Katy Kerrey

When it comes to sci-fi and fantasy, one of my favorite subjects is aliens.  Another one of my favorites (as you have probably gathered by now) is Vikings.  So when I heard about a 2008 movie that was about both aliens AND Vikings, I thought I must have died and gone to heaven.  Could there really be such an awesome mash-up?  There is and the name of that movie is Outlander. 

 

Rotten tomatoes rates the movie as only 38% fresh.  It criticizes the film for being “schizophrenic in subject and lackluster in execution.”  Obviously I disagree with the comment about the subject.  And, yes, the execution could have been better, but it was still a pretty good movie.   Of course, when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy, my attitude is a lot like the saying about pizza (when it’s good….it’s great, but when it’s bad….it’s still pretty good). 

So imagine my surprise and delight to see that the Starz network is now filming a new series called none other than Outlander.  This new series is based on the books by Diana Gabaldon and combines two of my other favorite subjects: period pieces and time travel.

 

Here is the description of the book: In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.

Needless to say, I purchased the first book in the series immediately and I will spend the weekend in mash-up heaven (which is really fitting since I have a lot of leftover cottage pie to eat).