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A Yuletide Universe: Sixteen Fantastical Tales
Get yourself into the Christmas spirit with this powerhouse collection of Christmas stories from some of the world's greatest writers. The contributors to this Christmas anthology include well-known writers with strong fan followings such as Bram Stoker; Hugo Award-winning author of American Gods, Neil Gaiman; Hugo Award winner, Connie Willis; Anne McCaffrey; Harlan Ellison; Clive Barker; and many others. Curl up in front of a fireplace with this memorable anthology of 16 short stories. Hot cocoa is also recommended.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2003
10 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Thomsen
60 books10 followersBrian Thomsen was a founding editor of the Questar Science Fiction line of books, and served as managing fiction editor at TSR, Inc.; he also wrote over 30 short stories, and collaborated with Julius Schwartz on Schwartz's autobiography. He also worked as the publisher for TSR's Periodicals Department at one point. He was a consulting editor at Tor Books; as an author he was a Hugo Award nominee.
He died on September 21, 2008, at his home in Brooklyn at the age of 49. He was survived by his wife, Donna.
He died on September 21, 2008, at his home in Brooklyn at the age of 49. He was survived by his wife, Donna.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 16, 2009
This wonderful short story collection adds an unique sci-fi/fantasy twist to the typical holiday characters and legends. Even the book cover has a bright and detailed illustration to put you in a holiday mood. "The Yattering and Jack" by Clive Barker, "Miracle" by Connie Willis, "Nackles" by Donald E. Westlake and "Nicholas Was..." by Neil Gaiman were some of my favorite stories among others. I hope to revisit this book again each year or so.
December 25, 2019
Golly, but I don’t know how to review a short story collection.
I had previously read the Harlan Ellison story... I think all the rest were new to me. And Ellison’s I read so long ago, it was a lot like reading it new.
I enjoyed the different takes on Christmas stories, all novel compared to what you usually get. Worth reading. A wide variety of story lengths.
I had previously read the Harlan Ellison story... I think all the rest were new to me. And Ellison’s I read so long ago, it was a lot like reading it new.
I enjoyed the different takes on Christmas stories, all novel compared to what you usually get. Worth reading. A wide variety of story lengths.
December 10, 2022
Maybe someday I will learn my lesson about anthologies. This one enticed me in by having Neil Gaiman on the list of authors, but his contribution was barely a page long, and even that page wasn't my favorite of his work.
About two thirds of these stories were not even worth reading (I skipped a few entirely after starting them), and of the remaining five or so, there was only one I *really* enjoyed. (Miracle by Connie Willis, and it's available in a collection by the author, so I'll be looking for that one next!)
Unsurprisingly, there's a range of content levels from story to story. Some might be fine for younger readers, but some stories do contain sexual content, death threats (including bombs and assorted other violence) and other unpleasantness, so I wouldn't hand the book as a whole to anyone but older teens and adults.
About two thirds of these stories were not even worth reading (I skipped a few entirely after starting them), and of the remaining five or so, there was only one I *really* enjoyed. (Miracle by Connie Willis, and it's available in a collection by the author, so I'll be looking for that one next!)
Unsurprisingly, there's a range of content levels from story to story. Some might be fine for younger readers, but some stories do contain sexual content, death threats (including bombs and assorted other violence) and other unpleasantness, so I wouldn't hand the book as a whole to anyone but older teens and adults.
December 25, 2022
I've checked this one out mostly because of Connie Willis, and she didn't disappoint me. The rest was a mixed bag.
My absolute favorite was “Nackles” by Donald E. Westlake - looks like that man invented Slenderman before creepypastas were a thing. Followed by "The Yattering and Jack" by Clive Barker, which might have been the best story in the book, if only it had more to do with Christmas than the time of the grand finale.
Honorable mention to Chet Williamson; saying why would be a spoiler.
Dishonorable mention to Harlan Ellison. I only cared to remember his name so I can avoid him in future.
My absolute favorite was “Nackles” by Donald E. Westlake - looks like that man invented Slenderman before creepypastas were a thing. Followed by "The Yattering and Jack" by Clive Barker, which might have been the best story in the book, if only it had more to do with Christmas than the time of the grand finale.
Honorable mention to Chet Williamson; saying why would be a spoiler.
Dishonorable mention to Harlan Ellison. I only cared to remember his name so I can avoid him in future.
November 29, 2018
An entertaining collection of science fiction and fantasy stories about Christmas. These stories range from the horrific to the humorous, with a diverse collection of authors, such as Harlan Ellison, Bret Harte, L. Frank Baum, Donald Westlake, Clive Barker and more -- quite a mixture!
December 6, 2020
There were a few good stories in here, some were just a little too strange for me.
December 27, 2025
Some interesting holiday stories that expand from the typical tales we've all heard. It's another light, fun Christmas read if you're into alternative, slightly darker material.
July 29, 2016
Review from Dec 2013
Hooray! Despite opening with an epigraph/poem that made me cringe (it started out rhyming, and then… stopped?) this was a much better collection of holiday cheer than the others I've read this year.
My favorite stories are starred(*).
The collection opens with three super-short pieces:
“Nicholas Was . . .” by Neil Gaiman, 1989
“Cyber-Claus” by William Gibson, 1991
* “Holiday” by Richard Christian Matheson, 1982
The Gaiman and Gibson are brief and forgettable, but the Matheson (this Matheson is the son of the more famous author) is a nice, subtle piece about a guy who runs into Santa on holiday in the tropics.
“Nackles” by Donald E. Westlake, 1964
Westlake is mostly a crime fiction author, and this little spooky story about the creative power of belief is well done, if not (in 2013) particularly original.
“Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R.” by Harlan Ellison, 1968
Absolute shit. Extremely dated, pedantic, unfunny, and gross parody of a spy novel. Avoid this one at all costs. I'm already repressing having read it.
“O Come Little Children . . .” by Chet Williamson, 1989
This is a finely written piece about belief and the “real” Santa, along with parental fears and a decent twist.
“It’s a Wonderful Miracle on 34th Street’s Christmas Carol” by Brian Thomsen, 2003
The most recent piece, a trope mashup taking place mostly in a therapist's office, is also the one by the editor of the collection. It’s not terrible, but maybe he should stick to editing.
“The Yattering and Jack” by Clive Barker, 1984
While I found some parts of the ending unsatisfying, this tale of the struggle between a demon and an average man was often fascinating.
“Icicle Music” by Michael Bishop, 1989
A creepy ghost story that starts with a boy receiving a shotgun and a visitor.
“Miracle” by Connie Willis, 1991
Nope, not reading that one again. It’s not horrible, I just didn’t like it much.
* “A Foreigner’s Christmas in China” by Maureen F. McHugh, 1993
A poetic, lovely piece about travel, ghosts, and the paths people walk.
“Household Words, Or The Powers-That-Be” by Howard Waldrop, 1993
This was very very odd. Parts of this meditative, half-biographical, half-alt-steampunk-world story about Dickens and Christmas Carol are intriguing, but it never really goes anywhere. It felt like the author was just showing off a handful of ideas he really liked, without a real story to put them in.
* “A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum, 1904
An earlier version of this story was in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, but certain aspects of it are much more interesting in this. A handful of demons decide to kidnap Santa in order to cause the children of the world to indulge in vices. In the public domain!
* “How Santa Claus Came to Simpson’s Bar” by Bret Harte, 1873?
A Western! It’s got excellent style, and it’s a sweet story with rough edges, which is just right. In the public domain!
* “A Proper Santa Claus” by Anne McCaffrey, 1973
Just lovely, a fantastic story about a young boy and his ideas about “proper” art. Recommended for all who were young artists.
* “The Plot Against Santa Claus” by James Powell, 1970
FINALLY! Someone wrote an actual Christmas noir! Rory Bigtoes has a lot of problems as head of Security for Santa, what with threats against the big guy and civil unrest among the elf population over new toy production techniques. This is probably my favorite piece in this whole collection.
This is a much stronger collection overall than the others I read this year, despite a few missteps, and I can safely recommend it as a fun read. Just skip the Ellison.
4 Stars - A Very Good Book (If you delete that one story. Otherwise 3. Or 2. It’s really bad.)
Hooray! Despite opening with an epigraph/poem that made me cringe (it started out rhyming, and then… stopped?) this was a much better collection of holiday cheer than the others I've read this year.
My favorite stories are starred(*).
The collection opens with three super-short pieces:
“Nicholas Was . . .” by Neil Gaiman, 1989
“Cyber-Claus” by William Gibson, 1991
* “Holiday” by Richard Christian Matheson, 1982
The Gaiman and Gibson are brief and forgettable, but the Matheson (this Matheson is the son of the more famous author) is a nice, subtle piece about a guy who runs into Santa on holiday in the tropics.
“Nackles” by Donald E. Westlake, 1964
Westlake is mostly a crime fiction author, and this little spooky story about the creative power of belief is well done, if not (in 2013) particularly original.
“Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R.” by Harlan Ellison, 1968
Absolute shit. Extremely dated, pedantic, unfunny, and gross parody of a spy novel. Avoid this one at all costs. I'm already repressing having read it.
“O Come Little Children . . .” by Chet Williamson, 1989
This is a finely written piece about belief and the “real” Santa, along with parental fears and a decent twist.
“It’s a Wonderful Miracle on 34th Street’s Christmas Carol” by Brian Thomsen, 2003
The most recent piece, a trope mashup taking place mostly in a therapist's office, is also the one by the editor of the collection. It’s not terrible, but maybe he should stick to editing.
“The Yattering and Jack” by Clive Barker, 1984
While I found some parts of the ending unsatisfying, this tale of the struggle between a demon and an average man was often fascinating.
“Icicle Music” by Michael Bishop, 1989
A creepy ghost story that starts with a boy receiving a shotgun and a visitor.
“Miracle” by Connie Willis, 1991
Nope, not reading that one again. It’s not horrible, I just didn’t like it much.
* “A Foreigner’s Christmas in China” by Maureen F. McHugh, 1993
A poetic, lovely piece about travel, ghosts, and the paths people walk.
“Household Words, Or The Powers-That-Be” by Howard Waldrop, 1993
This was very very odd. Parts of this meditative, half-biographical, half-alt-steampunk-world story about Dickens and Christmas Carol are intriguing, but it never really goes anywhere. It felt like the author was just showing off a handful of ideas he really liked, without a real story to put them in.
* “A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum, 1904
An earlier version of this story was in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, but certain aspects of it are much more interesting in this. A handful of demons decide to kidnap Santa in order to cause the children of the world to indulge in vices. In the public domain!
* “How Santa Claus Came to Simpson’s Bar” by Bret Harte, 1873?
A Western! It’s got excellent style, and it’s a sweet story with rough edges, which is just right. In the public domain!
* “A Proper Santa Claus” by Anne McCaffrey, 1973
Just lovely, a fantastic story about a young boy and his ideas about “proper” art. Recommended for all who were young artists.
* “The Plot Against Santa Claus” by James Powell, 1970
FINALLY! Someone wrote an actual Christmas noir! Rory Bigtoes has a lot of problems as head of Security for Santa, what with threats against the big guy and civil unrest among the elf population over new toy production techniques. This is probably my favorite piece in this whole collection.
This is a much stronger collection overall than the others I read this year, despite a few missteps, and I can safely recommend it as a fun read. Just skip the Ellison.
4 Stars - A Very Good Book (If you delete that one story. Otherwise 3. Or 2. It’s really bad.)
January 4, 2013
Each year in December, I try to read a book with a Christmas theme. This year, it was a book of sixteen short stories that were characterized as science fiction.
Although they are stories written by authors that have made their living in the science fiction genre, these stories are not really science fiction. The only clear exception was "Cyber-Claus" by William Gibson.
Two of the stories I had read in previous collections, but were still welcome here. The Neil Gaiman story ("Nicholas was...") was originally a demented Christmas card he wrote and would not have been included except that he IS Neil Gaiman.
With any collection, there will be winners and losers. My list will be different from yours. But it is a diverse group of stories, many with a very original perspective of Santa Claus Past, Present and Future. I would be surprised if you did not find something to like.
Although they are stories written by authors that have made their living in the science fiction genre, these stories are not really science fiction. The only clear exception was "Cyber-Claus" by William Gibson.
Two of the stories I had read in previous collections, but were still welcome here. The Neil Gaiman story ("Nicholas was...") was originally a demented Christmas card he wrote and would not have been included except that he IS Neil Gaiman.
With any collection, there will be winners and losers. My list will be different from yours. But it is a diverse group of stories, many with a very original perspective of Santa Claus Past, Present and Future. I would be surprised if you did not find something to like.
December 22, 2011
It was a collection of short stories by different authors, and was kind of hit or miss. More miss than hit, though. (The best story was Connie Willis's, and it was in her Xmas collection, which I remember liking.)
I'm not a big fan of that holiday, but there wasn't a good grinchy story in there, either.
I'm not a big fan of that holiday, but there wasn't a good grinchy story in there, either.
December 5, 2010
Eh. Some of these weren't bad - particularly the funny ones. Some were kind of dumb or just didn't make much sense. The clever ones are rare. But there were a few worth reading.
November 26, 2011
Santa Claus used quite
Heavily, mostly not well.
Still, some fun concepts.
Heavily, mostly not well.
Still, some fun concepts.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews