Christmas on Ganymede
Asimov's humorous Christmas story set on Ganymede.
Isaac Asimov's "Christmas on Ganymede" is a science fiction short story, the twenty-sixth he wrote and the nineteenth to see print. It takes place on Jupiter's moon Ganymede, marking the first time Asimov set a story there. The plot follows human colonists working for the Ganymedan Products Corporation, who export wolframite, karen leaves, and oxite to Earth. They employ a native race called Ossies, named for their resemblance to ostriches. A crisis erupts when a colonist named Olaf Johnson tells the Ossies about Santa Claus. The Ossies refuse to work until they get a visit from him, threatening the company's quota and the colonists' jobs. Base Commander Scott Pelham stages a fake Santa visit, with Johnson playing the role. They build a flying sleigh using gravo-repulsors and compressed air jets, harness eight local spinyback animals (dosed with brandy to keep them calm) as reindeer, and Johnson flies to a lodge where the Ossies wait. He leaves Christmas tree ornaments in their stockings, which the Ossies take for Santa Claus eggs. The plan works, but the Ossies then demand a visit every year—which, the colonists realize, means once per Ganymedan revolution, just over seven Earth days.
Asimov wrote the story in December 1940. John W. Campbell rejected it, and Frederik Pohl's purchase was later canceled. Asimov noted that a Christmas story needed to be sold by July to appear by Christmas, so he sold it to *Startling Stories* in June 1941, where it was published in the January 1942 issue. It was later reprinted in the 1972 collection *The Early Asimov* and the anthology *Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories*, edited by Martin H. Greenberg. In his autobiography *In Memory Yet Green*, Asimov said he was trying to be funny, comparing writing humor to digging ditches, and noting that humor cannot be moderately successful—it either works or it doesn't. The story was also included in an early Foundation Series timeline that appeared in *Thrilling Wonder Stories* alongside Asimov's story "The Portable Star."
Quick Facts
- Author
- Isaac Asimov
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Publication Type
- Periodical
- Published In
- Startling Stories
- Publisher
- Better Publications
- Media Type
- Print (Magazine, Hardback & Paperback)
- Pub Date
- January 1942
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story is set on Ganymede, which has an oxygen atmosphere not quite breathable by humans, and native flora and fauna including a moderately intelligent race called Ossies, resembling ostriches. A human settlement run by the Ganymedan Products Corporation exports wolframite, karen leaves, and oxite to Earth, employing the Ossies as labor.
The plot involves a crisis caused by Olaf Johnson, who tells the Ossies about Santa Claus. The Ossies refuse to work until they see Santa, threatening the company's franchise. Commander Scott Pelham orders a staged visit, with Johnson playing Santa. A flying sleigh is built using gravo-repulsors and compressed air jets, with eight local animals called spinybacks, dosed with brandy, harnessed as reindeer. Johnson flies to the Ossies' lodge, leaving Christmas tree ornaments in their stockings, which the Ossies take to be Santa Claus eggs. The crisis resolves, but the Ossies demand a visit every Ganymedan revolution—just over seven Earth days.
Reader's Guide
Asimov wrote "Christmas on Ganymede" in December 1940. John W. Campbell rejected it, and Frederik Pohl's purchase was canceled. Asimov realized a Christmas story needed to be sold by July to appear by Christmas, and in June 1941 sold it to Startling Stories. In his autobiography In Memory Yet Green, Asimov noted he was trying to be funny, stating that writing humor is harder than digging ditches, and that something is either funny or not—there is nothing in between. The story was later included in an early Foundation Series timeline published in Thrilling Wonder Stories along with "The Portable Star." Its legacy lies in being Asimov's first Ganymede story and a rare humorous entry in his early career.
Did You Know?
- The story was the twenty-sixth written by Asimov and the nineteenth published.
- It was first published in the January 1942 issue of Startling Stories.
- The native Ossies are named for their resemblance to ostriches.
- The Ossies demand a visit from Santa every Ganymedan revolution, which is just over seven Earth days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Christmas on Ganymede'?
It is a lighthearted science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov set on Jupiter's largest moon. The plot revolves around a group of human miners and their ostrich-like alien employees who collectively refuse to work until Santa Claus pays them a visit.
Who are the Ossies in the story?
The Ossies are a native species of Ganymede whose physical appearance is compared to that of ostriches. They are hired by the Ganymedan Products Corporation to extract wolframite, karens, and oxite for export to Earth.
Why is this story notable in Asimov's bibliography?
It marks the first time Asimov set a narrative on Ganymede, a departure from his more common Earth and Mars backdrops. In his own tally, it was the twenty-sixth story he had written and the nineteenth to actually reach print.
What is the central conflict of the story?
A colonist named Olaf Johnson carelessly explains the Santa Claus tradition to the Ossie workforce. The aliens then halt all mining operations and demand a personal visit from the jolly figure, turning a simple holiday anecdote into a corporate crisis.
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