[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 18 October 2016 - 04:22 PM, said:

Outlander 2, chapters 3&4

Yeah yeah I am moving slowly. I will pick up the pace later..

Spoiler

So I am feeling a teensy bit sympathetic about Roger due to all the historical investigation stuff, me being in the same discipline and all, but so far his research is not very systematic.

Brianna seems to like him, though I am not sure if its in a non-platonic way.

Claire made this random off hand comment about plastic tech not being that advanced yet, which has me wondering whether she has jumped forward in time once. Or maybe its just me being paranoid. I hate time travel. It makes me insecure.

I think Claire was just woken by Jamie's ghost. This is probably a throwback to that Highlander apparition in the early chapters of Outlander 1.

Spoiler

If it helps, Roger (you really are going to have to get used to him, he's not going anywhere...lol!) does get better as BK noted. He doesn't necessarily become super apt or anything, but his foibles get less pronounced as things progress.

Claire has not jumped forward in time except to return to her own time from the past. I would expect that plastic comment was possibly a future guess on her part (like I would say "smartphones haven't progressed to holographic yet" or some such offhanded comment, or something of the like). The time travel in the series seems to fall at the genetic level (possibly through familial linkage)...because while Claire can hear the stones at Craig Na Dun and feel them...you'll have noticed that Frank felt and heard nothing, nor does Jamie (I don't think). So certain people appear to have this gene or disposition to activate the magic of the stones...but I'm pretty sure it's done only to the past...an one can only return to the future because of the link they themselves created by slipping into the past to begin with. If that makes sense.

EDIT: Also re: time travel...I'm SUPER curious about the 200 years specifically. Why 200?

You're not off to link the highlander ghost from the beginning of book 1 and the scene with Claire in book 2....and Gabaldon has been tricksy in that she's stated that she will explain that apparition in the end of the very last book of the series.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 18 October 2016 - 04:52 PM

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2016 - 04:50 PM, said:

Andorion, on 18 October 2016 - 04:22 PM, said:

Outlander 2, chapters 3&4

Yeah yeah I am moving slowly. I will pick up the pace later..

Spoiler

So I am feeling a teensy bit sympathetic about Roger due to all the historical investigation stuff, me being in the same discipline and all, but so far his research is not very systematic.

Brianna seems to like him, though I am not sure if its in a non-platonic way.

Claire made this random off hand comment about plastic tech not being that advanced yet, which has me wondering whether she has jumped forward in time once. Or maybe its just me being paranoid. I hate time travel. It makes me insecure.

I think Claire was just woken by Jamie's ghost. This is probably a throwback to that Highlander apparition in the early chapters of Outlander 1.

Spoiler

If it helps, Roger (you really are going to have to get used to him, he's not going anywhere...lol!) does get better as BK noted. He doesn't necessarily become super apt or anything, but his foibles get less pronounced as things progress.

Claire has not jumped forward in time except to return to her own time from the past. I would expect that plastic comment was possibly a future guess on her part (like I would say "smartphones haven't progressed to holographic yet" or some such offhanded comment, or something of the like). The time travel in the series seems to fall at the genetic level (possibly through familial linkage)...because while Claire can hear the stones at Craig Na Dun and feel them...you'll have noticed that Frank felt and heard nothing, nor does Jamie (I don't think). So certain people appear to have this gene or disposition to activate the magic of the stones...but I'm pretty sure it's done only to the past...an one can only return to the future because of the link they themselves created by slipping into the past to begin with. If that makes sense.

EDIT: Also re: time travel...I'm SUPER curious about the 200 years specifically. Why 200?

You're not off to link the highlander ghost from the beginning of book 1 and the scene with Claire in book 2....and Gabaldon has been tricksy in that she's stated that she will explain that apparition in the end of the very last book of the series.

Spoiler

By 200 do you mean why the stones only seem to operate between the mid 20th and the mid 18th century?



Talking about genetics, It has suddenly occurred to me, that while we know a lot about Frank's family, and Roger is a Mackenzie, we know nothing about Claire's ancestry at all.

[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 18 October 2016 - 05:09 PM, said:

Spoiler

By 200 do you mean why the stones only seem to operate between the mid 20th and the mid 18th century?



Talking about genetics, It has suddenly occurred to me, that while we know a lot about Frank's family, and Roger is a Mackenzie, we know nothing about Claire's ancestry at all.

Spoiler

Yup, the 200 years (1945 to 1745 on the button)...I'm curious if there is a reason why.

Re: Claire's ancestors....this is apparently mild spoiler stuff, which is why I've never looked too far into it so as not to spoil the story...but it is apparently touched on in later books, but that's all I know about it.

[Gabriele]

Andorion, on 18 October 2016 - 04:47 PM, said:

Gabriele, on 18 October 2016 - 04:33 PM, said:

Andorion, on 18 October 2016 - 04:22 PM, said:

Outlander 2, chapters 3&4

Yeah yeah I am moving slowly. I will pick up the pace later..

Spoiler

I hate time travel. It makes me insecure.

I would like to go back in time and have a nice chat with some historical characters. But I wouldn't want to pull a Claire, esp. considering that my times of choice are the Roman Imperium and the 10th century. I do a lot of research for my blog and my novels, but that's putting dedication a bit far.

Yeah, an exploration/academic time travel would be cool. Imagine talking with Augustus or Marcus Aurelius...

For me its the time travel event conintuity and causation paradoxes that are the chief sources of bother.

Yes, talking with Augustus would be cool. Or Tiberius, who got the short shrift by Tacitus and his ilk. Though if I could go back to that time I'd especially like to ask Arminius a few questions.

[QuickTidal]

As far as I can tell Caligula was mentally unwell (from an illness or naturally born with it)...so talking to him might be a chore with you ending up on the south side of execution.

Nero though....Nero would be FASCINATING!

[Gabriele]

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2016 - 06:29 PM, said:

As far as I can tell Caligula was mentally unwell (from an illness or naturally born with it)...so talking to him might be a chore with you ending up on the south side of execution.

Nero though....Nero would be FASCINATING!

As long as you don't have to listen to him trying to win Roman Idol.

[Andorion]

Finished Part 1 of Outlander 2

Spoiler

Claire freaks out when she sees Jamie's grave. Which is not at Culloden. Hmmm. Also Randall died in 1746. So not in the great cow rescue?

Brianna is understandably alarmed and sceptical. Roger is more receptive. Also nice snapshot of the post 48 Frank relationship.

Now for some timeline musings.

First, Claire walks into the stones in 1945, walks out at 1743. So its 202 years.

Now, if I remember correctly, Brianna is conceived with Jamie somewhere in the winter of 43-44.

When Claire returns in 1948, she is still pregnant. So, she must have entered the stones in 1744 itself . So she gets thrown 204 years into the future, a 2+ year gain.

Culloden is fought in 1746. So she left Jamie 2+ years before Culloden. So why is she so certain he was at Culloden? A lot of things can happen in 2 years.

[Andorion]

I Got Crabs, on 19 October 2016 - 03:24 AM, said:

Indeed. Keep going *snickers

I'm gonna hate you when you over take me. Fuck you on Safehold lmao.

Safehold was this totally unexpected marathon... I was stuck for hours in these bland waiting rooms, and I really don't deal well with idle tension, so I channelled all of that into the reading.

BTW Safehold 4 is the worst. Its essentially setup for the later books all of which are pretty eventful

[Gabriele]

Andorion, on 19 October 2016 - 03:04 AM, said:

Finished Part 1 of Outlander 2

Spoiler

Claire freaks out when she sees Jamie's grave. Which is not at Culloden. Hmmm. Also Randall died in 1746. So not in the great cow rescue?

Brianna is understandably alarmed and sceptical. Roger is more receptive. Also nice snapshot of the post 48 Frank relationship.

Now for some timeline musings.

First, Claire walks into the stones in 1945, walks out at 1743. So its 202 years.

Now, if I remember correctly, Brianna is conceived with Jamie somewhere in the winter of 43-44.

When Claire returns in 1948, she is still pregnant. So, she must have entered the stones in 1744 itself . So she gets thrown 204 years into the future, a 2+ year gain.

Culloden is fought in 1746. So she left Jamie 2+ years before Culloden. So why is she so certain he was at Culloden? A lot of things can happen in 2 years.

Spoiler

Roger is such a history nerd that he'll take time travel as research.

Spoiler for later part of book 2.

Spoiler

About Claire's timeline: Not all pregnancies end well and sometimes it takes a second try.

[Andorion]

Outlander 2, chapters 6-16

I have not as yet read Gabriele's 2nd Spoiler, I will once I am further along.

Spoiler

Ah back to the 18th Century at last!

So far at least Claire and Jamie's Parisian adventure has been extremely entertaining and funny. While the political intrigue is there, its more in the background as the two of them adjust to life in the metropolis.

I like Claire helping out at the hospital. Her healer skills are getting a workout, she is learning new stuff which I am sure will come in use later. Plus the dog is adorable.

Claire's pregnancy.... I am a bit worried. Especially after that last poisoning scare. Plus she seems to be quite far along and I don't see at all how she makes the 1948 date at this rate....

Unless I have made a wrong assumption, and there was a second pregnancy?? Oh shit, does it mean that she will lose this baby? I certainly hope not.

Jamie's sausage incident was hilarious. Next best weapon after a claymore in my opinion

Prince Charlie is a twerp. Jamie should hype up his ego and manipulate him into trying to enter the French court by force. Louis would chuck him out and that would be that.

I wonder about time travel and manipulation of the past here - is it actually possible to change the past or is it a closed loop like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where the past is what it is because of the actions of the time travellers?

[QuickTidal]

I can answer none of that without spoiling you...so I'll just say keep reading. All will be answered in due time.

Oh except yes, Prince Charlie is a complete twerp.

[Gabriele]

QuickTidal, on 19 October 2016 - 04:21 PM, said:

I can answer none of that without spoiling you...so I'll just say keep reading. All will be answered in due time.

Oh except yes, Prince Charlie is a complete twerp.

And the dog is adorable.

[QuickTidal]

Gabriele, on 19 October 2016 - 04:24 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 19 October 2016 - 04:21 PM, said:

I can answer none of that without spoiling you...so I'll just say keep reading. All will be answered in due time.

Oh except yes, Prince Charlie is a complete twerp.

And the dog is adorable.

Ah right! Also true.

[Andorion]

Finished Part 2, which means I finished Chapter 17.

Spoiler

I have to say, Jamie's nights out with Charlie unexpectedly turned pretty taut there. That was a very awkward situation, and could very easily have gone bad.

I like the character development Jamie is getting, and his portrayal as a man torn is convincing, yet I absolutely get where Claire is coming from and I think she shows a lot of patience here. A lot of other women would not have taken him at his word.

Also the baby is kicking!

[Gabriele]

I Got Crabs, on 19 October 2016 - 05:27 PM, said:

S2 is pretty grand in scale with French court. Really hope you watch one day. Severe miscast in that one though.

Who would that be?

[QuickTidal]

Gabriele, on 19 October 2016 - 05:45 PM, said:

I Got Crabs, on 19 October 2016 - 05:27 PM, said:

S2 is pretty grand in scale with French court. Really hope you watch one day. Severe miscast in that one though.

Who would that be?

I could be wrong, but I THINK BK didn't like the casting of King Louis XV...thinking he should have been old and smelly...I can get with the smelly (he likely was)...but when Jamie and Claire are at his court he's only 29 (having been born in 1715), so not old.

[QuickTidal]

I Got Crabs, on 19 October 2016 - 06:12 PM, said:

Bri, Charles, Louis a few others I think I mention in TV thread.

I think Sophie Skelton needs a longer chance to impress us as Brianna. I liked her, but there is room for improvement for sure from the small amount of scenes she got to be in. She's great in Robin Hood and Foyle's War...she's got Sam Heughan' skill at being alarmingly charming and completely serious at the turn of a dime, which I think will help her fit as Jamie's daughter truly.

Charles actually worked for me as (mark me) he was as annoying as he is meant to have actually been. It made me dislike the actor playing him...which I think was the point.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 19 October 2016 - 06:19 PM

[QuickTidal]

I Got Crabs, on 19 October 2016 - 06:34 PM, said:

Mark me you are prob right about Charles. I've seen him in a few shows and never much cared for him. He played Caligula in something last yr and was horrible at it.

I found Bri eye candy more then anything. She is to girly vs the bigger description in bk. Really wish they had stuck with the "Bawhston" accent to.

Ando should be getting close to what I'm interested in anytime now.

The Boston accent would have been far too distracting. But it would have been funny for sure! LOL.

[QuickTidal]

I'm halfway through book 4, so I'm okay here for a bit. Lol!

[Andorion]

Outlander 2, chapters 18-23.

Not as much progress as I would have liked, but I am hopeful about the weekend.

Things are getting dark and messy.

Spoiler

First the rape - I am still trying to figure out why it happened. Except complicating things a bit for Jamie and Claire I don't think it was necessary. It was used to introduce the White Lady idea, but that could have been done differently.

Poor Mary Hawkins. An absolute innocent - I wonder about the long term consequences

Jonathan Randall is alive and Jamie nearly challenged him to a duel.... not good, not good at all. How exactly does he end up marrying Mary though?

Dougal is here. Sigh. I had not missed the scumbag one bit.

Jamie's idea of sabotaging the ships - its crazy, I hope Murtagh comes through ok. I have a bad feeling about this.

But my main anxiety at the moment is about Claire's pregnancy. She bled! If this ends up as a miscarriage, it will be heartbreaking, and I worry how Jamie may react.

Sidenote: That hangman fellow is seriously creepy.