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A Song of Three Spirits
When life gave Fenrir Goldson a second chance, he asked for a gift receipt.
Mr. Goldson is filthy rich. He’s also callous and cruel and hasn’t got a festive bone in his ancient body. Naturally, he’s due for a holiday haunting.
When his business partner, Bolbi Baggs, announces that they’re to be visited by three spirits, Mr. Goldson braces himself for a whirlwind tour of his past, present, and future.
Typically, a trio of time-traveling ghosts heralds a heartwarming tale of hope and redemption for the human race. Mr. Goldson, however, isn’t a member of the human race. He’s a Dwarf, and Mr. Baggs is a Halfling, and the adventure that’s about to take them across the enchanted world of Arth is anything but typical.
Holiday magic and economic realities collide in A Song of Three Spirits. It’s A Christmas Carol for the 21st century, with a dash of high fantasy. Read this hilarious satire of Charles Dickens’s classic today!90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2018
50 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
J. Zachary Pike
13 books960 followersJ. Zachary Pike was once a basement-dwelling fantasy gamer, but over time he metamorphosed into a basement-dwelling fantasy writer. By day Zack is a web professional and creative-for-hire, but at night he returns to his lair to create books, films, and illustrations that meld fantasy elements with offbeat humor. A New Englander by birth and by temperament, Zack writes strangely funny fiction on the seacoast of New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 25, 2020
A classic retelling of A Christmas Carol with probably a more. . . realistic character arc than Scrooge's.
I'm just a huge fan of anything & everything that J. Zachary Pike has written.
Orconomics remains one of my favorite books of 2020.
A Happy Mordo Ogg's Day to all!
I'm just a huge fan of anything & everything that J. Zachary Pike has written.
Orconomics remains one of my favorite books of 2020.
A Happy Mordo Ogg's Day to all!
December 24, 2018
Nice Tribute to Arth and Dickens
I just read the 2 books of the "Dark Profit Saga", which includes the greedy Fenrir Goldson and Bolbi Baggs, the main characters of A Song of Three Spirits. To understand these two better it would be better to read the 2 books of the Dark Profit Sagas and know the background of these two, where profit for investors (and themselves) is just as important and the air they breathe. Fittingly Pike bringing them into a Dickens setting on Arth is really ingenious. While this is a re-telling of a classic Christmas story that makes it easy to predict the story Pike gives us, it also adds what the season of merriment brings to Mordo Ogg's Day and the customs of that holiday has on the people of Arth.
So for fans of Orconomics and Son of a Liche, I suggest that you support your local writer and spend the gilton and purchase this nice holiday story.
I just read the 2 books of the "Dark Profit Saga", which includes the greedy Fenrir Goldson and Bolbi Baggs, the main characters of A Song of Three Spirits. To understand these two better it would be better to read the 2 books of the Dark Profit Sagas and know the background of these two, where profit for investors (and themselves) is just as important and the air they breathe. Fittingly Pike bringing them into a Dickens setting on Arth is really ingenious. While this is a re-telling of a classic Christmas story that makes it easy to predict the story Pike gives us, it also adds what the season of merriment brings to Mordo Ogg's Day and the customs of that holiday has on the people of Arth.
So for fans of Orconomics and Son of a Liche, I suggest that you support your local writer and spend the gilton and purchase this nice holiday story.
December 14, 2018
Although retelling A Christmas Carol is almost as traditional as reading the original (or watching one of the many filmed versions and various "takes" on the story) it does get tiring. I'm happy to say that this take, while not perfect, was still fun and worth reading. If you blink, you might miss it, but this story confirms that it occurs before the events in Orconomics, and in fact, gives the two evil businessmen confirmation that their plan will work. (I know that Baggs and Goldson are portrayed as pragmatic, rather than evil, but two words confirm my conclusion — Entwood Flooring.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2018
Will this be a solid read for someone not already into the stories of Arth?
Probably, but read Orconomics first. I think that one does a better job of building the world these stories take place in.
Then again...I wonder if not knowing Goldson and Baggs going in will make some of the twists and turns more impactful?
I loved it. Great take on A Christmas Carol. I hope more people give it a read.
And I hope it brings more and more people to reading the Arth novels because they are truly something special.
Probably, but read Orconomics first. I think that one does a better job of building the world these stories take place in.
Then again...I wonder if not knowing Goldson and Baggs going in will make some of the twists and turns more impactful?
I loved it. Great take on A Christmas Carol. I hope more people give it a read.
And I hope it brings more and more people to reading the Arth novels because they are truly something special.
October 30, 2020
This is a fun satire of the Charles Dickens classic 'A Christmas Carol' ... just with the economical twist that the Dark Profit saga is famed for.
This short features two of the characters from the Dark Profit saga who, despite being quite central to the series take somewhat of a backseat overall. Fenrir Goldson and Bolbi Baggs, a dwarf and halfing business duo who run the most successful banking house (Goldson and Baggs) in all of Arth
It's a fun little romp through an old classic with bags of humour thrown in. So far I have enjoyed everything I've read/listened to from the universe of the Dark Profit saga and look forward to more going forward.
I also like the fact that, just by knowing what happens in a Christmas Carol you can't be overly certain that the same will play out in this due to the nature of the two main characters ... they actually make Scrooge seem like a decent chap.
All good things aside, I did kind of feel a tad flat at the ending but it was only a minor downside for me. Still a very enjoyable read/listen.
This can be enjoyed as a stand alone but, in my opinion, you'd be mad not to try to the novels (Orconomics and Son of a Liche). I listened to the audio version of this and, as ever, Doug Tisdale Junior's narration was perfect. This man was born to narrate the goings on in Arth.
This short features two of the characters from the Dark Profit saga who, despite being quite central to the series take somewhat of a backseat overall. Fenrir Goldson and Bolbi Baggs, a dwarf and halfing business duo who run the most successful banking house (Goldson and Baggs) in all of Arth
It's a fun little romp through an old classic with bags of humour thrown in. So far I have enjoyed everything I've read/listened to from the universe of the Dark Profit saga and look forward to more going forward.
I also like the fact that, just by knowing what happens in a Christmas Carol you can't be overly certain that the same will play out in this due to the nature of the two main characters ... they actually make Scrooge seem like a decent chap.
All good things aside, I did kind of feel a tad flat at the ending but it was only a minor downside for me. Still a very enjoyable read/listen.
This can be enjoyed as a stand alone but, in my opinion, you'd be mad not to try to the novels (Orconomics and Son of a Liche). I listened to the audio version of this and, as ever, Doug Tisdale Junior's narration was perfect. This man was born to narrate the goings on in Arth.
December 30, 2018
A sharp enough twist on a classic
Early on I worried this would be too much of a retread of Dickens to be worth reading beyond another trip to Arth, but as the story goes on it spreads its wings a bit and works in some jokes and ideas that put it into solid 4 star territory.
I'm a fan of Pike's other Arth books so I don't know if this story holds up of you're not, but if you like fantasy tropes, economics and satire this is a fun and quick read.
Early on I worried this would be too much of a retread of Dickens to be worth reading beyond another trip to Arth, but as the story goes on it spreads its wings a bit and works in some jokes and ideas that put it into solid 4 star territory.
I'm a fan of Pike's other Arth books so I don't know if this story holds up of you're not, but if you like fantasy tropes, economics and satire this is a fun and quick read.
July 26, 2025
Read this fun novella set in the same world as J. Zachary Pike's Dark Profit Saga for Reddit Fantasy's 2025 Bingo Square Elves and/or Dwarves. This qualifies for Hard Mode as one of the two main characters, Miser ... I mean Mister Fenrir Goldson is a dwarf, doing business with his equally parsimonious partner, the hobbit Mr. Bolbi Baggs.
This is basically the fantasy satire version of Charles Dicken's famous story A Christmas Carol with a Dwarf and Hobbit duo of profit chasing business owners who value gold over their employee's well being. They're such terrible bosses they use every excuse not to cover their Employee Health Plan no matter how long the employee has been paying into it. Because claims cost money and that lowers profits.
On top of that they're one of the few companies making their employees work on Mordo Ogg's Day, when people should be celebrating and valuing their life which might be fleeting.
Unsurprisingly they get visited by the spirits of Mordo Ogg Day Past, Present and Future, and that's when the satire starts!
The writing is good. One can easily picture the Goldson and Baggs being stingy AND greedy just like a lot of companies and bosses are in real life, cutting healthcare and making their employees work on holidays. The ghosts didn't quite end up making them scared straight since the only thing that mattered to them really was cutting any potential future losses before they become realized.
The business angle is solid, covering many real life business dealings from product development, to sales, marketing and customization, all of which were done in a very realistic way in a fantasy setting. The accounting, financial, tax and regulation aspects were also accurate, so I have to commend author J. Zachary Pike for nailing the characters, the premise and the business parts.
The world building was wonderful and immersive with the magic system being simple, as befits A Christmas Carol. The satire was biting and rang a bit too close to the truth, which detracted a little from the enjoyment factor, frankly this is the only thing that kept this from getting a 5⭐ rating.
This is basically the fantasy satire version of Charles Dicken's famous story A Christmas Carol with a Dwarf and Hobbit duo of profit chasing business owners who value gold over their employee's well being. They're such terrible bosses they use every excuse not to cover their Employee Health Plan no matter how long the employee has been paying into it. Because claims cost money and that lowers profits.
On top of that they're one of the few companies making their employees work on Mordo Ogg's Day, when people should be celebrating and valuing their life which might be fleeting.
Unsurprisingly they get visited by the spirits of Mordo Ogg Day Past, Present and Future, and that's when the satire starts!
The writing is good. One can easily picture the Goldson and Baggs being stingy AND greedy just like a lot of companies and bosses are in real life, cutting healthcare and making their employees work on holidays. The ghosts didn't quite end up making them scared straight since the only thing that mattered to them really was cutting any potential future losses before they become realized.
The business angle is solid, covering many real life business dealings from product development, to sales, marketing and customization, all of which were done in a very realistic way in a fantasy setting. The accounting, financial, tax and regulation aspects were also accurate, so I have to commend author J. Zachary Pike for nailing the characters, the premise and the business parts.
The world building was wonderful and immersive with the magic system being simple, as befits A Christmas Carol. The satire was biting and rang a bit too close to the truth, which detracted a little from the enjoyment factor, frankly this is the only thing that kept this from getting a 5⭐ rating.
December 27, 2020
Apesar de ser fantasia, essa releitura de "Um Conto de Natal" do Charles Dickens é a história mais real, cínica e deliciosa sobre essa comemoração anual que eu já li.
Os personagens, Mr. Goldson e Bolbi Baggis, são os seres mais desprezíveis e focados em lucros e resultados que eu já vi, mas ao mesmo tempo eles são caricaturas realistas de diversas figuras atuais "de negócios" famosas e é impossível não rir de como eles tentam subverter até mesmo a história de Natal mais tradicional e fofa de todos os tempos.
A estrutura é basicamente a mesma, mas as batidas apresentadas são novas, diferentes e refrescantes - como todo bom remix deve ser.
Resumindo: recomendo para todo mundo que goste de fantasia, comédia e que queira entender um pouco mais sobre o mundo.
10/10 e com certeza reler será uma nova tradição natalina.
(Obs: A crítica sobre custo de oportunidade e como é mais barato fazer caridade e contar com boas relações públicas do que ter que lidar com boas regulamentações e tributos é tão maravilhosa e bem escrita que chega a ser absurdo que ela esteja em um livro de "comédia".
Bem, é aquilo né, "Se quiser contar uma verdade para as pessoas você precisa fazê-las rir... Do contrário elas te matam").
Os personagens, Mr. Goldson e Bolbi Baggis, são os seres mais desprezíveis e focados em lucros e resultados que eu já vi, mas ao mesmo tempo eles são caricaturas realistas de diversas figuras atuais "de negócios" famosas e é impossível não rir de como eles tentam subverter até mesmo a história de Natal mais tradicional e fofa de todos os tempos.
A estrutura é basicamente a mesma, mas as batidas apresentadas são novas, diferentes e refrescantes - como todo bom remix deve ser.
Resumindo: recomendo para todo mundo que goste de fantasia, comédia e que queira entender um pouco mais sobre o mundo.
10/10 e com certeza reler será uma nova tradição natalina.
(Obs: A crítica sobre custo de oportunidade e como é mais barato fazer caridade e contar com boas relações públicas do que ter que lidar com boas regulamentações e tributos é tão maravilhosa e bem escrita que chega a ser absurdo que ela esteja em um livro de "comédia".
Bem, é aquilo né, "Se quiser contar uma verdade para as pessoas você precisa fazê-las rir... Do contrário elas te matam").
September 11, 2023
Maybe reading this in September is not the ideal time, but when I saw that there was a new book in the Dark Profit Saga out, it seemed like an easy way to dip my toe back into this series before the next book. While this is obviously a parody of the most popular Christmas story ever (A Christmas Carol), it is a well done one where Pike has found good and fitting angles to fit this story into his universe.
The biggest success here is in Pike knowing his world and characters- how he tailors this story to the people he’s targeting works both thematically and character wise. I don’t really have anything negative to say, but using the framework of such a famous story means there is only so much you can do. There are certain beats that have to be hit, which kills the surprise in the story. I do think he takes it in good and funny directions, but rather than a unique story, it is still a framework that is just manipulated rather than anything original.
Still, this is definitely fun and fitting, I expect anyone who has liked any of Pike’s previous books (or is familiar with Terry Pratchett), will be amused by this. But a new story is always better than a reinterpretation. This did remind me how appealing I find Pike’s style though, so I’m very excited to start book three soon. (Grade:6.5/10)
The biggest success here is in Pike knowing his world and characters- how he tailors this story to the people he’s targeting works both thematically and character wise. I don’t really have anything negative to say, but using the framework of such a famous story means there is only so much you can do. There are certain beats that have to be hit, which kills the surprise in the story. I do think he takes it in good and funny directions, but rather than a unique story, it is still a framework that is just manipulated rather than anything original.
Still, this is definitely fun and fitting, I expect anyone who has liked any of Pike’s previous books (or is familiar with Terry Pratchett), will be amused by this. But a new story is always better than a reinterpretation. This did remind me how appealing I find Pike’s style though, so I’m very excited to start book three soon. (Grade:6.5/10)
December 8, 2019
Rating: I didn’t like it 😣
I found out these characters are from a series of books, so maybe that’s why I didn’t like it. It was light and somewhat funny, but I wasn’t invested in the story.
This is a retelling of the Christmas carol and it manages to give it a nice spin.
I found out these characters are from a series of books, so maybe that’s why I didn’t like it. It was light and somewhat funny, but I wasn’t invested in the story.
This is a retelling of the Christmas carol and it manages to give it a nice spin.
December 2, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed 😆
I know it’s probably been said before by many other readers, but this novel is just perfect, especially considering the season that we’re in (it’s December 2020) and the humour....👌🏽.
Well worth the read. You will find yourself laughing. Let’s face it, we need the endorphins......
I know it’s probably been said before by many other readers, but this novel is just perfect, especially considering the season that we’re in (it’s December 2020) and the humour....👌🏽.
Well worth the read. You will find yourself laughing. Let’s face it, we need the endorphins......
Read
December 26, 2025Haha! A funny little twist on Dickens's Christmas Carol, with lots of capitalism and finance jokes as is the author's style. What if Scrooge had been even more hardened in his ways and argued with the three spirits instead of being swayed by them?
The only defect with the story is that I don't think the twist at the end quite works with the setup at the beginning.
The only defect with the story is that I don't think the twist at the end quite works with the setup at the beginning.
January 4, 2019
Extremely enjoyable
This was a great short story set on Arth, although it does not require you to have read anything else in order to fully enjoy it. Does a great job of playing with your expectations. Very funny and really just a joy to read.
This was a great short story set on Arth, although it does not require you to have read anything else in order to fully enjoy it. Does a great job of playing with your expectations. Very funny and really just a joy to read.
December 29, 2024
If you have read The dark profit saga and loved it, this is a must-read.
This satiric retelling of A Christmas Carol is a funny and refreshing spin on the tale that delivers a cutting social commentary that I think Dickens would have appreciated if he had lived in today’s world.
This satiric retelling of A Christmas Carol is a funny and refreshing spin on the tale that delivers a cutting social commentary that I think Dickens would have appreciated if he had lived in today’s world.
December 12, 2018
A neat take on this, but I was honestly a little bored - but the twist at the end made it worthwhile, tbh.
December 24, 2018
Just another christmas carol
It was just a Zachary Pike version of a christmas carol. Not bad but was not a particularly interesting read.
It was just a Zachary Pike version of a christmas carol. Not bad but was not a particularly interesting read.
October 20, 2019
What if A Christmas Carol took place in a D&D fantasy setting? It had a clever enough twist, but it wasn't as delightful and insightful as his other works in this series.
January 21, 2021
One of the best horror novels I've read/listened to
March 13, 2021
A wonderfully twisted retelling of a classic.
July 3, 2021
If Goldman Sachs was transplanted into epic fantasy. Honestly, what more do you want?
Warning: Please read Orconomics first
Warning: Please read Orconomics first
August 15, 2021
A fun take on a classic, with a very satisfying conclusion that really works in the context.
I will preface this by saying I haven't actually read A Christmas Carol, so I'm sure that I missed some clever references. Pike is the sort of author that I'm sure there a dozens of little hints and nods towards the original that I missed, which perhaps makes it unfair when I say not all of what I noticed I thought landed. Some of the jokes were just a little off to me, but again, maybe it's just because I'm not as familiar with the source material as I'm sure the author is. That being said, for the most part, I did think this was great. It's a clever idea, and the two main characters are ones I've been interested in since the first book. I'm glad we're seeing a bit more of them (at least, there was more of their involvement in the second book) and I hope this continues in the main story, but it was fun having this little side story too. They're awful characters, but wonderfully so.
It did feel a bit strange reading this in the middle of summer, but as I'd just got a free trial of Kindle Unlimited - the only place I could find this book - I felt like I'd be missing out if I didn't read it. It was fun, although short, and was a welcome return to Arth. Other than a few smiles (alright, a lot of smiles, and even some air expelled from my nose faster than usual), it left me with a real yearning for the next book. I hope you read this and are spurred on, Zachary!
The humour and magical world do put me in mind of Terry Pratchett, a bit, especially with all the clever literary references. He was a great one for dragging a theme out to its very limit, and getting everything he could from it, which feels similar to me to what Pike does with the financial component of his series. The other jokes thrown in are great, but it's the cleverness of the theme running throughout that I really love.
A fun little entry. Hopefully the next full installment comes soon - in the meantime, perhaps I should read more Dickens.
I will preface this by saying I haven't actually read A Christmas Carol, so I'm sure that I missed some clever references. Pike is the sort of author that I'm sure there a dozens of little hints and nods towards the original that I missed, which perhaps makes it unfair when I say not all of what I noticed I thought landed. Some of the jokes were just a little off to me, but again, maybe it's just because I'm not as familiar with the source material as I'm sure the author is. That being said, for the most part, I did think this was great. It's a clever idea, and the two main characters are ones I've been interested in since the first book. I'm glad we're seeing a bit more of them (at least, there was more of their involvement in the second book) and I hope this continues in the main story, but it was fun having this little side story too. They're awful characters, but wonderfully so.
It did feel a bit strange reading this in the middle of summer, but as I'd just got a free trial of Kindle Unlimited - the only place I could find this book - I felt like I'd be missing out if I didn't read it. It was fun, although short, and was a welcome return to Arth. Other than a few smiles (alright, a lot of smiles, and even some air expelled from my nose faster than usual), it left me with a real yearning for the next book. I hope you read this and are spurred on, Zachary!
The humour and magical world do put me in mind of Terry Pratchett, a bit, especially with all the clever literary references. He was a great one for dragging a theme out to its very limit, and getting everything he could from it, which feels similar to me to what Pike does with the financial component of his series. The other jokes thrown in are great, but it's the cleverness of the theme running throughout that I really love.
A fun little entry. Hopefully the next full installment comes soon - in the meantime, perhaps I should read more Dickens.
December 17, 2021
A fun holiday read from an author whose really good at writing satire.
January 1, 2022
Cute fantasy-centric variation with a nice little plot twist, but the main characters are so unlikeable…
July 24, 2022
Novella of author's take on A Christmas Carol in the same world/same characters as Orconomics.
January 26, 2023
Happy Mordo Ogg's Day
A story to revisit each and every Christmas season, filled with mirth, good cheer and sound orconomic principles.
A story to revisit each and every Christmas season, filled with mirth, good cheer and sound orconomic principles.
December 29, 2023
What a fun little retelling of A Christmas Carol.
December 13, 2024
3.5
You know what to expect from A Christmas Carol retelling, but this was funny, the ending was a twist beautifully done and also in keeping with The Dark Profit Saga humour.
You know what to expect from A Christmas Carol retelling, but this was funny, the ending was a twist beautifully done and also in keeping with The Dark Profit Saga humour.
December 30, 2024
Fun! A neat variation on "A Christmas Carol". Seems to be a prequel of sorts to Orconomics, no spoilers at all but helps with world building.
November 28, 2025
Short and slightly cynical send up of A Christmas Carol. Entertaining for what it is; mostly just read be issue is enjoyed the authors other (longer) works in the same setting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews