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Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.
And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his compassion . . . and arouse his desire.
But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere.
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.
Diana Gabaldon is the New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Outlander novels—Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes (for which she won a Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize), and An Echo in the Bone—and one work of nonfiction, The Outlandish Companion, as well as the bestselling series featuring Lord John Grey, a character she introduced in Voyager. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Hoang Nguyen was born in Vietnam and emigrated to the United States at the age of nine. He has worked for Marvel, Dark Horse, and other comic publishers, and his original project Metal Militia was optioned by Dino De Laurentiis for feature film development. More recently he has worked in the videogame industry, having contributed to such well-known titles as the Elder Scrolls series for Bethesda Softworks. He was the lead artist and character designer on Dead to Rights for Namco and is currently a consultant for Namco Bandai Games.
Gabaldon wrote her first novel while juggling the demands of motherhood and career: in between her job as an ecology professor, she also had a part-time gig writing freelance software reviews. Gabaldon had never written fiction before, and didn't intend to publish this first novel, which she decided to call Outlander. This, she decided, would be her "practice novel". Worried that she might not be able to pull a plot and characters out of thin air, she settled on a historical novel because "it's easier to look things up than to make them up entirely."
The impulse to set her novel in 18th-century Scotland didn't stem -- as some fans have assumed—from a desire to explore her own familial roots (in fact, Gabaldon isn't even Scottish). Rather, it came from watching an episode of the British sci-fi series Dr. Who and becoming smitten with a handsome time traveler in a kilt. A time-travel element crept into Gabaldon's own book only after she realized her wisecracking female lead couldn't have come from anywhere but the 20th century. The resulting love affair between an intelligent, mature, sexually experienced woman and a charismatic, brave, virginal young man turned the conventions of historical romance upside-down.
Gabaldon has said her books were hard to market at first because they were impossible to categorize neatly. Were they historical romances? Sci-fi adventure stories? Literary fiction? Whatever their genre (Gabaldon eventually proffered the term "historical fantasias"), they eventually found their audience, and it turned out to be a staggeringly huge one.
Even before the publication of Outlander, Gabaldon had an online community of friends who'd read excerpts and were waiting eagerly for more. (In fact, her cohorts at the CompuServe Literary Forum helped hook her up with an agent.) Once the book was released, word kept spreading, both on the Internet and off, and Gabaldon kept writing sequels. (When her fourth book, "Drums of Autumn," was released, it debuted at No. 1 on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list, and her publisher, Delacorte, raced to add more copies to their initial print run of 155,000.)
With her books consistently topping the bestseller lists, it's apparent that Gabaldon's appeal lies partly in her ability to bulldoze the formulaic conventions of popular fiction. Salon writer Gavin McNett noted approvingly, "She simply doesn't pay attention to genre or precedent, and doesn't seem to care that identifying with Claire puts women in the role of the mysterious stranger, with Jamie -- no wimp in any regard -- as the romantic 'heroine."'
In between Outlander novels, Gabaldon also writes historical mysteries featuring Lord John Grey, a popular, if minor, character from the series, and is working on a contemporary mystery series. Meanwhile, the author's formidable fan base keeps growing, as evidenced by the expanding list of Gabaldon chat rooms, mailing lists, fan clubs and web sites -- some of them complete with fetching photos of red-haired lads in kilts.
Gabaldon gets 30 to 40 e-mails a day from her fans, who often meet online to discuss her work. "I got one letter from a woman who had been studying my book jacket photos (with a magnifying glass, evidently), who demanded to know why there was a hole in my pants," wrote Gabaldon on her web site. "This strikes me as a highly metaphysical question, which I am not equipped to answer, but which will doubtless entertain some chat-groups for quite a long time."
Anonymous
Posted Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Waiting for The Exile was long and not worth the time to read, the paper used for printing, or the cost of the book. I have read all of the Outlander books and found this book shameful to the great characters of Jamie and Claire, and their legacy. Jamie and Claire have been downsized to nothing more than simpletons and reduced to a bad comic strip and nothing more.
The inconsistencies in Hoang Nguyen illustrations are constant throughout the book; starting with Jamie looking like a person in the beginning and in the end looking like Speed Racer; and, that includes Claire. Ms. Gabaldon tries to write away the changes of these characters with a laugh in her text in the back of the book does not help matters; including downplaying the size of Claire's breasts. This does not change the simple fact that as an illustrator continuity is essential in making your characters believable. Going from the front to the back of the book, my questions during reading and looking at the illustrations were "who is that now?"
This book was very disappointing and somewhere along the way Ms. Gabaldon you should have taken back control of your characters and found a better illustrator that would have stayed true to your written words. Personally, I would like a refund!
45 out of 47 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Marion_Klarke
Posted Sun Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Tries to cram too much into the graphic format, wildly inconsistent pictures of Jamie, Claire, and others. Puzzling new subplot introduced. All in all -- hard as it is to wait, this book doesn't add enough to the Outlander series to justify the cost. And the book's later images of Jamie are just awful -- he looks like Dudley Dooright with red hair. Ick.
And -- I note in passing that the highest-rated positive review was posted more than a month before the release date. Suggest you read the reviews of Gabaldon fans who actually read the book before deciding to buy it.
Marion K.
34 out of 35 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Having read the Outlander Series and loved every book, I wasn't sure what to expect with a graphic novel. In my opinion, it in NO way complimented the series. It was cheesie and immature. A huge disappointment. I'll continue to wait for the next book.
21 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Headingley_Girl
Posted Wed Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I am enthralled with the Outlander series, and was intrigued to see the graphic version...you know, compare it with how I envisioned what the characters and settings would be like...taking a chance at wrecking my ideal vision. For the most part, the settings, colors, textures are wonderful, however, I am disappointed with specific details such as the character's faces. Of course Jamie and Claire had to be beautiful, outwardly as well as inwardly, and we see this in many scenes. However, often times their facial features are drawn so differently from one scene to the next, it makes it hard to recognize them as the same character. As an example, the shape and distinctive qualities of their nose, and other facial characteristics may be drawn so differently from one scene to the next, one has to refer to their clothing to make certain they are the same person because they are so unrecognizable. Another example is that Jamie's size and stature is essentially equal, and in some cases smaller than the other men. His height and stature is one of his most distinguishing characteristics after all. Thank goodness he is depicted wearing a green tartan most of the time, otherwise it is often difficult to pick him out of the crowd. Anyway, I am not done the book yet, just received it (Sept.22/10), and may have more input after finishing it. My comments may seem a bit shallow to some, but I am an adult reading (viewing) what is essentially a comic book after all...cheers!
16 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Forensixchick
Posted Thu Sep 23 00:00:00 EDT 2010
If you are unfamiliar with graphic novels, this book is probably not for you. I happen to be a fan of the Outlander series as well as many graphic novels and I really liked this work. No, the characters do not look the same as I envisioned but that is to be expected since my mental version of Jamie and Claire probably isn't the same as the authors anyway. I think that the art work was very well done and I really like the small section at the end of the book that explained why certain things were drawn the way they were. A good companion book to help pass the time before the next installment in the series is out.
15 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Lynnibob
Posted Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I read all 6 Outlander books, in a row, since I was introduced to them last summer. I loved the time, the characters, the romance and adventure. This book was not marketed for what it is: A comic book of Outlander. It lacks depth. It lacks any sort of original storyline. If you haven't already read Outlander you would be somewhat lost. If you have, then there is no point. The art was even hard to follow. The characters all looked alike. The only way I could identify them was the color of their tartan. Sorry Ms. Gabaldon, a more original storyline or at very least, a more realistic summary of the book (This is Cliffs Notes for people who can't read 800 pages) would have stopped me from spending my money.
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.donkeycong
Posted Tue Mar 08 00:00:00 EST 2011
Diana Gabaldon is my favorite author. I have "devoured" all of her books... except this "Graphic Novel".
I thought the Illustrations were poor... and the "comic book" writing style (for me) was beyond awful.
Diana, if you read (or get feed-back) regarding reviews.... Please (I beg you) to ignore everything else and get your next novel finished.
I have re-read all your novels "twice"... and I am salivating for your next book.
Originally, I thought you were just being kind to a "relative" by letting them illustrate "The Exile" (using a pen name)... because the graphic novel art is simply awful and
the "comic book" style writing is a bore.
After you finish writing the next and ALL "Outlander" books,.... I would love to see a Novel, (not a Graphic Novel), written by YOU, regarding Jamie's perspective... true to the original "Outlander" book. or books.
But, for now.... Please, please, please,.... finish writing the next book in the Outlander series.
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.After being in exile from his beloved Scotland for seemingly forever, in 1743 Jamie Fraser is returning home though he knows the danger he will face in war torn Scotland. His godfather Murtagh will do what he can to keep Jamie safe because of a death pledge he made to the lad's late parents, but he also knows British Captain Black Jack Randall has a large bounty for the head of Jamie.-----------------
Meanwhile the MacKenzie clan disputes the return of Jamie. The chieftain Jamie's Uncle Colum, demands his nephew choose between death and fealty while war chieftain Uncle Dougal demands his death. However, strange, stubborn and beautiful Claire Randall appears out of nowhere; convoluting the return of the prodigal Scot. He saves her life and wants her as does his vicious enemy Randall. Murtagh believes she is an Old Ones' envoy; Randall asserts she is a spy; the feuding uncles believe she is a danger; and Jamie offers his heart even knowing he has hers in spite of also believing she hides something critical from him.----------
This graphic rendition of the original Outlander saga is refreshed by Hoang Nguyen's terrific pictures and told from Jamie's side as opposed to the original mostly seen from the WWII displaced Claire. The story line is filled with action from the onset, but also lacks the time travel aspects that made the original haunting as the key elements of Claire's husband is two centuries in the future while she falls in love with the enemy of her spouse's ancestor remains in the background. Thus this leads to a strong historical saga that fans of the long running series. Readers will appreciate the well written return of the Exile in graphic form; newcomers will enjoy the work, but should start with the original novel (see The Outlander).--------------------
Harriet Klausner
14 out of 29 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Darcys_mom
Posted Tue Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I have been a fan of DG since Outlander first came out but I must say I really wish she had passed on this project. I understand that she made her start doing comic books for Disney but this book seems like a big insult to the whole Jamie and Claire series.
I have to agree with some other reviewers that if someone who has not read the other novels reads this book they probably would be completely confused about what is going on. And while reading the book I couldn't help feeling that if I read "Jesus H. Roosevelt..." one more time I would scream. Claire did not say it that often in the other books, so why have her saying it on every other page in this one?
The illustrations are very good however they do not depict most of the characters the way I invisioned them. Especially Jamie and Claire. The drawings make them look more like teenagers than 20-somethings. And what is with Claire's ever-growing boobs? In one picture they look semi-normal, then in the next picture it looks like they are going to explode at any momemt.
I do understand the concept of a "graphic novel" but I just don't think this story is a good choice for that format. Maybe if this had been published first and then the novels, it might have made more sense. I also did not understand where the Kenneth character came from. Why introduce someone who wasn't in the original books? Just doesn't make any sense.
I will keep the book as part of my library but doubt very much that I would ever read it again. Unlike the other books, which I've read probably at least 8 or 9 times each.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
I'm very disappointed in the book. They should not have changed the storyline. It was like reading a Japanese comic book very disappointing I have read the first five books 5 times. Her last two books were not as good as the first five. I have given the book's as gifts to many people I do not recommend buying the book. She needs to get back to the basic story. The story that everyone fell in love with
.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I am an avid reader and a Gabaldon fan. I read all her books and I recognize that not all of her novels deserve a five star rating not even a four such in the case of her first book in the Lord John series. But there is something about her writing that is pivotal: Character development. In Outlander, Gabaldon spends pages painting the physical features, attributes, and personality traits that make her characters unique and unforgettable.
When in a graphic novel, it's obvious we will not find her beautiful narrative, because, it's a blend of graphics and words. But I never expected to find a story so uninteresting, filled with a new convoluted plot, as the new time traveler, which lead to nowhere other than to a dead end.
The main characters, Jaime and Claire, sound dumb, very far away from the witty, sharp, and educated loving individuals we came to know through her seven novels.
The artwork looks promising until we hit page four. Slowly, the defined features of the characters begin to fade into pudgy, goofy looking, comic strip drawings. All the men look the same and the women seem to suffer from an overdose of hormones, especially Claire, that make their breast look like the centerfold picture of a Playboy magazine.
All in all, I don't recommend this graphic novel since it is a far cry from Gabaldon's excellent abilities as a writer and does an utter disservice to the beautiful Outlander series.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Okay, I understand the upset: The writing is not as good as Diana's long books, Jamie is too pretty, Claire's hair isn't curly enough etc etc etc. However: 1. This is a fun companion to the books as it gives us insight into Diana's view of these folks, and like the unpublished but accessible fifth twilight book, tells the story from another character's point of view. 2. Accessibility--have you ever tried to get a friend or relative to read these books--one look at their thickness and they run howling into the night. But my partner wants to read Exile and I know she'll then become as into the series as I am. I really loved the book and I wish that y'all could lighten up and enjoy this treat!
4 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CelticWolf270911
Posted Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I don't agree that this work is disappointing. Gabaldon took Outlander to another level. True, we're all dying to see the next Jaime and Claire installment, but there's nothing wrong with revisiting the beginning of such a wonderful story and putting a new perspective on it. I would highly recommend ALL Outlander fans to give this another look and another try. Let it help you remember what was so wonderful about the first book in the first place. It's done that for me and I love it just as it is. Wouldn't change a thing. Keep them coming, Diana. This book is fun and a very welcome appetizer while we wait for the next meaty book to get finished. This book WILL get a place of honor beside all of my other hard Gabaldon hardbacks. Great job and PLEASE keep them coming.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RaiderLadd1
Posted Thu Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I'm not exactly sure why the reviews for this are so low but I have my theories as to why. YOU ARE OLD SNOBBISH WOMEN WITH NO IMAGINATION WHAT SO EVER! STOP COMPLAINING AND GO WATCH YOUR SOAPS ALREADY!
Anyways...
Most Outlander series fans are a different demographic completely than the comic book/graphic novel realm. The ones who are complaining most likely have never even read a comic before other than a slight glance at the comic strips in the newspaper.
-Most of them do not have a solid appreciation for art other then seeing it as a form of meddlings for children. (I'm an artist myself, and my mother can't understand why I can't get a job working for Pixar making those 'kiddie' movies already...)
- Most are so stubborn with reguards to the artists interprtation of the characters. (If it's so easy, do it yourself!)
BTW Hoang Nguyen's art is exceptional in every frame. I can only imagine how long it took him to complete this. It's almost as if every frame's detail is worthy of a cover.
Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed The Exile and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a stick up their...XD
3 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Sep 23 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I had not realized that this was a comic book. I thought it was a rewrite of the Outlander from Jamie's point of view. If I had known, I would not have purchased this book. The graphics were beautiful but I wanted to read a book not a comic strip. I would not recommend this.
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 2010
This was a total disappointment.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I Also Recommend:
After reading the reviews on this site, I think people need to remember that not only is The Exile a graphic novel, it is not a new story, but the retelling of a story we all know and love. The Outlander novels are among the best books I've read. Ms. Gabaldon not only creates many amazing characters that you know, love, hate and suffer with, but she is able to transport you to their time and place. Whether it's 1749, 1776 or 1960, Fraser's Ridge in NC, Wilmington or Philadelphia, Paris or Edinburgh, in prison, on the sea, or in the hills of Scotland and Lollybrook, you feel as if you are there and experiencing the adventure. Don't compare the outstanding Outlander series to the graphic novel, enjoy them each for what they are.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Sell-out. I love the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. Every book is an enjoyment. This was an attempt to use Diana Gabaldon's fame to make money on a comic book that could not have stood on its own with original characters. Shame on you Diana and Random House Publishing Group.
I would recommend this book(?) to readers who like comic books and bright and shiny things.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I pre=ordered it.As much as I love the Outlander series. I found the graphic book Just a bit too graphic. I intended to give it to my granddaughter, but I hid in the closet. I just got it on friday, and found the book very attractive and the story line reads like another book or two may be in the works. As in the Lord John series, I know how different people approach sex ,but I think that reading how they go about it is too much .I am not a book burner, but I was tempted.
I am returning the Exile back. But I am looking forward to how Jenny Murray is going to fit into the next book.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2010
This book is wonderful because it brings to life all the things we imagined while reading the Novel. So I see this as a compliment to Outlander.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved...