Christmas on Ganymede by Isaac Asimov Episode #47

Isaac Asimov | December 6, 2022

Christmas on Ganymede by Isaac Asimov Episode #47
Isaac Asimov

CHRISTMAS ON GANYMEDE

Episode #47 · Written by Isaac Asimov · Narrated by Scott Miller

On the frozen moon of Ganymede, one well-meaning worker spreads a little too much holiday cheer — and starts an interplanetary labor crisis. Now, with a colony’s future at stake, Santa Claus must somehow arrive… ready or not.

A Christmas celebration on Ganymede was never supposed to end in catastrophe. Olaf Johnson, homesick and full of good cheer, decides to explain the Earth holiday to the native “Ossies” — including the legend of Santa Claus, his flying reindeer, and his magical sleigh. The Ossies, being practical creatures with powerful unions, decide that they too deserve a visit from this generous Earth spirit… or else they’ll go on strike. Suddenly, the fate of a billion-credit mining operation depends on one very reluctant Santa and a handful of intoxicated alien “reindeer.”

Asimov turns this premise into one of his funniest and most endearing stories. “Christmas on Ganymede” blends satire and slapstick with genuine affection for human creativity. The tale captures a rare playful side of Asimov — engineers arguing over reindeer substitutes, spiny alien beasts tied to a makeshift antigravity sleigh, and a commander forced to treat myth as mission-critical logistics. It’s a warm, absurd, and deeply human story about how belief, misunderstanding, and determination can create miracles, even when no one meant them to.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was born near Smolensk, Russia, and immigrated to the United States as a child. He grew up in Brooklyn, where he fell in love with science fiction magazines at his family’s candy store. A biochemist, teacher, and master explainer, Asimov wrote or edited over 500 books spanning fiction, science, history, and literature. His works — from I, Robot to Foundation — helped define modern science fiction, shaping its tone of rational wonder and speculative logic. Even in humorous pieces like this one, Asimov’s precision and warmth remind us that curiosity is the best gift humanity can give itself.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Christmas on Ganymede by Isaac Asimov — a classic science fiction comedy where Santa Claus must save a mining colony’s future on frozen Ganymede.