• “The smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting 'Scrooge McDuck' comics.”—Salon.com
  • A time-hopping, continent-spanning salmagundi of genres.”
    —ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
  • “These books have to be word-of-mouth books because they're too weird to describe to anybody.”
    —Jackie Cantor, Diana's first editor

FREE Outlanders!

Well, this is nice. Random House, as part of a promotion to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of OUTLANDER’s publication next year, is doing _two_ giveaways!

First, a program to give away promotional copies of OUTLANDER paperbacks–see here for the details!

And secondly….for a limited time, Random House is giving away the Kindle edition of the OUTLANDER e-book FREE! See here to download it!

You know, ever since that book was published, I’ve had The Worst Time trying to describe it to people; never been able to do it in twenty-five words or less. [g] After some trial and error, I finally took to telling people, “Look–open it anywhere, and read three pages. If you can put it down again, I’ll pay you a dollar.” Never lost any money on that bet [g]–though do note I’m not making it here (too many difficulties of administration).

Still, the point stands. It’s One Odd Book (well, heck, they _all_ are), and as my first beloved editor used to say, “These _have_ to be word of mouth books, because they’re too weird to describe to anybody.”

That being true, the only really good way to explain them is to let people look for themselves–so kudos to Random House for giving us fresh opportunities to spread the word!

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49 Responses »

  1. argh! I looked at the link for the Kindle edition (I don't have a Kindle yet, but was tempted and this might have pushed me into getting one!) and found:
    This title is not available for customers from:
    Australia
    Shop titles available for Australia

    Blegh.

    • I own a Kindle but can’t buy for it either. “not available in your area”. whether my Kindle is registered with Amazon or not. I live in Denmark. I can’t download ebooks when I’m in the UK either.
      Baen books lets anyone download to their Kindle, but Diana is with Random House…
      Ask Random House to associate with Baen ebooks, Diana?

  2. JenerEight – If you have an ipod, you can get a kindle app for it.

  3. Our library doesn't have this book. So if I win, I know where my copies are going!

  4. Yay! Got my free Kindle edition. I had to replace my much-worn paperback copy a little while ago and I was thinking about getting it on Kindle. Problem solved.
    ps I can't believe Outlander is coming up on 20 years.

  5. I cna't believe it's been 20 years! But I have to tell you-I'm already a Diana Gabaldon ambassador -I have NUMEROUS sets of the Outlander series, just because I bought my own, then I got so attached to Jaime and Clare that whenever I see them in used book stores or yard sales -I buy those copies too. I've given away complete sets more than a few times, and still have (at the moment) probably 9 or 10 complete sets on the shelves, waiting for a potential reader. And lots of single copies waiting for mates. I can't stand to leave Jaime sitting on a shelf in some used book store. Thank god it doesn't bother me at B&N. (Should note that NO ONE has ever given the books back, or said "I don't like it." But they do come back with all sorts of chatter about this scene or that conversation or what will happen to so-and-so.) It is an addiction. I'm sure of it.

  6. I was so happy to see the free Kindle edition. I have all the hard back editions but the size and weight of the books were always a problem for me.
    I've been trying to justify purchasing them all again in the digital format and this just gave me a head start.

  7. When I lived in Germany… I got the Army Post library to buy the books because one of the assistants was my friend. She said "I don't read romance novels" I said it isn't romance and just read the first chapter. She has been reading you ever since. I also had a German friend that got hooked and all of her friends are reading too. I wish I had a KIndle so I could have it in that format too… but I guess I will live with my paper copy :)

  8. Too funny.. I already AM a die hard, DG/Outlander Ambassoder.. In fact I have just ordered a copy of Outlander, In spanish as a x-mas gift for my exchange students mom, As it is my solid opinion, that everyone… on god's green earth MUST read this pure genius.

  9. Well, Diana's comment about trying to describe her books or classify them is true. The first time I saw Outlander was as a paperback on a shelf in B Dalton when it first came out. If I remember right, the book synopsis was really heavy on the time-travel aspect and I just didn't get it. then I was sent the book and well, I don't know how many times I've read it or the others since. Totally addicted and I've got others addicted as well.

  10. What a wonderful idea! Do you think, they give it away to germany? I would be so happy to bring one copy to every library in my hometown!

    Antje

  11. wonderful! I just downloaded it. it'll be strange to read the story in this format instead of as at tome. my first e-book. :)

  12. Dear Diana,

    Thanks to this promotion, I discreetly downloaded Outlander on my DH's iPad, in the hope that he might finally understand my obsession with Jamie, Claire and the whole series.

    It has been difficult explaining to my Book Club what your books exact genre. Terms like "historical fiction", "impossible love triangles" (or caltrops), and "drama" get all tossed in together to the raised eyebrows of my group. I did forewarn all the ladies that once they start, they _will_ get addicted (in essence, turning me into a legal substance abuse pusher)

    Ha! Next time the book club meets, I shall follow your lead and bet every one a dollar for three pages of reading!

    That, and give out the Random House Outlander books in a dark alley …

  13. Oh my goodness, I was three when these books came out? Weird… But yay for free Outlander for the kindle! I don't have one, but it goes to my new smartphone which is awesome :)

  14. This is fantastic. Thanks for posting!!

  15. Diana – i absolutley LOVE your stuff!!! I have read the books many times and can't wait for your next installment in the series.

    I have to say that I too was very disappointed to see that the free Kindle book is not available in Canada :(
    Any chance of having the book available in all countries???

  16. I jumped on this as soon as I saw it this weekend on Amazon Kindle on Facebook. How wonderful! I too own all the books, but would love to have them all digital, so this will get me started!

    Has anyone figured out yet what the "bonus material" is? That is how it was advertised on Amazon Kindle's facebook site: Outlander with Bonus Material.

    I've also initiated quite a few people into the Jamie and Claire obsession, and we are all huge fans! At any given time, some one in our group will be rereading and sharing what is happening. (I was listening to my free audible download of Outlander that I got this summer in an Audible.com promotion, and I'm up to the part where Claire goes to Geillis' house in the village. She comes up "red-faced from climbing the stairs" after being downstairs with Duncan. Yeah, right!) Love it!

  17. oops… meant Dougal, not Duncan!

  18. Can we enter as many times as we want? I just recently got a friend hooked on the series. LOVE that this is available for those of us spreading the word over 20 years.

  19. I just entered! Yay! Funny thing too I just gave away my copy of Outlander to a friend so she could try out your series.

    Hmm, 25 words or less? I wonder if I can do it?

    A time traveler’s tale. Can Clare reconcile the fact that she lives and loves in two centuries, 1945 and 1743?

    That doesn't of course do your wonderful story any justice, but that's 20 words. How did I do?

    Janice~

  20. Dear Janice–

    Well, certainly no worse than the publishing people who write back-cover blurbs and headlines. [g]

    –Diana

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