the subtitles are there, and they can be “selected” by those viewers who want/need them, whereas other viewers can watch the same DVD without subtitles if they wish. So with a DVD, the viewer can choose….(whereas with the TV broadcast, we don’t have that choice.)
As for whether the Gaelic bits should be translated into English, or not, I can’t say … if the producers want to maintain the mystery a bit, then maybe its only necessary to say “speaking Gaelic” (in the subtitles) in those places, so that the hard-of-hearing person will at least know not to worry about trying to figure out those particular words??
I love the stories no matter how they are presented, but I am definitely also waiting eagerly for the DVDs … with subtitles!!
Barbara in Canada
I’m glad to see that fan fict is now allowed!
Dear Elizabeth–
May I ask what makes you think that?
–Diana
The stuff on the costume blog. Both by the costume designer and some fans, with compliments by the designer. I thought that they would only do that if it was encouraged.
The main post on the Outlander Costume blog has been changed. So that makes one wonder if maybe can fict isn’t ok? But the later bits of stories, like about Mrs Fitz being Colum’s grandmother, those are still in the comments….so I’m confused.
Dear Elizabeth–
I’m really not sure what you’ve been reading. I know that Terry Dresbach’s blog (“An 18th Century Life”)–and she _is_ the head costume designer for the show–doesn’t have anything resembling fan-fiction on it. If people are speculating that Mrs. Fitz might be Colum’s grandmother (which she obviously isn’t; a) she’d be a million years old, and b) she wouldn’t be running the kitchens), it may be a running joke or something of that sort, but it doesn’t sound like anyone is actually writing stories involving the Outlander characters.
My general take on fan-fiction is that I don’t like it–but if people want to write it, I can’t stop them (I understand that some people do this as a means of experimenting with writing; middle- and high-school students, for instance, or people unsure how to begin with their own original characters. How could one object to that?). I just ask that once they’ve written such a story, they change the names of the main characters before sharing it anywhere. Change Jamie and Claire to Fred and Agnes, and I have no problem. It doesn’t interfere with the ff-er’s creativity and it doesn’t interfere with my copyright or aesthetic sensibilities.
Best,
–Diana
Thank God! Finally someone managed to make a series based on a novel that does not disappoint on any level. They have captured the heart and soul of the land , times and characters. The casting and locations are perfect. I can’t help but feel that the reason this series has come off so well is because of Diana’s involvement.
To all the Hollywood power players- sit up and take note- this is how it should be done.
I sure hope this series will be available on DVD. Because of where we live we don’t get the STARZ channel and also do not have fast enough internet available to view them online. I loved the books and have read every one of them in the series. I sure would like to see the live version.
If seeing the Scottish sport of Shinty played on Outlander intrigues you, go to either http://www.norcalshinty.com or http://www.uscamanachd.org or in Scotland go to http://www.shinty.com to find out more about the sport, its history, rules and how you can get involved and/or play this exciting game. Sorry but modern Shinty is not played in kilts, to see videos of modern Shinty go to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/camanachdassociation .
I watched every episode so far and loved all of them. There is one last espisode left and I cannot wait until it airs. I hope it is made into a DVD because I would love to get a copy with all the episodes and watch it all at the same.
I have not read any of the books but they are on my list next to read and cannot wait.
I’ve never been to Scotland but would love to visit because I love they way the Scottish speak.
Dearest Diana,
I just finished watching g episode 7, the wedding! My poor husband had to listen to me complain all week that I could not stand the wait! It was truly amazing to see Claire and Jamie get married and have their wedding night. I am 36 and I have been reading these books since the beginning. Outlander was given to me by my older sister who had read it several times over. She passed it along to me when Dragonfly came out. I remember the agony of waiting for every one of these wonderful stories and have read them so many times I’ve lost count! I am loving the tv series and absolutely agree with you that the casting for Jamie and Claire is perfect. Their chemistry is amazing and it is wonderful to see and hear this wonderful story that has lived inside my head for so long!! Kell up your amazing work. Can’t wait for book 9. At least I know by now the wait won’t kill me.
Diana!!!! The series is stunningly PERFECT! The casting is PERFECT! The actors have captured every essence of each and every characters! I can’t get enough! The costumes are exquisite! Love! Love! Love!
Well….episode 7 WOW!!! For those casting naysayers; take that!
Why is The Space Between only available on e-readers? Tried to find it at Chapters in Toronto but not available in paper format. ?????!!!!!
Dear Christine–
It’s because of an international copyright issue; that story was originally published in an anthology for which the US/Canadian rights hadn’t expired, but the UK rights _had_–so we were able to include it in a print book titled A TRAIL OF FIRE (which also includes three other novellas). We do now have the rights back, so we issued the ebook version to get it to readers as soon as possible. In the fullness of time, A TRAIL OF FIRE should also be available in North America in print form, but it does take longer to do that. Hope you’ll enjoy the story, in whatever form you find it!
Best,
–Diana