Christmas In the Stars

A collection of Christmas Short Stories

By: Sarah A. Hoyt

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

A collection of four Christmas short stories by Prometheus Award Winner Sarah A. Hoyt.
Perfect for curling up by the fire with eggnog in hand, these heartwarming tales bring the spirit of Christmas to the far reaches of space and beyond. A star-explorer stranded in unknown coordinates on Christmas Eve listens desperately for sleigh bells while his AI companion offers little comfort. Two deserters from a doomed planetary war seek peace and goodwill on a forsaken planet—even though one of them happens to be dead. Discover the small, sweet robot who witnessed the first Christmas at the nativity. And remember that sometimes, all you need for a Merry Christmas is a cat. With the warmth and humanity that has made Hoyt a beloved voice in Analog, Asimov's, and Weird Tales, these stories blend science fiction wonder with holiday comfort. Though brief, this collection delivers the rational optimism and cozy charm perfect for a snowy afternoon—proving that the Christmas spirit endures even among the stars. As one reviewer notes, these aren't schmaltzy Hallmark tales, but genuine stories that earn their emotional moments through compelling characters and imaginative settings.

Not Just Christmas

This collection of short stories by SF/F author Sarah Hoyt is an engaging and enjoyable listen. Each story involves time in some way - time travel, time passing, etc. - and each stands alone though some elements may appear in more than one story. One of these is in effect a prequel to Ms. Hoyt's wonderful "Chronicles of Lost Elly" but has no significant spoilers and, like the other stories, stands very well on its own while providing a satisfying addition to the Lost Elly arc. All of these stories left me thinking, a characteristic of the best SF/F.
The synthesized voice narration was surprisingly good, with few if any jarring anomalies, though I'd have preferred the work of a human reader. Nevertheless, within seconds each story took precedence over the delivery and I enjoyed the results very much.