Christmas Stories

When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's going to have to deal with it all on his own. That would be an all too magical Christmas. An all too magical...

Episode 21: In which a magician (second class) takes a pudding to a party, much to the pudding's disappointment. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when h...

Episode 20: In which a magician (second class) finds himself face to face with the man himself: Father ChristmasWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he...

In which a magician (second class) finally finds what he's been looking for. In precisely the wrong place. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's go...

In which a magician (second class) hitches a ride across enchanted London with King Herla and his Wild Hunt. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's...

In which a magician (second class) has his fashion sense critiqued by The Yule Cat. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's going to have to deal wit...

In which a magician (second class) reluctantly rescues some teenagers from a fate they almost certainly deserve. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when h...

In which a magician (second class) accidentally burns a witch to death, which is generally frowned upon at a departmental level. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his w...

In which a magician (second class) steels himself against the artisanal temptations of the goblin farmer's marketWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when h...

In which a magician (second class) discovers how dangerous cycling on the pavement can be. Especially when its the Wild Hunt doing the cyclingWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger....

In which a magician (second class) recruits a valiant troupe of nutcracker soldiers to face the Mouse ArmyWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's goi...

In which a magician (second class) does a little window shopping and gets carried away. While stuck in one place. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when...

In which a magician (second class) gets a lesson in the factionalism of revolutionary politics. From some mice. When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he...

In which a magician (second class) launches an air war with two ravens and a psychotic catWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's going to have to de...

In which a magician (second class) tries to stop Dick Whittington from turning againWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's going to have to deal wit...

Episode 7: In which a magician (second class) talks to a head of state (even though he died millennia ago) and gets some ravens drunkWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his...

Episode 6: In which a magician (second class) steals a stone of his own from a museum and goes dowsingWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's going to...

Episode 5: In which a magician (second class) goes on a wild goose chase and discovers that The London Stone has been stolenWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. N...

Episode 4: In which a magician (second class) gets an unpleasant awakening followed by an even more unpleasant visit from Santa ClausWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his...

Episode 3: In which a magician (second class) discover who's been trolling him online (Spoiler: it's trolls)When a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's goi...

Episode 2: In which a magician (second class) talks to the Bird Lady, who would rather be talking to pigeonsWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it is because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time not fo ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghost, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his watch. Not when he's goi...

Episode 1: In which a magician (second class) is mocked in the street by teenagers before being mocked at home by a clockwork robotWhen a magician (second class) chooses to do Christmas duty in the City of London, it's because he's hoping for a nice, quiet , seasonal time; not for ancient magic to break loose, and the enchanted city to be filled with ghosts, monsters, wonder and danger. Not on his...

A story for Halloween, written in 2020Locked down on my own in the East End of London, spending my time walking, alone, around the deserted City, I started thinking about all the ghosts who must haunt the empty buildings, and how they must be getting lonely too. I started wondering how safe it might be to be the lone living person among all these dead. And then I began to think that perhaps I had...

A story for Halloween, written in 2012. It tells the story of a strange and secretive family and the man who tries to help them and who discovers that man's best friend might not be a dog. It was inspired by an actual experience I had while staying one summer in Sandwich on Cape Cod. Walking back from the sea along the walkway across the salt marshes, we heard a train whistle and then a blood-chil...

A story for Halloween, written in 2013Scarred by a horrifying event in his childhood, William Connelly finds himself returning to his family home, scene of the haunting that has changed his life. Might he discover the truth behind what happened? And might he regret it when he does? Both this story and 'The Treasure' were written to accompany an interactive ghost story for what was then The SciFi C...