The Space Between

An Outlander Novella

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-selling author Diana Gabaldon returns to her Outlander universe in The Space Between, an irresistible novella brimming with adventure, history, and suspense - and available for the first time as a standalone audiobook.

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.

©2013 Diana Gabaldon (P)2014 Recorded Books

wonderful but much too short

wonderful but much too short especially since it cost the same as a long one

Interesting side story

It’s been awhile since I’ve read the Outlander books. This is the first novella I have read. Remembering the characters took a little but it all came back. Not sure what the point is. I remember some of the scenes in another book or the show. It was a good refresher.

Good story, but a little confusing

As a fan of historical fiction, almost as much as I am of fantasy and science fiction, I have loved all of the Outlander books I have listened to so far (I have almost all of them on Audible). This book is no exception. I am only dropping one star because I am confused enough that I have trouble keeping the characters straight in this one.

The Space Between, like many of the shorter intermediate books in the Outlander universe, features several people who have been only minor characters in the books of the main story.

The first we meet is Joan MacKimmee who, I think, is Jamie Fraser’s stepdaughter and Masali’s sister. She is on her way to France to enter a nunnery. Her reason for doing this is unusual. She hears voices and can sometimes tell when someone is about to die by looking at them. She hopes that living in a nunnery will keep her safe from these occurrences.

She is traveling on the same ship with Michael Murray, son of Ian and Jenny Murray, and Jamie Fraser’s nephew. He is on his way back from his father’s funeral, returning to his job as assistant to Jamie’s cousin Jared Fraser the wine merchant. This is the same job Jamie had years before when he was living in Paris with Claire before the Rising.

And then there is the Comte St. Germain. This character has always had me confused, even back in the main storyline. He always had a sinister vibe about him, and when Claire was living in Paris, he seemed to want to kill her. In this book, it is even more confusing because there is another character (maybe), Paul Rakoczy who may or may not be the Comte by his real name. Anyway, we learn that the Comte is also into time travel through the stones – this is why he was interested in Claire earlier – and is using this and every other magic or quasi-magic technique he can discover to extend his life. He seems to have no compunction about stealing other people’s lives for this purpose, however.

Michael Murray, recently widowed and reeling from the recent death of his father as well, doesn’t seem to have any paranormal abilities. He is just a decent man. And he has fallen a little in love with Joan. Because she has attracted the attention of the Comte, he is drawn into a confrontation with the man who has the potential to be very dangerous for all of them.

Davina Porter is one of the best and most versatile audiobook narrators out there. She can do old women and young girls equally well and is not bad with male characters. She is very good with accents, especially Scots and British ones.

Great story

Filled in many questions about the story. The missing parts of every time travel journey answered everything

Good in between

Not sure why this had to be a separate book, was it an afterthought? But it was good information that hopefully patches the last book to the next.

Loved it...

I really loved this story and there's only one bad thing about it...I wish it was longer. I'm a fan of the Outlander series...the first two books in the series are definitely my two all time favorite books. I loved seeing a bunch of minor characters from the second book and seeing different view points from that time as those characters think back to the events that occurred in Dragonfly in Amber. There's no Jamie and Claire in this book but they are referenced a bunch of times and you see the impact they had on others. The two main characters in this book, Michael and Joan, and very interesting and I enjoyed reading about them. I just wish I had been able to spend MORE time with them...those 4 hours went by so fast.

Davina Porter is an excellent narrator. I always enjoy listening to her and her voice definitely suits the Outlander stories and works well with Diana Gabaldon's writing style. I definitely recommend this to anyone but definitely to fans of the Outlander series.

a good filler

The author, Diana Gabaldon, evidently wrote this short story as a filler between book #7 and book #8. The two main characters are faimly to Jaime and Clare and you get to know them both much more than in previous stories. You suspect Michael and Joan play a more prominent role goin forward but you can only only guess what that might be. The book is 4 hours long and it was perfect for a 5 hour road trip. Davina Porter is great as the narrator as usual. The book really gets you ready for book 8.

Searching, searching...

It was such a pleasure to new new Outlander material. I found myself searching for where to place The Space Between in the context of the Outlander series, I am re-reading them now and watching the series on STARZ from the beginning. I need a bit of other reality just now and this fills the bill.

Left me hanging 😥😥

I need more ! loved it! Need more on Master Raymond , The Count everyone. Cant wait

wonderful

always spellbinding, colorful and historically interesting . Years ago I read the books, and listening is just as good.