The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel    by Diana Gabaldon & Hoang Nguyen Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2010 (2010) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The Exile, a graphic novel based on Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and illustrated beautifully by Hoang Nguyen, follows events from the point of view of Jacobite Jamie Fraser (as opposed to that of time English traveler/nurse Claire Randall in the original). Diana Gabaldon introduces the graphic novel, explaining How This Book Came to Be, and sharing her early interest in comics and the fact that she 'wrote scripts for Disney for several years.' The Exile opens dramatically on the laird o' Lallybroch's return to 1743 Scotland, to be met by Murtagh. Then we see a naked man who has just arrived from the future (and opened the way for Claire's time travel) through the standing stones at Craig na Dun. Meanwhile Frank Randall's vile ancestor, British captain Black Jack Randall, encounters Jamie and Murtagh, he and his men chasing them. After escaping, Jamie shares the story of his time in France with Murtagh, events that led to him renouncing killing. The tale continues as in the original. Jamie and Murtagh fall in with Dougal Mackenzie. Jamie is wounded in another encounter with Randall. Claire arrives from 1945, to be assaulted by Randall (the spitting image of her husband) and rescued by Murtagh. She tends Jamie's wounds and is taken with the Mackenzie clansmen to Castle Leoch. What is especially interesting to any fan of the series is the revelation of traveler/witch Geilie Duncan's plotting with Kenneth (who came through the stones before Claire), which is revealed much more gradually in Outlander. The Exile ends on Claire's decision not to return to her own time, and Jamie's to take his Sassenach home to Lallybroch with him. Gabaldon fans will want to own this graphic version of (about a third of) the first story, but it also makes an excellent introduction for those who have not yet discovered this wonderful series. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews