The space between

by Diana Gabaldon

2014

Publication

Random House, 2014.

Library's rating

½

Status

Available

Description

Fiction. Literature. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER � Diana Gabaldon returns to her Outlander universe in �The Space Between,� an irresistible novella brimming with adventure, history, and suspense.   Features a preview of the much-anticipated new Outlander novel, Written in My Own Heart�s Blood!   Joan MacKimmie is on her way to Paris to take up her vocation as a nun. Yet her decision is less a matter of faith than fear, for Joan is plagued by mysterious voices that speak of the future, and by visions that mark those about to die. The sanctuary of the nunnery promises respite from these unwanted visitations . . . or so she prays. Her chaperone is Michael Murray, a young widower who, though he still mourns the death of his wife, finds himself powerfully drawn to his charge. But when the time-traveling Comte St. Germain learns of Joan�s presence in Paris, and of her link to Claire Fraser�La Dame Blanche�Murray is drawn into a battle whose stakes are not merely the life but the very soul of the Scotswoman who, without even trying, has won his heart.   Praise for Diana Gabaldon�s Outlander series   �A grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across [centuries].��CNN, on The Fiery Cross   �History comes deliciously alive on the page.��New York Daily News, on Outlander   �Abounds with Gabaldon�s sexy combination of humor, wild adventure and, underlying it all, the redemptive power of true love.��The Dallas Morning News, on The Fiery Cross   �Gabaldon is a born storyteller. . . . The pages practically turn themselves.��The Arizona Republic, on Dragonfly in Amber   �Wonderful . . . This is escapist historical fiction at its best.��San Antonio Express-News, on Drums of Autumn.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
This was a quick, enjoyable little Outlander read that was very good, although I will confess I found it a little confusing in parts. I don't know if it was just me and my memory fading on some of the books I've read or if it was the novella itself. The main characters are not Jamie and Claire but
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Jamie's stepdaughter Joan, who may have been mentioned briefly in the original story, and Michael, a Murray, plus the Comte de Germaine. Time travel is involved!
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LibraryThing member JaneSteen
Where I got the book: purchased on Kindle. **A LITTLE SPOILERISH**

This is another of Diana Gabaldon’s nice little earners aka e-novelettes based on the Outlander series. This time—I hope I’ve gotten this right—it involves Jamie’s nephew Michael, returning to Paris after the death of his
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wife, and his stepdaughter Joanie, traveling to Paris to become a nun. AND she wants to become a nun because…she is finding it hard to cope with being some kind of seer, with voices in her head and the ability to see when people are going to die.

AND we also have the blue light, the Comte de Saint-Germain who has some weird ability to see conception happening, Maitre Raymond who can disappear at will and does not appear to age consistently…from its inception as a fairly straightforward timeslip historical fiction, Outlander appears to be straying more and more into the realms of fantasy and confusion and I’m expecting dragons to appear any moment (there is a character called Mélisande, only one letter removed from Game of Thrones…)

I’m not sure what to make of this inconclusive tale, which ends with an attraction suddenly appearing between Michael and Joanie who hitherto have appeared completely off the opposite sex, for different reasons. If you’re a hardcore Outlander fan you’ll have bought this already; if not, you’ll be wondering who the hell these people are and why Claire Fraser is so important to them.

And about that: remember that Doctor Who episode where Donna turns out to be the most important person in the whole of space and time or something? And the Doctor wipes her memory in the end? I have nothing against raising the stakes for a character, but sometimes the stakes get raised so ridiculously high for a character in a novel that you practically DO have to make them the pivotal point in the universe, from which position you can go precisely nowhere. I’m starting to feel like this with Claire. Please don’t give her godlike powers, because if that happens Outlander and I may have to undergo a parting of the ways.
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LibraryThing member fueledbycoffee
For one of the many fans awaiting for the next Outlander installment this June, I was thankful for this short story to tide me over. If you're just starting this series, this novella will be a bit spoilerish.

This fun gem follows Joan McKimmie, daughter of Laoghaire (pronounced "Leery", or as we
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fans like to call her, "Leg Hair") on her quest to quiet her inner demons.

The story opens with Joan, accompanied on a ships passage to France by Michael Murray, Young Ian's brother. Joan seems to be running from her own demons, the voices in her head, no really...real voices, while she finds a kindred heart in Michael's sadness and strength. Although, she's off to the convent to become a nun while there are those in France who don't belong in 1700s France. There's your hint of time travel and "the space" between.

Joan is pretty gutsy. Knowing her stepdad, Jamie, and Leghair? How could she NOT have some fire? The nunnery will not be the same. I hope her 'deciding' year goes by quickly....you'll see what I mean.

Go read it. Its short and come back so we can be swoony over the awesomeness that is the Murray offspring. A new one to read about!

Michael's character made my brain melt. Here we go, another strong, endearing, redheaded Scot to be all gushy over and this while he is in a time of sorrow, mourning the loss of someone he loved dearly. And then he gets to save the day, all in 100 pages.

For the record, I would grab up anything DG writes on the Murray boys...I already adore Young Ian's character.

Richly detailed, fun read.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
The depiction of Michael's grief felt very true to life and the insight to Joan's choice of vocation was interesting. In the main novels she isn't particularly interesting or sympathetic, but I liked her in this novella. The stuff with the time traveling men was too undeveloped.
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
This book focuses on Michael Murray, Joan MacKimmie, and includes the Count St Germain, even. Michael agrees to accompany Joan to France where she will become a nun. He is returning to France after visiting his family, following the death of his wife. This story holds more than I could really take
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in with one reading. I will be better able to digest it if I ever reread it.
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LibraryThing member egrant5329
I really liked this novella. I wished the author would have made it longer and I think it could easily spin off a book or two along this story line. I always thought Master Raymond the Frog had a lot more of a role in the story and was a missed opportunity by the author. This was a fun, but too
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short of a read.
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LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
Loved this - but really was left wanting much more!!! I wish this one was novel length!
LibraryThing member ToniFGMAMTC
I had to read this a couple of times, and I'm sure that I still missed a lot. This novella is packed full of useful Outlander series information. There are so many mysteries. This helps some with the blue color surrounding certain people and other things in the series. It also leads to so many new
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questions. The family tree is looking like everyone in the series is somehow connected. I admit I mostly focused on Jamie, Claire, Lord John, Brianna and Roger while reading the other books. I need to do a reread and pay closer attention to some of these others. It's turning out that every detail seems important.
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LibraryThing member Library_Breeder
This book answers the question from the Outlander series about what happened to Master Raymond, The Compt de Germain, and the conception of Fergus, and the real reason why Joan wanted to be a nun.

Characters:
Joan (Jamie's stepdaughter who wants to be a nun)
Marcus McKenzy (Ian's son - the one whose
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wife died and is working for Jerod in France)
That Nun who worked with Claire in France at the hospital (the one in charge with the dog)
Master Raymond
The Compt de Germain (He didn't die in Dragonfly)
Jerod Frazier

Forgive me if the names are all wrong, but you get the idea.
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Language

Original language

English

ISBN

9780553392111
Page: 0.2941 seconds