{"id":9971,"date":"2024-01-03T21:03:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T01:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/?p=9971"},"modified":"2024-01-03T21:30:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T01:30:24","slug":"book-review-christmas-and-other-horrors-edited-by-ellen-datlow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/book-review-christmas-and-other-horrors-edited-by-ellen-datlow\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology edited by Ellen Datlow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cover<\/a><\/p>\n

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Christmas and Other Horrors:: An Anthology of Solstice Horror <\/em>edited by Ellen Datlow<\/p>\n

Titan Books, 2023<\/p>\n

ISBN-13 \u200f : \u200e\u00a0<\/span>978-1803363264<\/span><\/p>\n

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook<\/p>\n

Buy:\u00a0 \u00a0 Bookshop.org<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Many people think of the Christmas season as a cheerful time of year, but it’s always been a time where sprits, gods, and terrifying creatures roam. Ghost stories set at Christmas abound: Charles Dickens and M.R James both published them every year. Coinciding with the winter solstice, it’s also a time of sacrifice.\u00a0Christmas and Other Horrors <\/em>draws on this tradition, with a wide variety of stories, ranging from folk horror to apocalyptic clifi.<\/p>\n

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There are several stories I found especially enjoyable.<\/p>\n

In “The Importance of a Tidy Home,” ,by Christopher Golden, grotesque creatures local to Salzburg, Austria murder residents of homes that haven’t been tidied for the new year;<\/p>\n

“The Ghost of Christmases Past”, by Richard Kadrey, describes Christmas Eve with Laura, who boards herself into her house every year to prevent the return of a cannibalistic witch who ate her brother in front of her, to her husband’s disbelief;<\/p>\n

“All The Pretty People” by Nadia Bulkin, describes a Festivus party reuniting college friends, who are surprised when their friend Sam, who ghosted them months ago, arrives<\/p>\n

“Cold”, by Cassandra Khaw, is an apocalyptic clifi story in which a saint, Brede, arrives every year on the winter solstice, asking if she can stay and sleep until spring… but what happens when spring doesn”t come? The figurative language and world-building in this story were fantastic.<\/p>\n

In “L\u00f6yly Sow-na”,by Josh Malerman, Russell visits his Finnish girlfriend Hannele’s family, where he is trapped in a sauna with her father. I had no idea how this story was going to play out!<\/p>\n

“Grave of Small Birds”, by Kaaron Warren, is a folk horror tale in which a bad-tempered reality show chef specializing in medieval cookery takes a job on a small British island with strange Christmas traditions. While it was fairly predictable, the setting was well-done. The main character was unlikable, so I found the ending very satisfying. This was a very atmospheric story, and descriptions of the island and its unusual traditions were excellent..<\/p>\n

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While the winter solstice and the Christmas season have passed, I can recommend this book for any time of year.<\/p>\n

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Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Christmas and Other Horrors:: An Anthology of Solstice Horror edited by Ellen Datlow Titan Books, 2023 ISBN-13 \u200f : \u200e\u00a0978-1803363264 Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook Buy:\u00a0 \u00a0 Bookshop.org\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon.com     Many people think of the Christmas season as a cheerful time of year, but it’s always been a time where sprits, gods,<\/p>\n

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