“SEASON OF WONDER.” Paula Guran, Ed. 2012. Prime Books. Trade Paperback. 376 pages. $15.95
Editor Paula Guran offers fans of science-fiction and fantasy a delectable treat for the holidays. “Season of Wonder” is a collection of 19 short stories or novellas all centered on the holidays. As with many such collections, not all of the stories are new. In fact, the newest one is Ken Scholes’ (a bright and rising star in the world of sci-fi and fantasy) “If Dragon’s Mass Eve Be Cold and Clear,” first published in 2011. Scholes’ touching piece reinterprets the entire Christmas mythos.
I’ve read some of the stories here before, some as far back as almost 20 years. But that didn’t detract from my enjoying them.
As with most collections, the stories are hit and miss. For me, the least satisfying was M. Rickert’s “Christmas Witch.” Rickert uses the Italian Christmas tradition of la Befana – an old woman/witch who visits children on Epiphany and brings them gifts, hoping to find the Christ Child – as a base and finale. While the story ultimately has a happy ending, there are too many loose threads at the end for my taste.
Also included is Gene Wolfe’s terrific – I’ll let you interpret that as you will – “How the Bishop Sailed to Inniskeen,” one of the best of Christmas ghost stories. I first read it almost 20 years ago, and it scared me then, too. The late Janet Kagan’s “Nutcracker Coup” makes a pleasant reappearance. Orson Scott Card’s “Wise Men” mines LDS theology and definitely expands the story of the three Wise Men and the concept of a universal atonement in ways never touched on before. Harlan Ellison’s “Go Toward the Light” is a bit cynical for my taste – but then he, is too (too many years in Hollywood, I think). Two other stories I really liked were Dana Cameron’s “The Night Things Changed” (another reappearance) and James Stoddard’s “Christmas at Hostage Canyon” (a new take on Santa and his responsibilities).
This collection definitely lives up to its title with miracles and wonders for the holiday season.
“CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN.” Read by Tom Brokaw. Written by David T. Warner. 2013. Shadow Mountain. Hardcover. $21.99.
Christmas 1948 saw the city of Berlin, Germany, a bombed-out shell of a once thriving, bustling metropolitan city – the result of World War II. Additionally, the city had been divided by Western Allies and Russia, with the Eastern section of the town controlled by Russia and the entire city blocked off from ground transportation by Russia in an attempt to gain full control of the city.
The western nations were engaged in the Berlin Airlift, flying food and supplies into Tempelhof Air Base to keep the West Berliners from starving. Lt. Gail (Hal) Halvorsen was one of the pilots flying in those supplies.
“Christmas from Heaven” tells the story of how a kind act from Lt. Halvorsen (later Lt. Colonel Halvorsen and commander of Tempelhof) began the legacy of the Candy Bomber.
After sharing two sticks of gum with several local children who were watching the planes taking off and landing, Hal wondered what more he could do. And thus was born the Candy Bomber. Hal and his crewmates began sharing their chocolate rations with the kids and then dropping candy from their cargo plane with parachutes made from handkerchiefs. The charitable effort grew like wildfire. Soon everyone on base was sharing their rations for the project. The news spread stateside, and soon companies and private citizens were sending literally tons of candy to be bombed down upon the children of Berlin. Letters poured in from West Berliner children to “Uncle Wiggly Wings” and “Uncle in the Sky.”
In addition to illustrations by Robert T. Barrett, the book includes photos of Hal and his crewmates as they prepared their sweet bombs for the children, as well as a DVD of Tom Brokaw telling the story at the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. Sure to draw a well-deserved tear.
As Hal’s father taught him: “From little things come big things.”
“PEARL HARBOR CHRISTMAS: A WORLD AT WAR,” DECEMBER 1941. Stanley Weintraub. 2011. Da Capo Books. Hardcover. 224 pages. $24.00
As Christmas 1941 approached, the fires of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were still burning and smoking. America had fully entered World War II.
Historian Stanley Weintraub gives history buffs a view of what happened during the last 10 days of 1941, as Christmas approached and world leaders plotted and planned.
The story begins with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s secret Atlantic crossing by ship to meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Churchill addressed the joint U.S. Congress and gave an address at the lighting of the national Christmas tree.
I came to this one expecting something different than what I got. I think I was expecting to find a story dealing with how Roosevelt was able to keep American spirits high during the holiday season of 1941. What Weintraub presents, however, is a behind-the -scenes look at the plotting and planning and events happening in Southeast Asia at the beginning of the U.S. involvement in the war. For history buffs, this a well-written, precisely researched and often witty account of those first dark days of World War II.
“BEING SANTA CLAUS.” Sal Lizard with Jonathan Lane. 2012. Gotham Books. Trade Paperback. 208 pages. $14.00
Sal Lizard has spent 20 years working as a naturally bearded Santa Claus, with hair that went completely white when he was a young man. It started when he offered to help a local radio station distribute toys for a promotion. He loved it so much, he kept at it.
In this easy reading volume, Lizard and coauthor Jonathan Lane share experiences from Lizard’s two decades as Santa.
The stories begin with Lizard’s first outing as Santa and move through his years as a mall Santa, as well as all his private appearances across the country.
The stories range from side-splittingly funny to heartbreaking and inspiring. Of course, there are also tips on how to deal with situations when a child leaves a wet spot on Santa’s lap.
This isn’t just an account of funny and embarrassing stories but also of how Lizard’s life has changed as he grew into the character of Santa Claus, going from being Santa only during the holiday season to being Santa all year long.
Lizard soon realized Santa would never smoke, and so he gave up smoking – even in the off-season. But most of all he learned a lot about human nature and adults as he interacted with all those children.
“To me, the longer a child believes in Santa Claus, the longer they hold onto their innocence, which is a very precious thing. The world these days is moving at the speed of light, and kids are forced to grow up faster than ever before. Children are exposed to so much, so soon (many 6-year-olds I’ve met are more technologically savvy than their parents!) and they have challenging and complex problems at a much earlier age. Theirs is a complicated world, but Santa is simple…He is pure love and happiness – a kind, smiling figure who delivers miracles wrapped in glittering tinsel, sprinkled with wonder. He lets kids stay kids just a little bit longer.” (Pp 45-46)
This book reads quickly, and if you have a two or three hours you can knock it out in one sitting. This one is staying in my collection.
Rich welcomes questions and comments from readers. You may contact him through this paper or by e-mail at [email protected]
Written by Rich Rogers
