by Connie Willis (328 pgs)
Rating: 3
Ok I admit it. I'm a total Scrooge. Generally I really don't like Christmas and wander around the whole season in a funk. Amazingly, it wasn't like that this year. I still hate the stores and the commercial crap. I still have major issues with Santa. However, there's a lot to be said for the holiday as well. So Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year y'all. So returning from major tangent-ville, this is a book of short stories about Christmas. If they weren't all themed around Christmas I might have given the book a 4 but I can't help my biases.
In all honesty, most of the stories in Miracle and Other Christmas Stories are a lot of fun and only a couple are more than tangentially associated with the holiday season. I only skimmed the introduction and the lists at the back of the book but other's who are more Christmas compatible might find them interesting. I've blurbed the stories individually below but before I move on I want to say that I think there's a story here for everyone...even us scrooges.
"Miracle"
What if the spirit of Christmas present came to you as an earth hippie bent on giving you exactly what you wanted for Christmas...would you believe him? Note: Watch "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" before reading this.
"Inn"
Perhaps my least favorite of the group. Two vagrants show up at a church in strange clothing and speaking some unusual language. Lessons about charity.
"In Coppelius's Toyshop"
Delightfully sinister tale of a toy shop and a jerk. Gotta love it.
"The Pony"
Every kid wishes for things without telling anyone what it is but every kid gets disappointed on Christmas morning when Santa fails to bring it. Maybe it's time for a change.
"Adaptation"
When the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come hires on as a part-time clerk at a book shop, his boss isn't quite sure what to do. Fortunately other problems keep him from dwelling on it too much as he gets embroiled in a effort to un-scrooge a scrooge.
"Cat's Paw"
Futuristic whodunit with talking primates. That's all I'm going to say.
"Newsletter"
Invasion of the Holiday Spirit aliens....of doom! hehe. A sort of improbable Sci Fi, but fun, very fun.
"Epiphany"
A crisis of faith and the prophecy of the second coming. A rather intriguing romp through a snowy landscape that left me with an oddly warm feeling.
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