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To follow a star: Nine science fiction stories about Christmas
Nine short stories combining the genre of science fiction with the subject of Christmas. Stories include spacemen trying to recreate Santa Claus, a gift giving war, a spaceman dealing with a Christmas tree, a Jesuit and astrophysicist who makes a terrible Christmas discovery, and children who can read men's minds.
Introduction by Terry Carr
Christmas on Ganymede by Isaac Asimov
Happy birthday, dear Jesus by Frederik Pohl
Santa Claus planet by Frank M. Robinson
Christmas tree by John Christopher
The star by Arthur C. Clarke
The Christmas present by Gordon R. Dickson
Christmas treason by James White
The new Father Christmas by Brian W. Aldiss
La Befana by Gene Wolfe
Introduction by Terry Carr
Christmas on Ganymede by Isaac Asimov
Happy birthday, dear Jesus by Frederik Pohl
Santa Claus planet by Frank M. Robinson
Christmas tree by John Christopher
The star by Arthur C. Clarke
The Christmas present by Gordon R. Dickson
Christmas treason by James White
The new Father Christmas by Brian W. Aldiss
La Befana by Gene Wolfe
- GenresFictionScience Fiction
152 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Terry Carr
203 books32 followersCarr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley from 1954 to 1959.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 2, 2016
I don't give many 5 star reviews, but this book made up of Hard SF stories of Christmas deserves it, if only for the unique concept. AS far as I know, there are no other collections like this available. Most of the stories come from the 1950's and they run the gamut from dark to light, but none of them overly sentimental. I like reading unusual Christmas stories, but if you ask Amazon for books which combine Christmas and SF, what you get are mainly YA Fantasy books. Published in 1973, this may be hard to find, but it's worth it.
December 4, 2016
Okay - but not very Christmassy. Have to try something else...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews