Outlander and Lord John as Crime Fiction

Fans across the globe are familiar with Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander series and the Starz television series that adapts it. Combining science fiction time travel and historical romance, the Outlanderuniverse has captivated millions with its detail and complexity. However, few readers or viewers realize how large an influence the mystery genre has had on Gabaldon's plots, characters, and writing style. Her Lord John series of novels and short stories is obviously rooted in the crime fiction tradition, although it doesn't play by all of the traditional generic rules. Even the larger Outlandernovels, though, contain at least one mystery in every book. This inclusion of the murder-mystery and other crimes is no accident: the author has stated her love of the genre and her deliberate use of it many times. This collection of scholarly essays delves into the many connections between the world of Outlander and the world of crime fiction. It analyzes in depth, for the first time, the ways that crime and punishment, vigilante justice, and murder and mystery are represented in both the Outlander and Lord John series. Moving beyond the stereotypical romantic focus, this book demonstrates the variety and complexity of Gabaldon's universe.

Erin E. MacDonald is a professor of English at Fanshawe College's School of Language and Liberal Studies in London, Ontario. She has published books on Ed McBain and Robert Downey Jr., and her mystery companion book on Ian Rankin was nominated for an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Her articles have appeared in the Journal of American and Comparative Cultures and Clues.