Holiday stories and customs enchantingly reimagined-with an insightfully satirical twist. Offering five tales new to this collection, plus seven previously published stories, now all gathered together for the very first time. In the award-winning writer of Crosstalk. Nobody could require an improved present than a collection of Connie Willis Christmas tales. They are amazing stories, representing all the best of the Connie Willis encounter: true Xmas gifts to her many followers. They are full of humor, absurdity, human foibles, tragedy, pleasure and hope. They both send up and accept many of the best Xmas traditions, such as the Christmas newsletter, Magic formula Santas, office parties, vacation pageants, and Xmas dinners (both elaborate and extra). You will find ghosts of Christmas Past, Present yet To Arrive; debates over which may be the greatest Christmas movie (Connie argues for the initial Wonder on 34th Road, without doubt); Rockettes; modern-day Magi; as well as the triumph of generosity over greed.