Believe it or not, despite being a massive chocolate fiend, I don't like chocolate Advent calendars. Nor do I like the over-the-top-ones for adults filled with gin, or jewellery or make-up (usually costing a ridiculous amount of money.)
For me, Christmas begins more simply, with either an Advent candle or paper Advent calendar (with the only treat behind each window being a little picture.) But the latter is hard to find these days, and the only space I have to put a candle makes them gutter so badly that burning them evenly becomes a complex act of turning and timing.
As my Christmases are increasingly bleak (no decorations either at home or work, some unhappy memories, little time for friends, extra work responsibilities, body issues, and the prospect of going home not being appealing) I wanted something to bring me at least a little Christmas joy.
So this year I've decided to do something different.
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You can track my progress and (where possible) find links to the stories below!
The Books
O Little Town of Deathlehem by Various Authors
Twenty-three stories. A collection of horror themed festive stories for charity. This has been languishing unread for actual years. I got it in a Storybundle eons ago. It may be the book that has guilted me for the longest. Father Christmas's Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett
Ten stories. Children's stories written by Pratchett. All unknown to me until now (what a treat!) Murder Under the Christmas Tree by Various Authors
Ten stories. Classic Christmas crime stories from mystery writers from the Golden Age of crime fiction. Icelandic Folk Tales by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson
Twenty-five stories. Something to push me out of my comfort zone, with more focus on snow than Santa.
The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories by Various Authors
Thirteen stories. This was also in the same Storybundle as O Little Town of Deathlehem, but is slightly less guilt-inducing. What's Christmas without a ghost story?!
Now I'm not expecting to read all eighty-one stories, but I'm hoping that I'll get through enough that finishing them off in the festive period won't be too difficult.
Stories read: 75/81
My Short Story Advent
1st December:
One of His Own by Catherine Grant [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
While on the prowl one Christmas night, Krampus finds an abused infant girl and decides to steal her and raise her as his own little helper. This is both charming and incredibly dark, as the teenage girl processes her abuse and cements her place as his child.
Father Christmas's Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
I actually didn't know Pratchett wrote a lot of short stories for kids. This was an adorable blast, as Santa takes residence in a store while the North Pole is temporarily out of action.
2nd December:
The Blackbury Pie by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
Mayor has people make a gigantic pie for Christmas Day. Chaos ensues.
The Snuffbox by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
We're off to a fantastically insane start, a man tricks a ghost by telling him that his rifle is a new type of snuff applicator, and shoots him in the face.
Christmas Wine by Matt Cowan [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Probably my least favourite story so far. A hint of 'second performance at Eurovision' here with an underwhelming second story. People use Christmas magic wine to heal their sickness and then are cursed when they try and drink it outside of Christmas day.
The Necklace of Pearls by Dorothy L Sayers [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
I actually knew of this story already (and had a good idea of the solution), as it's heavily referenced in Miss. Marple's Christmas, one of the few in that recent Marple collection I enjoyed. Sayers is a breezy, fun read and it's always a delight to spend time with Wimsey.
3rd December:
Prod-Ye-A'Diddle Oh! by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
A glorious opportunity for Pratchett to use as many silly words as possible, as two rival towns play a bonkers sport against each other. When the star player falls for a woman from the opposing side, the match is called into question. My fave story from this collection so far. Home for the Holidays by D. Alexander Ward [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Blimey this was a dark one. And a long one. If you've seen the controversial X-Files episode 'Home', this is very strongly in that spirit. People are taken hostage by a madman, planning a special Christmas event with his unseen 'mummy'.
Ghosts by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Iceland's folk tales continue to be bonkers, as we are introduced to the hearty tradition of ghost stories Iceland has. They are far more advanced than other ghosts, and the reader is assured that if they are willing to dig up a male corpse, make a pair of trousers out of its skin, win a wrestling match with the corpse's ghost (who has previously given permission for all this interference in life, but who may be having second thoughts) and then stick a gold coin in the ballsack of their new trousers... they'll gain infinite gold. I'm not honestly sure it's worth it.
4th December:
A Very Short Ice Age by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
The tale of a town being buried in snow. Not one of his belters, if we're being honest. The Tapestried Chamber by Sir Walter Scott [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
I've always been wary of reading Scott, perhaps because I associate his stories as being ones of manly derring-do. This is indeed full of manly men mann-ing mannilly about the place. Whilst a relatively simple story - man visits and old friend, man is set upon by ghost in the night, man leaves - it is an interesting example of one of the many ghost stories based on what is almost certainly a modern case of sleep paralysis.
The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
This was a relatively long one, managing to jam a small gothic novel into one short story. And old Nurse recounts the mysterious forces that keep trying to lure her charge out into a snowstorm. Gaskell is such a great writer, with a lot more to her work than North & South and Cranford.
Ghosts of Christmas Past by Richard Farren Barber [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Technology allows a dying woman to travel back and watch the moment that changed her whole life. This felt more like Sci Fi than horror, which would have been fine if it wasn't quite so vague.
5th December:
The Computer Who Wrote to Father Christmas by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
A computer in an accounting office writes to Santa and they bond over old-fashioned, non-technological toys. I'm not sure if Pratchett wrote this before or after The Hogfather, but there's a lot of crossover with that book here, particularly the Hex scenes.
Herding Mice by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A witch runs a busy farm and sorts neighbours problems with no-nonsense trickery and a bit of weird magic. A bit of googling informs me that this seems to be the origin story for a Bonnie and Clyde-style pair of Icelandic outlaws. I do hope the book covers that too.
The Troll Wife and the Reverend by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Every story in this collection begins with me googling the place name and going 'ooh that's pretty'. I might have to go to Iceland after this - I always did want to see the northern lights. This is the first of the Icelandic tales to involve a mythological beast, as a troll who likes eating young priests meets her match with a plucky new reverend.
The Invisible Man by G.K Chesterton [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
No, not that Invisible Man. This is my first introduction to the Father Brown mysteries and I'm rather pleased that this collection has such a nice range of stories from the greats. I tend to stick to full length mystery novels, so the chance to get stuck in to some shorter mysteries is thrilling. I'll be reading more Father Brown stories, I think.
Good King Wences-lost by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
A little parody of Good King Wenceslas (which Pratchett enjoyed parodying in The Hogfather). This time with slightly less of a sense of direction.
6th December:
Deck the Halls by Chantal Boudreau [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Man murders his elderly mother and is killed by the Christmas decs she loved. Not very subtle but decent enough.
All I Want for Christmas by Raymond Gates [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A blocked writer gets his Christmas wish... for a price. Quite a fun idea actually.
The Demon on the Beam by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
I really liked this one. A good old fashioned moral fairytale about a man who refuses to stop swearing and being nasty, with a happy ending.
The Weatherchick by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
A weathercock has a weatherchick that causes all sorts of weather chaos. Utterly adorable . I'm trying to stretch this collection out but I just want to gobble all the stories up at once!
7th December:
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
A classic Christmas story that I have read at least twice before... this gave me the opportunity to crack open the Stephen Fry audiobook version as an extra little treat. I have no time at all today (Christmas responsibilities are ramping up, and I only listened to this whilst also dying my hair over lunch and keeping an eye on work emails) so this might be the only short story I get around to. Can't help but think it would be nice to be a wealthy Victorian with enough time to puzzle over lost hats.
Judgement Day for Father Christmas by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
A little courtroom Santa drama with jokes that I imagine kids would not find as funny as any adult would. Particular mention goes to him calling a kid's visit to Santa's grotto 'contract negotiations'.
8th December:
No stories read today as I didn't have a moment to myself from 10am until 1am.9th December:
The Abominable Snow Baby by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
This story I did know, as I saw the charming Channel 4 Animation. It was the most suited of the collection to being animated for Christmas. Grandma finds an abominable snow baby and trouble ensues.
The Skeleton by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Another rather good one. A tough, no nonsense woman deals with the curse on an unburiable skeleton in her church. Discworld's Nanny Ogg would especially of approved of the bit where she lifted her skirt and scornfully told the devil to take a good look at her arse...
Seven on Land, Seven on Sea by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A man marries a selkie who starts to pine for her life at sea. Quite a bittersweet tale about how sometimes love just isn't enough, and how to gracefully accept it.
10th December:
A cute story about the origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas song, in which a prince tries to meet the impossible demands that will prove him worthy of wedding a princess.
Father Christmas Goes to Work at the Zoo by Terry Pratchett [Father Christmas's Fake Beard]
Plot twist, he also goes to work other places! This is the final story in the collection, which means that I've finished the first book in this challenge.
Cinders by Ian Rankin [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
Rebus investigates the death of a pantomime fairy godmother. I've only read one Rebus before, and this was fine but I do find him a bit of a Gary Stu.
The Name on the Window by Edmund Crispin [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
My first Fen story. I've not read him much as the Fen stories tend to be extremely technical locked-room mysteries, which isn't my favourite type of mystery. The mystery itself was rather bland but I did enjoy him solving it whilst in the aftermath of hosting a children's party.
11th December:
I will admit that I'm starting to get fatigued, as my reading time has gone down whilst my life responsibilities have gone up in the lead up to Christmas. There simply aren't enough hours in the day. Nevertheless, we continue...
The Ghost's Cap by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Ghosts cause trouble in Iceland once more, as a maid mistakes a ghost for a troublesome errand boy in the midst of a prank and slaps him. I really had no idea ghosts were so active and hearty in Iceland.
Of Trolls by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Not so much a story, but generic advice about trolls - their characteristics and where they can be found.
12th December:
A family emergency completely derailed all my plans, so I couldn't read anything today.13th December:
You'd Better Watch Out by Randy Lindsay [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Super quick story about a boy being punished after telling his brother that Santa doesn't exist.
Saint Nick Sticks by Peter White [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Possibly the longest story in the collection so far, but rather a good one. Lowlifes organise a bank robbery in which they dress as Santas (yes I remember that Due South episode too) only for one to use the power of Christmas Eve to seek revenge on the others after being double crossed.
Gilitrutt by Hjörleifur by Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A variation on the Rumpelstiltskin story in which a feckless young farmer's wife makes a deal for a troll woman to spin her some wool in exchange for guessing the troll's name - not realising she is gambling away her child. I looked this up and it turns out to be a less sexist version than some others - in this one both husband and wife are feckless, whereas in others she's just a terrible wife.
14th December:
Just two super short ones today... I've had a lot of real life problems going on so my time is limited and I'm a bit emotionally broken. The next few days are likely to be even worse.
Þórðarhöfði by Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
(Yes I did have to copy and paste that title). A boy tells his friends to stop throwing stones and then mysterious forces give him a lifetime of financial and emotional rewards, which I thought was a little bit over-the-top for just showing good character.
Of Elves by Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Much like 'Of Trolls' this covers the general beliefs around Elves in Iceland, and some of his personal family tradition. I actually knew quite a bit of the general elf stuff (I think Lore covered it once.)
15th December:
A Traditional Christmas by Val McDermid [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
A queer working-class woman visits her upper class partner's aristocratic family for Christmas, and then accidentally solves a family murder. I liked this, much as I enjoyed McDermid's entry in the Marple collection. I think I'm long overdue an investigation into McDermid's other novels. It's also the first story with any queer content in any of the collections so far.
Death on the Air by Ngaio Marsh [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
I like Ngaio Marsh, who was easily Christie or Sayers equal (with whom she was a contemporary), but she's overlooked in popular culture due to her detective being rather bland. As a New Zealander she always brings something different to a story, even a stuffy English mystery, and isn't quite as reverent about class. This is possibly the longest story so far, at nearly sixty pages. By coincidence, this and McDermid's story both deal with electrocutions as murder methods.
16th December:
This was a terrible day for family reasons... but I still read two stories. How much I absorbed is another matter...
Persons or Things Unknown by Carter Dickson [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
A rather good one, actually. An English Civil War era murder mystery presented to a bunch of party guests to be solved. The locked room solution was a bit silly (they usually are) but it was a nice historial tale.
The Case is Altered by Margery Allingham [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
I honestly remember almost nothing of this. There's a house party and... blackmail happens? There's def some faffing around with secret documents.
17th December:
The Price of Light by Ellis Peters [Murder Under the Christmas Tree]
A Cadfael mystery and one of the best stories in the collection. A rich asshole presents the priory with some expensive candlesticks, which promptly vanish. This marks the end of the Murder Under the Christmas Tree collection! 18th December:
With Their Eyes All Aglow by Jeff C. Carter [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
An expert in spiders discovers a dangerous infestation in Christmas trees that are about to be shipped to America. Rather a fun, swashbuckling one. Shop Till You Drop by Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Your classic 'creepy shop sells haunted items to desperate last-minute shoppers' but dialled up to eleven. Points removed for the use of 'till' in the title, one of my absolute bugbears even though it is acceptable.
The Antiphon by John Boden [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A response to a little boy's Christmas letter arrives. Unfortunately this was totally spoiled by me having accidentally seen the last line before reading it...
A Christmas to Remember by JP Behrens [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A couple worry at the strange behaviour of their eldest son during the Christmas season. This wasn't a supernatural story but was incredibly tense, and one of my favourites from the collection so far.
It's the Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Nicky Peacock [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
An office worker struggles with confusing memory loss during the office secret santa. This wasn't fully fleshed out as an idea but was at least entertaining.
A young man accidentally invites the ghost of a giant to his wedding. This was a cracking little story - one of the more memorable ones.
19th December:
Nothing read today. Between work and the work Xmas meal, I had no time to read anything and collapsed into bed the moment I got home. I'm increasingly proud of how far I've got with this challenge considering how punishing my December has been.
20th December:
Egill by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
This is an introduction to a character from a famous Icelandic saga. I will confess it was a bit much for me - my brain wasn't up to untangling dynasties and whatnot.
21st December:
Krampusnacht by Ben McElroy [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
An adult who escaped Krampus as a kid is finally hunted down by him on the way to work. This was an exciting one, though a little gory for my tastes.
Lots of Love, Uncle Billy [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A girl gets a Ouija board from her recently deceased uncle, who clearly wants to chat from beyond, and starts spilling the tea about her father's affair. Rather a fun one.
You'd Better Watch Out by Mark Onspaugh [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
It's hard being Santa during a zombie apocalypse. He, like all the humans, has to adapt. I adore zombie stories so I bloody loved this.
A Father of Eighteen by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A good old-fashioned changeling story, where the evil is defeated with a customised ladle and a good spanking.
The Fearless Boy by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
I absolutely loved this. A boy is born without fear and goes off on his adventures, defeating scary ghosts and evil curses by the power of simply not giving a shit.
22nd December:
Blackarse Hookride by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
What a name! This feels like an old-fashioned bawdy fairytale as a girl outwits a troll to save her kidnapped sisters.
A Few Odd Men in the East by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A more personal seeming telling of various strange local men, including the author's great-grandfather.
23rd December:
Horror: A True Tale by John Berwick Harwood [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
Took ages to get through this one. Girl gives up bedroom for a rich godmother only to be attacked in the night. Another example of a 'sleep paralysis' inspired tale. Still not clear why one scary night ruined her looks forever but, eh, that's Victorians for you.
Crossroads by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
This was about a man who couldn't overcome greed for food even in the face of riches - which isn't as moral when he's grown up starving. It proves why the 'marshmallow test' fails on poor children.
Mother Dear by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Another rather unhappy story of a girl who got raped by her master and has to kill her newborn. I mean. Not a lot you can say about that.
Búkolla by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Boy goes to rescue a magic cow. Magic cow creates rivers and mountains along the way. This felt like a pretty well known story but, again, I'd have liked some context.
Santa Claws is Coming to Town by Rob Ferrari [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Santa gets bitten by a werewolf and tries to do the rounds on a full moon night. One of those ideas that seems so simple you can't believe no one did it before.
Riley at the Big Man by BC Jackson [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A boy deals his mean brother's life away on his visit to Santa's grotto. Not especially memorable but not bad either.
Ornaments by Christopher Miron [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Some spooky new ornaments punish some bad behaviour.
Holiday Icon by Michael Thomas-Knight [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A dystopian zombie story based around far-right Christian hypocrisy. Heavy-handed, but memorable.
24th December:
Bright Me a Light by Anonymous [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
An interesting look at the terror of being burnt alive due to big dresses and open flames. Genuinely scary haunted house moments and the sort of Victorian hero who will shoot the ghost of an old lady in the face if he has to.
How Peter Parley Laid a Ghost by Anonymous [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
Not that kind've 'laid'. This is a children's story, a kind've early Scooby Doo. Peter solves some local robberies by not being afraid to go into the local graveyard and unmask a 'ghost'. I'd have gotten away with too, if it wasn't for that meddlin' Peter Parley....
Christmas in the Snow by Rose Blackthorn [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A couple prepare for a snowy winter in a remote cabin, only for ravens to try and lure them into the woods. It was atmospheric but I didn't love it.
Silent Night by Liam Hogan [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
A dystopian story in which malfunctioning drones roam the land killing people on Xmas Eve. Surely inspired a little by Futurama, but a solid story anyway. The hiding under the tree to disguise scent was a nice touch.
Special Delivery by Simon Bradley [O Little Town of Deathlehem]
Santa and Satan have a bet as to whether Santa can convince someone to sign their soul over to the devil. Some playful Good Omens vibes and lots of trickery. A good story to end the collection on.
The Scythe by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
Dog accidentally gets cut in half and is put back together effectively but strangely. Extremely weird!!
In Need by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
The invisible folk who live on the land of a young woman seek her help during a difficult birth. Rather sad and beautiful.
The Hallowing of Látrabjarg by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A giant living in the cliffs keeps cutting the lines of men abseiling down to gather eggs. Not hugely memorable.
The Laughing Merman by Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson [Icelandic Folk Tales]
A fisherman tries to keep the merman he has caught only for the merman to make him realise his perfect life is a lie. Rather a dark one to end on and an early example of a wife getting it on with the milkman.
25th December:
The Mysterious Visitor by Ellen Wood [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
A man who thinks he'll die at midnight gives a doctor £1000 to sit with him. A bit too short to really work.
The Doll's Ghost by F. Marion Crawford [The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories]
A doll is sent for repair only for mysterious things to start happening to the craftsman's daughter. A surprisingly modern creepy doll story.
And that's the end of my Advent reading! To have read 75 stories in 25 days is amazing and it's opened up a way of reading short stories that really works for me.
As for those pesky final six stories... I'll post my reaction to them below over the next few days.
I write this blog purely for my own enjoyment, not to make a career or become a content creator. Even so, I put a lot of work into it. If you fancy supporting me on Ko-Fi, that would be incredibly cool of you!
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