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Seven Stones to Stand or Fall  By  cover art

Seven Stones to Stand or Fall

By: Diana Gabaldon
Narrated by: Robert Ian MacKenzie, Allan Scott-Douglas, Davina Porter, Jeff Woodman, Diana Gabaldon
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Publisher's summary

The author presents a collection of seven short stories set in the Outlander universe, never before published together, including two original stories and featuring beloved character Jamie Fraser.

"Beseiged": Protagonist is Lord John Grey, a secondary character in the Outlander novels and a main protagonist of the Lord John novels, Diana's related series (never before published).

"A Fugitive Green": Protagonist is Hal Grey, John's brother (never before published).

"Virgins": Protagonists are Jamie Fraser at age 19 and his friend and future brother-in-law, Ian Murray. (Originally published in the Tor Books anthology Dangerous Women in 2013. Dell published as an individual e-novella in 4/2016.)

"The Space Between": Protagonist is Michael Murray, who is the son of Ian and Jenny Murray (Jenny is Jamie's sister and a main character in her own right in both the books and TV show). (Originally published in the Tor anthology The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination in 2012 and as an individual e-novella by Dell in 4/2014.)

"A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows": Tells the story of the parents of Roger Wakefield (a major character in the books, just introduced at the end of the second season of the show and will continue to grow in importance); features Claire's husband, Frank Randall. (Originally published in the Gallery anthology Songs of Love and Death in 2010 and as an individual e-novella by Dell in 12/2012.)

"The Custom of the Army": Protagonist is Lord John Grey. (Originally published in the Tor anthology Warriors (1) in 2010. Dell published as an e-novella in May 2012.)

"Lord John and the Plague of Zombies": Protagonist is Lord John Grey. (Originally published in Ace anthology Down These Strange Streets in 2012. Dell published as an e-novella in 2013).

©2016 Diana Gabaldon (P)2017 Recorded Books

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What listeners say about Seven Stones to Stand or Fall

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Two new works and five previously published

Would you consider the audio edition of Seven Stones to Stand or Fall to be better than the print version?

Yes and no. Having not seen the print version, I can assume by what I listened to, that there are instances where seeing the print edition would be more helpful. One instance is a list of someone's diary entries - where seeing it as we would "normally" would probably allow the reader to grasp the information more easily. However, I enjoy the audio versions immensely. The voice actors are terrific at characterizations, and little things like hearing a fight, and the audible gasps, huffing, out of breath pauses certainly make the audio book quite enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Seven Stones to Stand or Fall?

Getting to know Minnie. The story of her travels to London and what ensues is entirely new material and much about a character that I've always wanted to know better.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. And there's a critical review of this audiobook that disparages the "woman with a raspy voice". Well, that's the author herself, and while Diana is not a professional voice actor, having her acerbic wit in the material she reads is very enjoyable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Can't imagine this book in film as a stand alone. The stories enhance the Outlander universe.

Any additional comments?

Audible doesn't label its chapters. An annoying habit. I suggest the following bookmarks Labels for the readers' and listeners' convenience:
Chapter 1 Intro to book
Chapter 2 Custom of the Army
Chapter 6 A Space Within
Chapter 11 A Plague of Zombies
Chapter 15 A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows
Chapter 17 Virgins
Chapter 22 A Fugitive Green
Chapter 40 Besieged.

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272 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Divide the 7 books logically.

This is seven books. Well written and read excellently but if you want to read a specific book rather than simply first to last, it is very hard to find the location. Chapters 2-5 are Custom of the Army. Chapters 6-10 are The Space Between. Chapters 11-14 are A Plague of Zombies. Chapters 15-16 are A Leaf on the Wind of all Hollows. Chapters 17-21 are Virgins. Chapters 22-39 are A Fugitive Green. And chapter 40 behind Besieged. This information could have been included in book details and saved me a lot of trouble.

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179 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Only 2 new stories

I hate it when authors republish heir short stories and novellas over and over and get us to buy them because of the tiny pieces of new material.

I love Diana Gabaldon's books and will continue to buy them...just annoyed I had to pay for 7 when I have already read 5 of them.

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86 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Necessary if you 're a fan of both

If you're a fan of both the Lord John and Outlander series then these novellas are necessary to round out those storylines. However, if you're NOT a fan of the Lord John series, I don't think you'll enjoy this collection very much.

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76 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

beware SPOILERS at the beginning!!!

I'm sure I will thoroughly enjoy this book (as I have all other things Outlander) and have therefore filled in the star-max provisionally (I'll change them later if I'm adversely surprised) but I wanted to warn my fellow spoiler-haters right away that at the beginning, Diana Gabaldon herself (whom I normally enjoy listening to) is included giving a synopsis of every book and short story in the Outlander universe. I've read most everything but missed a few, so now--sigh...........--I have spoilers for the ones I've inadvertently missed. So if you've missed anything and hate spoilers as much as I do, skip over those first couple of bits and just figure out where the novellas themselves begin. Sorry, guys, bad practice to put that at the beginning!!!

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47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Diana, Davina & Jeff have done it again!!!

First things first, this is NOT one of the "Big Books" of the Outlander series. This is a compilation of seven (7) short stories/novellas that are extensions of certain characters in the main series.

Having said that, for hardcore Outlander fans this contains only three (3) previously unpublished pieces. However, it is nice to have these seven pieces in one single package as the previously published pieces were only available by gathering multiple anthologies.

This audio book has narrations of introductions by the author herself. This makes it feel as if she is speaking to you directly about her work.

As the description shows the many names of narrators you will see that not all of the stories are narrated by the same person. But you just cannot miss with Davina Porter. She has been narrating the "Big Books" since the beginning and continues to be the best narrator I've ever listened to who portrays people of both genders without it sounding like the same person speaking.

Jeff Woodman has become the quintessential "Lord John Grey" for me! His ability to portray the character's adventures and emotions while making him a unique vocal character from all the others just mesmerizes me.

I can't recommend this book enough!!

“AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

eh.

not a fan of some of the narrators. maybe it's because I'm so used to Davina Porter or maybe I'm just crazy but I didn't even make it through the last story because of the narrator. but the story itself was as always fantastic

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Mostly Lord John Bits But All Good--Just Not Jamie

Well, I very much enjoyed this book but it wasn't a 5 star simply because it was not the caliber of the other Outlander stories. I know it was said up front that it was five short stories and two novellas and I totally got that message. I had heard or read all but two of the stories but still enjoyed listening to them again and to hear Diana explain some of her rationale in writing these stories. Her depth of research is truly amazing probably due to her earlier life as a research biologist. The narrators were all very good. My favorite was the story of Minnie and Hal and the explanation of the green color. As usual, Diana Gabaldon is an amazing story teller and no Outlander fan will have a complete collection without this book. Grab it and settle back but don't think it is Jamie & Claire because it is not. Lord John stands alone and it is clear that Jamie is never far from the scene.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too bad but just not intersting

What disappointed you about Seven Stones to Stand or Fall?

Just not interesting any more I am afraid. Did nothing to fill out the Outlander series.

Any additional comments?

Authors comments hilarious but spoken way too fast. Best part of the book.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A potboiler

There are occasional passages that show Diana Gabaldon's skill as a writer, but not enough to lift this mish-mash higher than 2 stars. Don't expect the writer of the Outlander Series, who is very good indeed, to show up often. The performances are first rate.

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