I think I know what it is about “Diana Gabaldon’s” Outlander series that incites obsession among her legions of fans.
Admittedly part of it is the lust factor; you know how some married couples have a ‘celebrity clause’, where if one or the other were to meet a specific/predesignated celebrity of their dreams they’re allowed to have guilt-free sex with said celebrity? Well my husband has nothing to worry about because my free pass would be a fictional character, Jamie Fraser (unless a movie or mini-series finally gets made and then I’d have to consider the actor who plays Jamie, but that’s for another post, lol).
Another reason, at least for me, is when I read the series it feels like home. The characters feel like my intimate friends & family, and I am truly and emotionally invested in their well-being. To say I’m waiting on pins and needles over the release of the eighth book “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood” (or MOBY, as Diana and her fans refer to it ) would be a gross understatement.
Quite frankly, I do whatever I can to stay connected.
There is a large community of people that feel the same way I do, and many of us have joined groups on Facebook (among others) for the sole purpose of being able to discuss and share anything/everything about the series, the characters and all things generally Scottish (hello to my friends @ Outlander ★ Je suis prest on Facebook). They provide an outlet for our anxiety, our eagerness (ok desperation) to stay connected to the story & characters. (At the risk of sounding a little crazy, I confess it feels uncomfortable referring to it as a “story” or to the people as “characters” – it seems like I’m doing them an injustice).
MOBY is due out in 2013, and I have just begun to reread the series from the beginning, in order to reacquaint myself with every detail for when the time comes. The first time around I read all of the books in 4 months, up many of those nights into the wee hours of 1:00/2:00am. This time however, I’m taking my time, reading slowly and savoring all of the little details that I didn’t realize I’d forgotten. It’s like getting to know a long lost friend all over again, and I’m so grateful to Diana Gabaldon for creating the connections, both with the books and the community of fans that love her books too.
outlanderfan.com 