[Jane Rule's] Outlander is a collection of stories and essays about the lives of lesbians….

Outlander reflects the courage it takes to speak out of imposed silences—and in doing so, makes room for the stories that have not yet been told.

The strength of Outlander's diversity lies in its portrayal of lesbians of different ages, class backgrounds, physical abilities—perspectives that are often overlooked. Its weakness is the absence of Third World lesbians. (p. 81)

Jane Rule's stories and essays inspire me to challenge my own view of the world, my place in it, and my relationships to others. The settings and characters she describes and brings alive with her words are ones that I am familiar with in some way—whether it is a certain look in the eye, tilt of the head, or recognizable personality. Those which I have not experienced directly become a part...