I don’t make a habit of reading Christmas stuff around Christmas, but there was so much of it in my feed during December that I started to have second thoughts. And then I happened to see this Connie Willis collection… (Also, there was a spaceship ornament on the Christmas tree on the cover. It was the last straw ;) ).

Which one is the best Christmas story? In the introduction, Connie Willis tells you that it is the very first one ;) I liked that.

“Miracle”
All the deities help us, it’s time for the office Christmas party! Luckily, Christmas spirits intervene and everything works out in the end. I was delighted. 4.3 stars.

“All About Emily”
Broadway, All About Eve and androids. What a mess this one is – a cool, humane, and very touching one. 4.2 stars.

“Inn”
Strange things begin to happen during a Christmas pageant rehearsal. Awww. I felt that the author could have done more with the idea, maybe? Still, it’s awww. 4.0 stars.

“All Seated on the Ground”
Three stories down, and I was getting worried. Where were my sci-fi Christmas stories? Phew, there were the aliens, there was First Contact. There were Christmas songs, lots of them. And rules of civilised behaviour. And men not listening to women done very well. Meg and Colin are adorable! 4.5 stars.

“In Coppelius’ Toyshop”
Oh, a horror Christmas story about getting stuck in a toy store! Cool. The MC had it coming, too. 4.0 stars.

“Adaptation”
Inspired by A Christmas Carol. What a lovely ending! 4.5 stars.

“deck.halls@boughs/holly”
Let a professional do your Christmas! Sweet and very silly. 4.8 stars.

“Cat’s Paw”
The author has fun with classic mystery novels and country house Christmas. Nothing special, 3.6 stars.

“Now Showing”
Do you hate multiplexes? I hate multiplexes. This is a fever dream story of trying to see a movie. I liked the twist! 4.4 stars.

“Newsletter”
It’s almost Christmas! Everyone is so nice, considerate, and reasonable… suspiciously so. Something’s up! Fun, fun, fun! 4.2 stars.

“Epiphany”
“You stole a Gideon Bible?” Mel said.
“They put them there for people who need them. And I’d say we qualify.”
There is a Second Coming. Maybe. This one just warmed my heart. 4.6 stars.
“Just Like the Ones We Used to Know”
Epic snowstorm! You might want to careful when you wish for a White Christmas… Too many stories in this story, imo, it feels very long. I liked the ones about the wedding and the goose. 3.9 stars. ( )

This collection of festive short stories is, by and large, a pleasure to read. While I enjoyed some stories more than others, as one does with nearly any short story collection, all in all I was amused and occasionally touched by the tales Willis spins here. I enjoyed "Epiphany" least, but it's harder to choose a favorite -- "Just Like the Ones We Used to Know" or "All Seated on the Ground" or "deck.halls@boughs/holly" are all contenders. If you're looking for some pleasant reads, not too schmaltzy, not too grim, to boost that holiday spirit, pick up this book. ( )

What a sweetheart the author is. She gave us a gift because as she quotes from Little Women "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without any gifts." She said, as I'm sure we all do, she enjoys discovering a book in a book. For example, a book a character is reading is like a recommendation. So she gives us recommendations as a gift: "Great Christmas Movies to Watch", "Christmas Stories and Poems to read in bed" and some "TV shows that haven't succumbed to Very Special Christmas Episode syndrome". Thank-you, I love my gift!

-Now Showing • (2014) • novella 5* I read this in a different book: Rogues. It was my introduction to the author. I had great fun reading it.

-All Seated on the Ground • (2007) • novella 3* A classic Connie Willis story. This is exactly what you expect when you read a story by her. I liked this one but would never read again. Aliens visit earth and the MCs are trying to figure out how to communicate with them. They noticed the aliens react to "All Seated on the Ground" in a Christmas Carol so that is their starting point.

-Miracle (1991) • novelette
-All About Emily • (2011) • novella
-Inn • (1993) • novelette
-In Coppelius' Toyshop • (1996) • short story
-Adaptation • (1994) • novelette
-deck.halls@boughs/holly • (2001) • novella
-Cat's Paw • (1999) • novella
-Newsletter • (1997) • novelette
-Epiphany • (1999) • novella
-Just Like the Ones We Used to Know • (2003) • novella

A collection of SF-ish Christmas stories - from aliens arrive and react only to carols, to a sudden storm all over the world for a white Christmas, to...All of them are very weird, most of them are excellent. Good read. ( )

I really enjoyed this collection of Connie Willis' short stories. Some are more sci-fi than others, and a couple are downright fantasy, but they are all enjoyable. Though there were some I liked more than the rest, there wasn't a single one that I didn't enjoy. I also really appreciated Willis' explanation of her take on the Christmas-themed story in the Introduction.

This collection contains the Hugo-winning "All Seated on the Ground," which is one of my all-time favorite stories by Connie Willis. It combines aliens and science research and choirs. What more could you want? ( )