Voyager

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Gabaldon blends various genres from romance to drama to science fiction. How did you feel about this combination of genres? Were there any moments that stand out as successfully or unsuccessfully blending genres?

2. Did you expect Claire and Jamie to overcome the barriers presented by the time difference? Were there any points in the novel when you thought they might not end up together?

3. Have you seen the Outlander TV show? How did it impact your reading of the novel?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever felt yourself torn between the past and the present? How did you feel about the ways Claire and Jamie changed over time?

2. Has there ever been a time when you chose to sacrifice your happiness for someone else’s well-being? How do you feel about Claire’s choice to leave Jamie and return to the 20th century for Brianna’s sake?

3. Is there something you’re as passionate about as Claire is about practicing medicine? Do you feel it is your fate to follow this?

4. Have you ever discovered a secret that changed your view of a person? How did you react to this? What would you have done if you were in Claire’s place when she discovered Jamie’s marriage or his son?

5. If you were Claire, what choices would you make differently? Where do you agree with her choices? Would you go back through the stones a second time?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Does the dual setting in the 18th and 20th centuries influence the narrative? How do these two time periods reflect their contemporary values?

2. What does this novel say about contemporary gender roles and dynamics? How do the genders of the characters influence their choices and the options they have?

3. What does the novel say about race and justice? Do you think Gabaldon would have focused more on these ideas if she wrote this book today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How did the shifting timelines and flashbacks impact your reading experience? Did it confuse you or help you to better understand Claire and Jamie’s relationship?

2. How does Claire change throughout the novel? Are any of the changes she undergoes detectable in how she tells her story? Do Jamie’s changes parallel those Claire experiences, or are they entirely different?

3. What do you think is the novel’s overall stance on change? Is change necessary for the characters’ happiness?

4. How did the various points of view impact your reading experience? Did you prefer one narrator or perspective over another?

5. What do you think the standing stones at Craigh Na Dun or the gemstones Geillis uses symbolize beyond what is discussed in Symbols & Motifs?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine Claire went back to 1743 again rather than 1765. Do you think she would have made the same choices as she did during her first trip into the past?

2. If you were Brianna, how would you feel about Claire leaving to be with Jamie? Would you want to go with her?

3. If you could time travel to any period, when would it be? Why?

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