Grandma gives a sweater she knitted, Dad receives a necktie he doesn't really like, the kids get toys that make a variety of noises, most of them loud, all of them annoying.

What do writers give for the holiday season? They give the gift of stories that take the reader away to fantastical times or places, tales that can be blood-curdling or heartwarming, adventures that capture the heart of the season.

Fantastic Holiday Stories by Kevin J. Anderson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Rebecca Moesta, David Farland, Larry Correia, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Dean Wesley Smith, Debra Gray De Noux & O'Neil De Noux, Jerry Oltion, Kathy Oltion, Kent Patterson, Ray Vukcevich, Kim Antieau.