3 Reasons Why Outlander is The Sexiest Book on TV
The sex scenes in Outlander are some of the best I have ever read.
Now here is a book that proves you can have Smart and Sexy all in one epic package.
What makes these erotic scenes so great is that Outlander is not an erotic novel; it's not a romance novel, either, or strictly a fantasy novel. It's this huge, beautiful story about love and loss and loyalty and how you choose what's really important in life and if choosing is even really possible anyway, and also time travel, and oh yeah sex.
Steamy, amazing sex.
This is smut for grown-ups, people. Sex scenes that are damn hot and damn fine literature all at the same time. They are romantic and arousing, and just graphic enough to drive the point home (ahem) without veering off into tawdry territory - beautiful literary writing that just happens to be about naked relations.
There are three things in particular that make Outlander's erotica the best, all of which are also reasons to love the show as well.
"He sprang the clasp of my brassierie with one accomplished flick of the thumb, and bent to pay a silled homage to my breasts. Then he drew back, and cupping my breasts with both hands, drew his palms slowly down to meet between the rising mounds, and without stopping, drew them softly outward again, tracing the line of my rib cage clear to the back." ~ Outlander, pg. 47
Here we have Claire and Frank, still in 1944, reconnecting after the war and getting frisky in the ruins of a castle in the Scottish highlands.
This is not just another cliched exchange between two naked people. There is no massaging of breasts or pinching of nipples that so often accompanies foreplay in erotic novels. Instead we're given an image of intimacy that is sensual and romantic, that conveys how much this encounter is about two married people reconnecting after a long and traumatic time away from one another as it is about Claire "forgetting" her panties. Not only is this scene hot as hell, it's tender and affectionate, which is one of the things Diana Gabaldon does very well. She effortlessly blends the intimate with the erotic in a way that heightens them both.
Suddenly he lifted me in his arms and sat down on the bed, holding me on his lap. He spoke a little hoarsely.
"Tell me if I'm too rough, or tell me to stop altogether, if ye wish. Anytime until we are joined; I dinna think I can stop after that.'"
In answer, I put my hands behind his neck and pulled him down on top of me. I guided him to the slippery cleft between my legs.
'Holy God,' said James Fraser, who never took the name of his Lord in vain.
'Don't stop now,' I said.
~Outlander, pg. 282
...
Sorry, distracted. Yes, this. Dear god. Jamie and Claire are finally, finally getting together, and in a reverse of the norm, it's Jamie who is the virgin, not his bride. And just like in the castle ruins with Frank, Claire is taking charge of the situation, not just physically guiding Jamie into her but urging him onward, encouraging him to satisfy both of their lust and teaching him, at the same time, what she wants and needs. This isn't the first instance of a heroine commanding her own pleasure, but it's certainly unexpected in a story about rugged Scottish Highlanders who wear kilts and battle British soldiers.
Even better, Claire's ownership of her own urges isn't mentioned specifically in the book -- we get no internal monologue from her about how much she wants to be in control of the sex or her new husband or what she feels about taking on a role that should be his or something ridiculous like that. The fact that she just does it, that it's a simple matter of course, speaks louder than any forced declarations of intent.
"My love," he whispered. "Oh, my love. I do want ye so."
"Not the same thing, is it?" I said. "Loving and wanting, I mean."
He laughed, a little huskily. "Damn close, Sassenach, for me at least." I could feel the strength of his wanting, hard and urgent. He stepped back suddenly, and stooping, lifted me from the fence.
"Where are we going?" [...]
"To find a haystack."
~Outlander, pg. 599
For Claire and Jamie, love is rarely separated from desire. These two spend a good chunk of the book falling into bed in various ways and places, and throughout it all they are falling deeper in love with each other. As in the scene above, sweet declarations of love are regularly followed by intense, passionate lovemaking. Unusual for a romance novel? No. But what's different here is that all this takes place square in the middle of the book and is followed by all sorts of new and breathtaking strife that the couple must face together. Their relationship isn't the destination of this book, it's a part of the journey, and with that love comes all the randy "urgent" need that new couples enjoy.
And it's worth noting here, again, just as with Claire's assertiveness in the last example, that their active and involved sex life is not explained or excused -- it just is, it's stated as fact, like the normal part of life and love that it is and THAT is what sets the erotica in this book apart. Gabaldon doesn't feel a need to explain why her characters want what they want or feel how they feel. Their wants and feelings are just a part of who they are, and it's so much sexier that way.
Is Claire a bit hesitant to have sex outside? Sure. But then she realizes that it feels good so she just goes for it and to hell with all the Scotsmen who are camping nearby. I canna say I blame her, either.
Now here is a book that proves you can have Smart and Sexy all in one epic package.
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| Copyright Starz |
What makes these erotic scenes so great is that Outlander is not an erotic novel; it's not a romance novel, either, or strictly a fantasy novel. It's this huge, beautiful story about love and loss and loyalty and how you choose what's really important in life and if choosing is even really possible anyway, and also time travel, and oh yeah sex.
Steamy, amazing sex.
Classy AND Trashy
This is smut for grown-ups, people. Sex scenes that are damn hot and damn fine literature all at the same time. They are romantic and arousing, and just graphic enough to drive the point home (ahem) without veering off into tawdry territory - beautiful literary writing that just happens to be about naked relations.
There are three things in particular that make Outlander's erotica the best, all of which are also reasons to love the show as well.
The Intimacy
"He sprang the clasp of my brassierie with one accomplished flick of the thumb, and bent to pay a silled homage to my breasts. Then he drew back, and cupping my breasts with both hands, drew his palms slowly down to meet between the rising mounds, and without stopping, drew them softly outward again, tracing the line of my rib cage clear to the back." ~ Outlander, pg. 47
Here we have Claire and Frank, still in 1944, reconnecting after the war and getting frisky in the ruins of a castle in the Scottish highlands.
This is not just another cliched exchange between two naked people. There is no massaging of breasts or pinching of nipples that so often accompanies foreplay in erotic novels. Instead we're given an image of intimacy that is sensual and romantic, that conveys how much this encounter is about two married people reconnecting after a long and traumatic time away from one another as it is about Claire "forgetting" her panties. Not only is this scene hot as hell, it's tender and affectionate, which is one of the things Diana Gabaldon does very well. She effortlessly blends the intimate with the erotic in a way that heightens them both.
The Feminism
Suddenly he lifted me in his arms and sat down on the bed, holding me on his lap. He spoke a little hoarsely.
"Tell me if I'm too rough, or tell me to stop altogether, if ye wish. Anytime until we are joined; I dinna think I can stop after that.'"
In answer, I put my hands behind his neck and pulled him down on top of me. I guided him to the slippery cleft between my legs.
'Holy God,' said James Fraser, who never took the name of his Lord in vain.
'Don't stop now,' I said.
~Outlander, pg. 282
...
Sorry, distracted. Yes, this. Dear god. Jamie and Claire are finally, finally getting together, and in a reverse of the norm, it's Jamie who is the virgin, not his bride. And just like in the castle ruins with Frank, Claire is taking charge of the situation, not just physically guiding Jamie into her but urging him onward, encouraging him to satisfy both of their lust and teaching him, at the same time, what she wants and needs. This isn't the first instance of a heroine commanding her own pleasure, but it's certainly unexpected in a story about rugged Scottish Highlanders who wear kilts and battle British soldiers.
Even better, Claire's ownership of her own urges isn't mentioned specifically in the book -- we get no internal monologue from her about how much she wants to be in control of the sex or her new husband or what she feels about taking on a role that should be his or something ridiculous like that. The fact that she just does it, that it's a simple matter of course, speaks louder than any forced declarations of intent.
The Love
"My love," he whispered. "Oh, my love. I do want ye so."
"Not the same thing, is it?" I said. "Loving and wanting, I mean."
He laughed, a little huskily. "Damn close, Sassenach, for me at least." I could feel the strength of his wanting, hard and urgent. He stepped back suddenly, and stooping, lifted me from the fence.
"Where are we going?" [...]
"To find a haystack."
~Outlander, pg. 599
For Claire and Jamie, love is rarely separated from desire. These two spend a good chunk of the book falling into bed in various ways and places, and throughout it all they are falling deeper in love with each other. As in the scene above, sweet declarations of love are regularly followed by intense, passionate lovemaking. Unusual for a romance novel? No. But what's different here is that all this takes place square in the middle of the book and is followed by all sorts of new and breathtaking strife that the couple must face together. Their relationship isn't the destination of this book, it's a part of the journey, and with that love comes all the randy "urgent" need that new couples enjoy.
And it's worth noting here, again, just as with Claire's assertiveness in the last example, that their active and involved sex life is not explained or excused -- it just is, it's stated as fact, like the normal part of life and love that it is and THAT is what sets the erotica in this book apart. Gabaldon doesn't feel a need to explain why her characters want what they want or feel how they feel. Their wants and feelings are just a part of who they are, and it's so much sexier that way.
Is Claire a bit hesitant to have sex outside? Sure. But then she realizes that it feels good so she just goes for it and to hell with all the Scotsmen who are camping nearby. I canna say I blame her, either.
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