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A review by badseedgirl
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
4.0
Welcome to Day 22 of my 2021 25 Days of Short Stories Christmas Advent Calendar. Today’s story comes from our friends at The Gutenberg project and Youtube. That’s right Youtube!
Day 1: [b:The Art of Space Travel|30532462|The Art of Space Travel|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558040356l/30532462._SY75_.jpg|50826910] by Nina Allan
Day 2: [b:These Deathless Bones|35506557|These Deathless Bones|Cassandra Khaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498282454l/35506557._SY75_.jpg|56914935] by Cassandra Khaw
Day 3: [b:Swift, Brutal Retaliation|13169837|Swift, Brutal Retaliation|Meghan McCarron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541922428l/13169837._SY75_.jpg|18349137] by Meghan McCarron> (Trigger warning: Emotional abuse of children and women)
Day 4: [b:Freeze Warning|18489609|Freeze Warning|Susan Krinard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379900239l/18489609._SX50_.jpg|26172761] by Susan Krinard
Day 5: [b:Daughter of Necessity|23301706|Daughter of Necessity|Marie Brennan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412347876l/23301706._SX50_.jpg|42376194] by Marie Brennan
Day 6: [b:The Girl in the High Tower|23257790|The Girl in the High Tower|Gennifer Albin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411351413l/23257790._SX50_.jpg|42798995] by Genniger Albin
Day 7: [b:Come See the Living Dryad|37856081|Come See the Living Dryad|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558645604l/37856081._SY75_.jpg|55361917] by Theadora Goss
Day 8: [b:Black Friday|40230189|Black Friday|Alexander C. Irvine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532796086l/40230189._SY75_.jpg|62484577] by Alex Irvine
Day 9 [b:Up From Hell|31310480|Up From Hell|David Drake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470076505l/31310480._SX50_.jpg|51982538] by David Drake
Day 10: [b:The Tallest Doll in New York City|23491933|The Tallest Doll in New York City|Maria Dahvana Headley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415008589l/23491933._SX50_.jpg|40157621] by Maria Dahvana Headley
Day 11: [b:The Caretakers|28116629|The Caretakers|David Nickle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449497292l/28116629._SX50_.jpg|48126352] by David Nickle
Day 12: [b:Your Orisons May Be Recorded|28820958|Your Orisons May Be Recorded|Laurie Penny|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454333665l/28820958._SX50_.jpg|49038759] by Laurie Penny
Day 13: [b:Of Roses and Kings|53663516|Of Roses and Kings|Melissa Marr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590849056l/53663516._SY75_.jpg|81129060] by Melissa Marr
Day 14: [b:A Christmas Bun for Ulysses|56424594|A Christmas Bun for Ulysses (Moose Springs, Alaska #2.5)|Sarah Morgenthaler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609014790l/56424594._SX50_.jpg|87983073] by Sarah Morgenthaler**
Day 15: [b:Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|10397968|Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|Ken Scholes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328313233l/10397968._SX50_.jpg|15301868] by Ken Scholes
Day 16: [b:The Library of Lost Things|37856189|The Library of Lost Things|Matthew Bright|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539552978l/37856189._SY75_.jpg|57561471] by Matthew Bright
Day 17: [b:Ambiguity Machines: An Examination|25451087|Ambiguity Machines An Examination|Vandana Singh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1430328427l/25451087._SX50_.jpg|45215894] by Vandana Singh
Day 18: [b:Drona’s Death|18515182|Drona’s Death|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379443130l/18515182._SX50_.jpg|26211449] by Max Gladstone
Day 19: [b:Black Leg|58510324|Black Leg|Glen Hirshberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625678082l/58510324._SY75_.jpg|91558831] by Glen Hirshberg
Day 20: [b:The Effect of Centrifugal Forces|17370706|The Effect of Centrifugal Forces|Maureen F. McHugh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360723175l/17370706._SY75_.jpg|24156397]by Maureen F. McHugh
Day 21: [b:Grave by the Handpost|16435603|Grave by the Handpost|Thomas Hardy|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|22623281] by Thomas Hardy
Day 22: A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
If you are unfamiliar with Project Gutenberg, consider checking out their website here. L. Frank Baum, who is best known for his series of Oz books, also wrote this glorious short story. When Santa is kidnapped by the daemons of Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, Malice, and Repentance, it might just take a miracle and a little fairy magic to save Christmas.
This story reminded me so much of the speech by the Ghost of Christmas Present in [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440], when he pulls back his robes and shows Scrooge Ignorance and Want. The feeling was the same, although Mr. Baum was discussing other sentiments of Christmas.
This is an excellent story for children. There is some comedy and a little tame scares in it, but would make a wonderful addition to a child’s Christmas library.
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by l. Frank Baum can be read for free here and listened to for free here.
Day 1: [b:The Art of Space Travel|30532462|The Art of Space Travel|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558040356l/30532462._SY75_.jpg|50826910] by Nina Allan
Day 2: [b:These Deathless Bones|35506557|These Deathless Bones|Cassandra Khaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498282454l/35506557._SY75_.jpg|56914935] by Cassandra Khaw
Day 3: [b:Swift, Brutal Retaliation|13169837|Swift, Brutal Retaliation|Meghan McCarron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541922428l/13169837._SY75_.jpg|18349137] by Meghan McCarron> (Trigger warning: Emotional abuse of children and women)
Day 4: [b:Freeze Warning|18489609|Freeze Warning|Susan Krinard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379900239l/18489609._SX50_.jpg|26172761] by Susan Krinard
Day 5: [b:Daughter of Necessity|23301706|Daughter of Necessity|Marie Brennan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412347876l/23301706._SX50_.jpg|42376194] by Marie Brennan
Day 6: [b:The Girl in the High Tower|23257790|The Girl in the High Tower|Gennifer Albin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411351413l/23257790._SX50_.jpg|42798995] by Genniger Albin
Day 7: [b:Come See the Living Dryad|37856081|Come See the Living Dryad|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558645604l/37856081._SY75_.jpg|55361917] by Theadora Goss
Day 8: [b:Black Friday|40230189|Black Friday|Alexander C. Irvine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532796086l/40230189._SY75_.jpg|62484577] by Alex Irvine
Day 9 [b:Up From Hell|31310480|Up From Hell|David Drake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470076505l/31310480._SX50_.jpg|51982538] by David Drake
Day 10: [b:The Tallest Doll in New York City|23491933|The Tallest Doll in New York City|Maria Dahvana Headley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415008589l/23491933._SX50_.jpg|40157621] by Maria Dahvana Headley
Day 11: [b:The Caretakers|28116629|The Caretakers|David Nickle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449497292l/28116629._SX50_.jpg|48126352] by David Nickle
Day 12: [b:Your Orisons May Be Recorded|28820958|Your Orisons May Be Recorded|Laurie Penny|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454333665l/28820958._SX50_.jpg|49038759] by Laurie Penny
Day 13: [b:Of Roses and Kings|53663516|Of Roses and Kings|Melissa Marr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590849056l/53663516._SY75_.jpg|81129060] by Melissa Marr
Day 14: [b:A Christmas Bun for Ulysses|56424594|A Christmas Bun for Ulysses (Moose Springs, Alaska #2.5)|Sarah Morgenthaler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609014790l/56424594._SX50_.jpg|87983073] by Sarah Morgenthaler**
Day 15: [b:Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|10397968|Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|Ken Scholes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328313233l/10397968._SX50_.jpg|15301868] by Ken Scholes
Day 16: [b:The Library of Lost Things|37856189|The Library of Lost Things|Matthew Bright|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539552978l/37856189._SY75_.jpg|57561471] by Matthew Bright
Day 17: [b:Ambiguity Machines: An Examination|25451087|Ambiguity Machines An Examination|Vandana Singh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1430328427l/25451087._SX50_.jpg|45215894] by Vandana Singh
Day 18: [b:Drona’s Death|18515182|Drona’s Death|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379443130l/18515182._SX50_.jpg|26211449] by Max Gladstone
Day 19: [b:Black Leg|58510324|Black Leg|Glen Hirshberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625678082l/58510324._SY75_.jpg|91558831] by Glen Hirshberg
Day 20: [b:The Effect of Centrifugal Forces|17370706|The Effect of Centrifugal Forces|Maureen F. McHugh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360723175l/17370706._SY75_.jpg|24156397]by Maureen F. McHugh
Day 21: [b:Grave by the Handpost|16435603|Grave by the Handpost|Thomas Hardy|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|22623281] by Thomas Hardy
Day 22: A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
If you are unfamiliar with Project Gutenberg, consider checking out their website here. L. Frank Baum, who is best known for his series of Oz books, also wrote this glorious short story. When Santa is kidnapped by the daemons of Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, Malice, and Repentance, it might just take a miracle and a little fairy magic to save Christmas.
This story reminded me so much of the speech by the Ghost of Christmas Present in [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440], when he pulls back his robes and shows Scrooge Ignorance and Want. The feeling was the same, although Mr. Baum was discussing other sentiments of Christmas.
This is an excellent story for children. There is some comedy and a little tame scares in it, but would make a wonderful addition to a child’s Christmas library.
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by l. Frank Baum can be read for free here and listened to for free here.