Christmas Stars

Twenty-five classic science fiction and fantasy tales of Yuletide wonder, including stories by Ben Bova, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, John M. Ford, William Gibson, Anne McCaffrey, Frederik Pohl, Spider Robinson, Gene Wolfe, and the hard-to-find Philip Van Doren Stern fantasy that inspired the film It's A Wonderful Life.'Twas the night before tomorrow, and all through the galaxy, nothing burns as bright as... Christmas Stars.Christmas is a time for miracles, scientific and otherwise, and for surprises that can only occur at this time of the year. But what marvels will the holidays bring to the far future--or to alien worlds light-years from the North Pole? In this celebratory collection, many of today's finest writers of fantasy and science fiction unwrap startling visions of the future of Christmas. An unusual Christmas spirit brings confusion--and romance--to a modern young woman. A father's gift opens up the universe for all humanity. And a devout researcher uncovers the shattering secret of the original Star of Bethlehem. These and other stories shine like sparkling, unearthly ornaments on a fresh green tree of holiday traditions.