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Roads
This limited edition "facsimile" reprint volume is a complete and detailed reproduction of the original first edition published by Arkham House in 1948), fully authorized, and packaged in a deluxe gift box that includes a booklet with detailed biographical information about the author and illustrator. The dust jacket and gift box both feature the beautiful metallic gold ink of the original Arkham House edition.
"I have not tried to paint the portrait of a man, but merely to present a personality and hazard a guess as to the motivation that makes Santa Claus the wondrous figure he is - a figure who more than any other exemplifies the beauty of selflessness." - Seabury Quinn
Drawing upon the original Christian legends that coalesced over centuries into the familiar, jolly form of Saint Nicholas, pulp fiction pioneer Seabury Quinn weaves a spellbinding new origin for this most beloved of children's icons in his classic novella Roads.
First published in the January 1938 issue of Weird Tales, this re-imagining of Santa Claus has been hailed by genre historian Sam Moskowitz as "the greatest adult Christmas story written by an American." Ten years after its initial publication, Roads reappeared as a handsome hardcover book from Arkham House, the groundbreaking speculative fiction publisher founded in 1938 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei - an edition which featured beautiful new illustrations by the legendary fantasy artist Virgil Finlay.
Divided into three sections, Quinn's tale begins in the days of the Roman Empire, where the mighty gladiator Claus - a barbarian from the frozen Northland - has just finished his term of service in the province of Judea. On the journey back to his homeland, Claus chances upon a poor family under attack and saves them from a murderous band of soldiers. With this selfless act, his life is changed forever. Claus goes on to travel further than he ever could have imagined. Crossing from one end of the Empire to the other and back again, he eventually outlives the power of Rome and the dark ages that follow it, and witnesses the rise of new civilizations on its former lands. Immune to the effects of time, Claus accumulates the wisdom of many lifetimes before discovering the final road he is destined to follow - a path which will lead him to his true calling, and fulfill a promise made to one very special child on behalf of all the children of the world.
"I have not tried to paint the portrait of a man, but merely to present a personality and hazard a guess as to the motivation that makes Santa Claus the wondrous figure he is - a figure who more than any other exemplifies the beauty of selflessness." - Seabury Quinn
Drawing upon the original Christian legends that coalesced over centuries into the familiar, jolly form of Saint Nicholas, pulp fiction pioneer Seabury Quinn weaves a spellbinding new origin for this most beloved of children's icons in his classic novella Roads.
First published in the January 1938 issue of Weird Tales, this re-imagining of Santa Claus has been hailed by genre historian Sam Moskowitz as "the greatest adult Christmas story written by an American." Ten years after its initial publication, Roads reappeared as a handsome hardcover book from Arkham House, the groundbreaking speculative fiction publisher founded in 1938 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei - an edition which featured beautiful new illustrations by the legendary fantasy artist Virgil Finlay.
Divided into three sections, Quinn's tale begins in the days of the Roman Empire, where the mighty gladiator Claus - a barbarian from the frozen Northland - has just finished his term of service in the province of Judea. On the journey back to his homeland, Claus chances upon a poor family under attack and saves them from a murderous band of soldiers. With this selfless act, his life is changed forever. Claus goes on to travel further than he ever could have imagined. Crossing from one end of the Empire to the other and back again, he eventually outlives the power of Rome and the dark ages that follow it, and witnesses the rise of new civilizations on its former lands. Immune to the effects of time, Claus accumulates the wisdom of many lifetimes before discovering the final road he is destined to follow - a path which will lead him to his true calling, and fulfill a promise made to one very special child on behalf of all the children of the world.
110 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1948
7 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Seabury Quinn
289 books55 followersBest know as an American pulp author for Weird Tales, for which he wrote a series of stories about occult detective Jules de Grandin. He was the author of non-fiction legal and medical texts and editor of Casket & Sunnyside, a trade journal for mortuary jurisprudence. He also published fiction for Embalming Magazine, another mortuary periodical.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 4, 2017
This is the Life of Santa Claus as Men's Pulp Adventure. It has absolutely nothing to do with the actual Saint Nicholas, forget about the bishop of Myra.
Claus is a strapping "Northman" gladiator and mercenary, a sort of Scandinavian Conan the Barbarian with flowing blonde locks and bulging muscles. Women want him and men want to be him. He can sever a man's neck with one blow and catch a flying ax from the air.
[Flaxen-haired, fair-skinned... a man of mighty stature. "Mighty/giant" and "white/fair" both get repeated a lot. He is also prone to the wild war-madness of his people.]
Surviving an unprovoked assassination attempt by some sneaky, treasonous, ugly Jewish "rats" our hero is boldly striding off somewhere when he encounters the hot blonde and blue-eyed Virgin Mary and her blue-eyed baby Jesus being attacked by some soldiers. He rescues them.
[The woman on the ass was barely past her girlhood, not more than fifteen, Claus surmised as he looked appreciatively at her clear-cut lovely features. Her face was a perfect oval, her skin like ivory, more pale than fair, her features were exquisite in their purity of outline,; a faultless nose, full, sweetly-curving lips that had the indescribably lovely red of doves' feet, large eyes as blue as the ocean... a flood of golden hair. Later the adult Jesus is also described as so light of hair and fair of skin he seemed to bear no racial kinship to the swarthy men surrounding him.]
Also, baby Jesus is telepathic.
And then we skip forward thirty years to the Crucifixion and coincidentally, Claus is there, too! He is working for Pilate and he is the one who puts the spear in the side of Christ. But in a decent, manly way, not a mean, disrespectful way. And definitely not like those disgusting Jewish "pigs" who "sweat," "scream," "snarl," and "gnash their teeth in rage."
Dead Jesus is also telepathic.
Then there is an earthquake and he pauses to rescue a hottie who has been trapped by some falling masonry, and she totally rubs her half-naked [clothed mainly in jewelry and make-up which are described in not-very-manly detail, if you ask me] body on him and says he can do with her as he will, but he repulses her, the disgusting dirty whore! But then the voice of Jesus speaks to him and says it's okay. So he changes her yucky Grecian name to a good Germanic name and marries her.
[The pages about her jewelry and softly rounded curves of budding womanhood are too long to type, but here is a sample: Her small high breasts were bare, their nipples stained with henna, and beneath her bosom was a zone of golden wire from which a robe of sheer vermillion gauze was hung... She moved closer to him and rubbed her supple body against his breastplate with a gentle, coaxing manner. "They brought me over the bright water while I was still a child, and schooled me in the arts of love, and I am very beautiful and much desired, but now I am all thine." She bowed her head submissively.
And they spend the next thousand years as soldiers and fight in the Crusades and stuff, and the clergy are jerks to them because priests suck, and eventually they get sick of it and meet up with some elves who have such a hard on for serving humans that they eagerly take vows of vassalage to Claus in return for being allowed to make craft items for him to give kids as gifts.
And Jesus is still telepathic.
The End.
Claus is a strapping "Northman" gladiator and mercenary, a sort of Scandinavian Conan the Barbarian with flowing blonde locks and bulging muscles. Women want him and men want to be him. He can sever a man's neck with one blow and catch a flying ax from the air.
[Flaxen-haired, fair-skinned... a man of mighty stature. "Mighty/giant" and "white/fair" both get repeated a lot. He is also prone to the wild war-madness of his people.]
Surviving an unprovoked assassination attempt by some sneaky, treasonous, ugly Jewish "rats" our hero is boldly striding off somewhere when he encounters the hot blonde and blue-eyed Virgin Mary and her blue-eyed baby Jesus being attacked by some soldiers. He rescues them.
[The woman on the ass was barely past her girlhood, not more than fifteen, Claus surmised as he looked appreciatively at her clear-cut lovely features. Her face was a perfect oval, her skin like ivory, more pale than fair, her features were exquisite in their purity of outline,; a faultless nose, full, sweetly-curving lips that had the indescribably lovely red of doves' feet, large eyes as blue as the ocean... a flood of golden hair. Later the adult Jesus is also described as so light of hair and fair of skin he seemed to bear no racial kinship to the swarthy men surrounding him.]
Also, baby Jesus is telepathic.
And then we skip forward thirty years to the Crucifixion and coincidentally, Claus is there, too! He is working for Pilate and he is the one who puts the spear in the side of Christ. But in a decent, manly way, not a mean, disrespectful way. And definitely not like those disgusting Jewish "pigs" who "sweat," "scream," "snarl," and "gnash their teeth in rage."
Dead Jesus is also telepathic.
Then there is an earthquake and he pauses to rescue a hottie who has been trapped by some falling masonry, and she totally rubs her half-naked [clothed mainly in jewelry and make-up which are described in not-very-manly detail, if you ask me] body on him and says he can do with her as he will, but he repulses her, the disgusting dirty whore! But then the voice of Jesus speaks to him and says it's okay. So he changes her yucky Grecian name to a good Germanic name and marries her.
[The pages about her jewelry and softly rounded curves of budding womanhood are too long to type, but here is a sample: Her small high breasts were bare, their nipples stained with henna, and beneath her bosom was a zone of golden wire from which a robe of sheer vermillion gauze was hung... She moved closer to him and rubbed her supple body against his breastplate with a gentle, coaxing manner. "They brought me over the bright water while I was still a child, and schooled me in the arts of love, and I am very beautiful and much desired, but now I am all thine." She bowed her head submissively.
And they spend the next thousand years as soldiers and fight in the Crusades and stuff, and the clergy are jerks to them because priests suck, and eventually they get sick of it and meet up with some elves who have such a hard on for serving humans that they eagerly take vows of vassalage to Claus in return for being allowed to make craft items for him to give kids as gifts.
And Jesus is still telepathic.
The End.
August 31, 2016
CLAUS AKA CLAUDIUS AKA THE FUTURE SANTA CLAUS IS A FEARSOME BRAIDED SUPER MUSCULAR NORTHERN WARRIOR SLASH BERSERKER IN THE SERVICE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE! HE SLAUGHTERS A BAND OF BABY-KILLERS WHO WANT TO KILL BABY JESUS AND IS TURNED INTO A SUPER STUDLY IMMORTAL AND LATER HE IS THE SOLDIER AND ADJUTANT TO PONTIUS PILATE AND HE GIVES ADULT JESUS A MERCY KILL VIA SPEAR IN THE SIDE! HE'S THAT GUY! AND THEN HE TAKES A FIERY FORMER WHORE TURNED JESUS LOVER AS HIS SUPER SEXY IMMORTAL WIFE AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE MANY ADVENTURES AND SEE MUCH INJUSTICE ESPECIALLY TOWARDS TEH CHILDREN AND THERE IS MUCH GNASHING OF TEETH AND ANGER AT THE VILLAINY OF HUMANKIND, AND THEN THERE IS MUCH GIVING OF PRESENTS TO TEH CHILDREN, FOR EVER AND EVER AND EVER, THE END BUT NOT REALLY .
Seabury Quinn was a pulp writer and this is definitely pulp at its schlockiest. The Shocking Pulp Origins of the Immortal Warrior, Saint Nick!
Seabury Quinn was a pulp writer and this is definitely pulp at its schlockiest. The Shocking Pulp Origins of the Immortal Warrior, Saint Nick!
December 28, 2022
I am no moral absolutist who cannot read fiction (much less pulp fiction) from an earlier era because of the racial, ethnic, sexual, or political insensitivities and ignorance of the authors who were of that earlier era. I can both enjoy and occasionally recoil at the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Rudyard Kipling, Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, or at least I have been able to in the past. Probably, Roads would have pleased me more had I read it ten or twelve years ago. Indeed, the latent racism and sexism in the novella's plot and characterizations are relatively benign. Of course, that relatively is doing a lot of heavy lifting. In light of current events and the rise of virulent neo-fascist antisemitism, Roads is undoubtedly more difficult to appreciate, much less enjoy, than it once may have been. For me, at least, this book can never be enjoyed as the quaint, pulpy little Santa Claus origin story it was written to be.
The plot deals, in part, with a newly freed proto-Norseman gladiator named Claus who gains immortality by rescuing a telepathic Baby Jesus from the swords of three of King Herod's assassins. On his way to becoming Santa Claus, he witnesses the Crucifixion and is once again granted great and quasi-mystical boons by the Saviour. At this point the narrative takes great pains to juxtapose the noble administrative Romans, personified by the gentle and politically ham-strung Pontius Pilate, favorably against the venal and vicious Jewish priesthood and population of Jerusalem-- all of whom, it seems, are united in their desperation for Jesus's blood. Most will recognize this for the tired ancient antisemitic trope that it is. I imagine it was as lazy in 1938, when Roads was first published, as it is today. Just as lazy, but no more or less popular, perhaps.
Anyway, that's not even the worst of it. When Claus and the reader are first introduced to Jesus as an adult, when the high priests bring him before Pilate, Jesus is described in the narration as a member of the Jewish race and ethnicity, to be certain, but is distinguished (quite explicitly) from the priests (who are dark and swarthy and all that nastiness) as being tall, fair-haired and fair skinned, with blue eyes, and beautiful features.
Yeah.
So, in a 21st century American society poisoned by the antisemitic and misogynistic invective spewed constantly by the likes of such "luminary" filth as Elon Musk and Kanye West, Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes, I can't tolerate any sort of antisemitic sentiment in the stuff I read or watch. Because the truth is that there is no such thing as a "benign" racist trope.
P.S. Virgil Finlay's pen-and-ink illustrations for this facsimile 1948 hardcover are wonderful and not inherently antisemitic in any way that I am aware!
The plot deals, in part, with a newly freed proto-Norseman gladiator named Claus who gains immortality by rescuing a telepathic Baby Jesus from the swords of three of King Herod's assassins. On his way to becoming Santa Claus, he witnesses the Crucifixion and is once again granted great and quasi-mystical boons by the Saviour. At this point the narrative takes great pains to juxtapose the noble administrative Romans, personified by the gentle and politically ham-strung Pontius Pilate, favorably against the venal and vicious Jewish priesthood and population of Jerusalem-- all of whom, it seems, are united in their desperation for Jesus's blood. Most will recognize this for the tired ancient antisemitic trope that it is. I imagine it was as lazy in 1938, when Roads was first published, as it is today. Just as lazy, but no more or less popular, perhaps.
Anyway, that's not even the worst of it. When Claus and the reader are first introduced to Jesus as an adult, when the high priests bring him before Pilate, Jesus is described in the narration as a member of the Jewish race and ethnicity, to be certain, but is distinguished (quite explicitly) from the priests (who are dark and swarthy and all that nastiness) as being tall, fair-haired and fair skinned, with blue eyes, and beautiful features.
Yeah.
So, in a 21st century American society poisoned by the antisemitic and misogynistic invective spewed constantly by the likes of such "luminary" filth as Elon Musk and Kanye West, Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes, I can't tolerate any sort of antisemitic sentiment in the stuff I read or watch. Because the truth is that there is no such thing as a "benign" racist trope.
P.S. Virgil Finlay's pen-and-ink illustrations for this facsimile 1948 hardcover are wonderful and not inherently antisemitic in any way that I am aware!
August 4, 2021
Absolutely delightful!
I enjoyed this immensely, this well-written blending of myth and fact and religion and speculation. I know many who would condemn this as sacrilegious and an equal number who wouldn't condone reading it because of its Christianity, lol. Too bad for them, as this was beautiful storytelling, which I'll always salute.
I enjoyed this immensely, this well-written blending of myth and fact and religion and speculation. I know many who would condemn this as sacrilegious and an equal number who wouldn't condone reading it because of its Christianity, lol. Too bad for them, as this was beautiful storytelling, which I'll always salute.
November 17, 2013
A favorite Christmas tale of mine. Seabury Quinn is remembered as one of the great pulp writers of fantasy, writing mostly for the famous Weird Tales magazine, but this is different then his horror stories.
A tale with action, violence, but also with love, faith and finally happiness.
A tale with action, violence, but also with love, faith and finally happiness.
January 1, 2022
I previously had no idea this story even existed. Deuce Richardson wrote about it on the DMR Blog and I was instantly interested.
I quickly purchased a copy from Amazon.
I was dismayed at the size of the paperback. It's more the size of a magazine. Oversized and it's difficult to find a home for it on the shelf.
The artwork by Virgil Finlay was a welcome addition.
The story is told in three distinct parts. Overall, it's a quick fun read, but I expected more. I was underwhelmed.
I quickly purchased a copy from Amazon.
I was dismayed at the size of the paperback. It's more the size of a magazine. Oversized and it's difficult to find a home for it on the shelf.
The artwork by Virgil Finlay was a welcome addition.
The story is told in three distinct parts. Overall, it's a quick fun read, but I expected more. I was underwhelmed.
December 1, 2018
It's a novella connecting the origin of Santa Claus to Christian tradition. Funny to think it was published by Arkham House. It's just OK.
We read this as a family bedtime story.
We read this as a family bedtime story.
December 23, 2022
This too short novella (I wanted more) was a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas story told in old time Weird Tales sword and sorcery fantasy style. By Christmas I mean the story of The Nativity only told from the perspective of a Norse barbarian dropped into Jerusalem at the time of Christ's birth. Remember Herod wanting to kill all the babies in the country? Our barbarian hero didn't think much of that policy. And from there, on we go following our barbarian protagonist and his few encounters with Jesus in and around Jerusalem at that time.
The story was extremely well written. I have not read enough of Seabury Quinn to know if he's a major craftsman in all his writing, or if he just put a lot of effort into this particular story. I was amazed at the quality of the writing and very happy I was reading the story on Kindle so that I could look up my new vocabulary words so conveniently. Dight? Featly? Cony?
Two groups of people will dislike this story. The first are devoutly religious people. For them, of course, it is a sin to "add to" or "subtract from." They will only be able to nitpick what Quinn got wrong according to their reading of the Bible story. Not that he did, of course. He just took a few insignificant liberties. The second group is the one that doesn't like sword and sorcery. It's hard for me to believe they exist, but truly it takes all kinds. I've read these prudes criticize the story for depicting the women as being too young or sexy, or the action as too violent and/or gory. This is still pulp, people! Besides, it's so not gory. The warriors smite until their opponent is smitten. They are not depicted disemboweling or decapitating people, at least not overly much. These too serious people need to get back to their Salman Rushdie novel.
I will probably read this story again from time to time at Christmas because I love the portrayal of Santa Claus, and his wife Unna through the ages. It's the completest, most rounded depiction of Mrs. Claus (she is never called that here, much to Quinn's credit) that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Even the elves, sleigh, and reindeer are accounted for. I can't believe anyone has ever tried to put Jesus and Santa in the same story, and then pulled it off as well as Quinn does here. This story is genius!
Addendum: Saying two groups of people will dislike this story was too limiting. I neglected to consider a third group: atheists, or at least non-theists, who will find any sympathetic portrayal of the Nativity story objectionable. However irreligious traditional Christians might deem this story, it does portray Baby Jesus as a positive character with supernatural abilities, and his situation in a manner consistent with the Bible.
The story was extremely well written. I have not read enough of Seabury Quinn to know if he's a major craftsman in all his writing, or if he just put a lot of effort into this particular story. I was amazed at the quality of the writing and very happy I was reading the story on Kindle so that I could look up my new vocabulary words so conveniently. Dight? Featly? Cony?
Two groups of people will dislike this story. The first are devoutly religious people. For them, of course, it is a sin to "add to" or "subtract from." They will only be able to nitpick what Quinn got wrong according to their reading of the Bible story. Not that he did, of course. He just took a few insignificant liberties. The second group is the one that doesn't like sword and sorcery. It's hard for me to believe they exist, but truly it takes all kinds. I've read these prudes criticize the story for depicting the women as being too young or sexy, or the action as too violent and/or gory. This is still pulp, people! Besides, it's so not gory. The warriors smite until their opponent is smitten. They are not depicted disemboweling or decapitating people, at least not overly much. These too serious people need to get back to their Salman Rushdie novel.
I will probably read this story again from time to time at Christmas because I love the portrayal of Santa Claus, and his wife Unna through the ages. It's the completest, most rounded depiction of Mrs. Claus (she is never called that here, much to Quinn's credit) that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Even the elves, sleigh, and reindeer are accounted for. I can't believe anyone has ever tried to put Jesus and Santa in the same story, and then pulled it off as well as Quinn does here. This story is genius!
Addendum: Saying two groups of people will dislike this story was too limiting. I neglected to consider a third group: atheists, or at least non-theists, who will find any sympathetic portrayal of the Nativity story objectionable. However irreligious traditional Christians might deem this story, it does portray Baby Jesus as a positive character with supernatural abilities, and his situation in a manner consistent with the Bible.
January 2, 2025
An Origin worthy of the legend
In this lively tale
author Seabury Quinn writes an epic for the ages that is part fairy tale ,pulp action, part adventure part romance, part religion and completely fantastic not an average holiday story
In this lively tale
author Seabury Quinn writes an epic for the ages that is part fairy tale ,pulp action, part adventure part romance, part religion and completely fantastic not an average holiday story
December 23, 2023
Para ser una historia navideña no es precisamente muy conmovedora. Es violenta, despiadada, triste a ratos, lujuriosa, políticamente incorrecta y desde luego no encajaría nunca en ningún texto religioso cristiano o judío. Todo esto que he mencionado no es malo, no forma parte de una crítica negativa, al contrario, creo que estos elementos son justo los que hacen que el relato sea original. Santa Claus visto como un bárbaro vikingo que disfruta apuñalando y rompiendo cráneos es algo que puede chocar al público de hoy en día. A mí, sin embargo, me ha gustado, hay mucha mitología nórdica en el texto que se agradece y que sirve para unir dos mundos, dos creencias, en la figura del viejo barbudo bonachón que todos conocemos. Su misión guerrera pasa a ser una misión cada vez más misericordiosa, hasta que la transformación se hace evidente. Roads es una lectura breve, curiosa, culta y accesible que merece la pena, sobre todo si se busca algo distinto, algo alejado de Dickens y de Rudolph, algo alejado del capitalismo y de coca cola.
Review in english:
For a Christmas story, it's not exactly very moving. It is violent, ruthless, sad at times, lustful, politically incorrect and would certainly never fit into any Christian or Jewish religious text. All of this that i mentioned is not bad, it is not part of a negative criticism, on the contrary, I believe that these elements are exactly what make the story original. Santa Claus seen as a Viking barbarian who enjoys stabbing and breaking skulls is something that may shock modern audiences. I, however, liked it, there is a lot of Norse mythology in the text that is appreciated and that serves to unite two worlds, two beliefs, in the figure of the good-natured bearded old man that we all know. His warrior mission becomes an increasingly merciful mission, until the transformation becomes evident. Roads is a short, curious, cultured and accessible read that is worth it, especially if you are looking for something different, something far from Dickens and Rudolph, something far from capitalism and Coca Cola.
Review in english:
For a Christmas story, it's not exactly very moving. It is violent, ruthless, sad at times, lustful, politically incorrect and would certainly never fit into any Christian or Jewish religious text. All of this that i mentioned is not bad, it is not part of a negative criticism, on the contrary, I believe that these elements are exactly what make the story original. Santa Claus seen as a Viking barbarian who enjoys stabbing and breaking skulls is something that may shock modern audiences. I, however, liked it, there is a lot of Norse mythology in the text that is appreciated and that serves to unite two worlds, two beliefs, in the figure of the good-natured bearded old man that we all know. His warrior mission becomes an increasingly merciful mission, until the transformation becomes evident. Roads is a short, curious, cultured and accessible read that is worth it, especially if you are looking for something different, something far from Dickens and Rudolph, something far from capitalism and Coca Cola.
November 20, 2019
Was passiert, wenn man die Lebensgeschichte von Jesus, den Weihnachtsmann und Conan den Barbaren in einen Mixer schmeisst ?
Genau! Dies hier.
Die filmischen Äquivalente zu diesem "Meisterwerk" dürften dann wohl Santa’s Slay – Blutige Weihnachten und Santa Claus mit Muckis sein.
Diese Kurzgeschichte, wie auch die Filme, kann man sich EINMAL antun, danach aber ab damit in die Vergessenheit.
Genau! Dies hier.
Die filmischen Äquivalente zu diesem "Meisterwerk" dürften dann wohl Santa’s Slay – Blutige Weihnachten und Santa Claus mit Muckis sein.
Diese Kurzgeschichte, wie auch die Filme, kann man sich EINMAL antun, danach aber ab damit in die Vergessenheit.
December 19, 2024
Some uncomfortable material pertaining to race (how come Mary and Jesus have to be white?) but ends on a surprisingly righteous note as Santa finds himself at odds with the Christian establishment who consider the act of giving to the poor to be Satanic and against God's will. Also this probably goes without saying given what I just wrote but the mere fact that this exists is insane.
July 10, 2017
A good tale for the holidays
Aside from some antiquated language, this is a pretty good story. Not excessively bloody, but I wouldn't read it to a 5 year old. Nice way to reconcile a barbarian belief with Christianity.
Aside from some antiquated language, this is a pretty good story. Not excessively bloody, but I wouldn't read it to a 5 year old. Nice way to reconcile a barbarian belief with Christianity.
December 25, 2018
My favorite origin of Santa story
I first encountered the story in a long worn out paperback anthology of stories from Weird Tales. I am delighted to find it in a digital format at last. Dave only for A Christmas Carol, This is my favorite holiday story.
I first encountered the story in a long worn out paperback anthology of stories from Weird Tales. I am delighted to find it in a digital format at last. Dave only for A Christmas Carol, This is my favorite holiday story.
December 24, 2018
An origin story for the Santa Claus legend told from what nowadays would be deemed to be an Alt Right perspective. I loved it!
December 13, 2021
Very interesting story of the origins of Santa Claus.
December 31, 2025
A wonderful little novella written for Weird Tales in 1938, which re-imagines the origins of Santa Claus. After Claus - a Viking gladiator in the Roman games - rescues Mary, Joseph and their baby from Herod's soldiers. a voice thanks him, gives him eternal life in service of His Lord and sets him down a path across history until he finally discovers his now familiar destiny as the patron Saint of children.
Mixing the old style prose of a classic fable, with elements of sword and sorcery and historical fiction, this is a short, but fun little novella. Starting from brutal beginnings and ending with on the note of joy and hope you'd expect from such a tale, Claus' journey is one worthy of any classic hero and makes this the perfect little story to read during the season.
Mixing the old style prose of a classic fable, with elements of sword and sorcery and historical fiction, this is a short, but fun little novella. Starting from brutal beginnings and ending with on the note of joy and hope you'd expect from such a tale, Claus' journey is one worthy of any classic hero and makes this the perfect little story to read during the season.
February 4, 2024
This is an odd novella. Suppose Santa Claus was a gladiator for King Herod, but met the infant Jesus? Then, he served Pontius Pilate, and was the unnamed soldier that killed Christ on the cross to end his suffering? Claus wanders the world for years as Christianity slowly morphs to an intolerant religion, and Claus must flee for his life because his simple acts of giving to the poor as seen as heresy? Seabury Quinn writes this tale in pseudo-biblical prose, but the story is still quite engaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2018
How does a Norse warrior go from working as a gladiator in the Roman empire to being Santa Claus? It's all in this very entertaining story. It's a quick read but a lot of fun. I recommend getting a copy of the Red Jacket Press facsimile reprint of the Arkham House first edition, so you can get the beautiful Virgil Finlay illustrations as well as the story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews