HUGO AWARD-WINNING SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY MAGAZINE
Frosty was a WHAT?!!
The holidays are upon us! Whether or not you believe in Santa or his minions, this is an unmistakably genre season. It’s the time of year when flying reindeers, snowmen coming to life, people wearing elf ears, singing chipmunks, and magical powers are socially acceptable. Into horror? Well, don’t dismay. There is something for everyone. For you, I suggest a visit to the mall for a little taste of what it will be like when the zombie apocalypse finally happens. Science fiction? How about Santa Claus Conquers the Martians?
For me however, the one show that sums up the holidays is the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas! How can anyone not enjoy such a delightfully bad villain and his little dog Max? For decades, this has been a family staple... I suppose that says something about my family. Go ahead, though, and Pat little Cindy Lou Who on the head and send her back to bed. Nothing to see here, folks. No, nothing at all.
How about you? What would you advise us to watch this holiday season? My Netflix queue is near empty. Help me fill it with end-of-the-year viewing material! Best suggestion received by the 15th gets a copy of Wyrm Publishing's signed limited edition of Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer.
And speaking of endings and the prospect of new beginnings, this is the last issue to feature fiction picked by editor Nick Mamatas. Although Nick stepped down several months ago, he had a backlog of accepted stories that is only running out now. This means that we start the new year with fiction that I've been selecting. I'm looking forward to what you think about them.
Happy holidays!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Clarke is the editor of Clarkesworld Magazine, Forever Magazine, and The SFWA Bulletin; owner of Wyrm Publishing; and a seven-time Hugo Award Nominee for Best Editor (short form). His anthologies include Upgraded, Galactic Empires, More Human Than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, and the Best Science Fiction of the Years series. His next anthology, The Eagle has Landed, will be published in July by Night Shade Books. He currently lives in NJ with his wife and two sons.
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ISSN 1937-7843 Clarkesworld Magazine © 2006-2019 Wyrm Publishing. Robot illustration by Serj Iulian.
Rob Solomon wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 am:
I like that the Nightmare before Christmas is a little bit of horror on a holy night. And I like the redemption angle, certainly. But, in truth, by the time xmas rolls around I'm a little worn out on Halloween.
It is sentimental and sappy and all, but I have to admit that every year I put in "Love Actually". Is my membership in the "guy club" revoked? Possibly. But if "love actually" is wrong, I don't want to be right!
Sure, its not entirely family-friendly, to which my grandmother can atest - so maybe watch it after the kids are in bed.
Orrin Grey wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm:
I'm a big fan of Gremlins for the holidays, though my wife is less enthusiastic.
Paul Jessup wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm:
I keep forgetting that Gremlins is an xmass movie
Me- I'm all about the abominable snow man or Hermes the prospector from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Toothless Snow Man for the win!
Mastadge wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm:
Maybe the wrong time of year, but if you don't mind holidays in general rather than Christmas holiday particularly, Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss is an absolutely wonderful (at least, when I used to watch it as a kid -- haven't seen it in years!) summer vacation movie featuring the family from A Christmas Story.
A so-bad-it's-wonderful tale of Christmas horror is Santa's Slay starring Bill Goldberg as Santa.
My favorite seasonal film is one that's already been mentioned: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
And of course Die Hard is a Christmas movie as well. "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho!"
Loreen wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm:
I think Tokyo Godfather is one of the best and craziest Christmas movies ever made. I'd recommend it any time of year.
It's starts a little slow but ... wow. It really pulls it off.
E Jade wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 pm:
I'd also tend to be sappy and say "The Holiday" or "Miracle on 34th Street" (old one, new one, I don't mind). "Little Women" also always feels like a Christmas movie to me.
ACameron wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm:
Terry Pratchett's Hogfather is a BBC Production, about 3 hours and very fun. The Hogfather from Discworld resembles a certain fat man we all know, and when he goes missing on Hogfather's Eve Death steps in to fill his boots.
Johnny Carruthers wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm:
Have you ever seen the Mexican SANTA CLAUS movie that was once featured on MST3K? Other than that, the only one I might suggest is A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.
Jenner Nutral wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 pm:
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS always does it for me. "Lights, please?" (I wonder what A Charlie Stross Christmas might be like? Never mind.)
Two features folks might give a go are 2005's JOYEUX NOEL, about the 1914 Christmas Truce along the Western Front, and 1995's SMOKE, for the holiday story Harvey Keitel's character tells to William Hurt's.
BAD SANTA might be a good choice for those in a more subversive holiday mood, while traditionalists can't go wrong with A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Now if only Tom Wait's had a Christmas album...
CharlieF wrote on December 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm:
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I always loved the crazy Christmas adventures of the Griswold family in Christmas Vacation. Other films with a funny Christmas theme include Trading Places, Home Alone, and, of course, A Christmas Story.
If you're looking for a horror movie, try the 1974 version of Black Christmas. Always liked Margot Kidder in that one for some reason
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Cristina Alves wrote on December 5th, 2008 at 9:54 pm:
As my best option is already listed (Nightmare Before Christmas), i would go for The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Mike wrote on December 6th, 2008 at 1:29 pm:
I'm not big on Christmas, but like you I try to watch the Grinch. Another "must watch" for me is The Lemon Drop Kid. An old family-friendly Bob Hope movie with small time crooks scamming the 'Santa bell-ringer' industry in NYC.
V1ctorya wrote on December 7th, 2008 at 1:34 pm:
For Cartoons I always liked "Twas the Night Before Christmas' about a mouse who doesn't beleive in Santa.
Otherwise, I've tended to watch Reckless (the one with mia farrow) every Holiday season. It's not exactly a feel good, more a bit on the surreal side, and you either hate it or love it.
Oh, and of course the #1 must rent is Emmett Otters Jug Band Christmas. Hands down the best out there for the holidays.
jenn wrote on December 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pm:
In our household, it's traditional to watch "The Long Kiss Goodnight" at Christmas time.
"Mrs. Claus is hot!"
Grim Gnome wrote on December 15th, 2008 at 1:03 am:
Has no one mentioned the Star Wars Christmas Special? Endure it at least once during your lifetime, please.
"Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" also gets a thumbs up.
The little Mrs. is highly fond of "Die Hard" as well. We wore out our VHS tape last year and finally bought a DVD of it.
JW wrote on December 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm:
Although I love Nightmare Before Christmas too, my all time fave is A Year Without A Santa Claus. The Heat Miser and his brother Snowy just crack me up. Who doesn't love some good sibling rivalry? And, I hear, that they are making (or have made) a Heat Miser movie, which I have yet to see. Has anyone else seen it?
I know I'm way best the deadline of the 15th, but wanted add this tidbit...Happy Holidays.
Joe Sherry wrote on December 27th, 2008 at 11:01 am:
Grim - Good call on the Holiday Special. I watched it for the first time Christmas Night. More accurately, I endured it on Christmas Night. Brutal, but I HAD to watch it.
Happy Life Day to All!