2017 science fiction anthology collecting stories in the Chronicles
of St Mary's series (time travel).
I've read a couple of these before as individual publications,
but this is the collection of all the short fiction; they've all come
out as distinct ebooks, often at Christmas. It's mostly fairly short
and light, and largely avoids the heavy emotional trauma of recent
entries in the main line of novels.
"When a Child is Born" has a team sent to observe
the coronation of William I (on Christmas Day 1066). Things go awry,
of course, and they end up interfering in something they shouldn't
have been anywhere near. Good fun.
"Roman Holiday" has the team sent in to observe Caesar shortly before
his assassination, and preventing a different assassination.
"Christmas Present" gives a surprising depth to what's basically a
cross-time rescue. (And Boudicca gets involved.)
"Ships and Stings And Wedding Rings" (previously reviewed) is a pleasingly lightweight
diversion with an unusual bit of medical research in it.
"The Very First Damned Thing" is the story of Bairstow's setting up of
St Mary's – carefully never admitting that he is a time traveller himself.
"The Great St Mary's Day Out" (previously reviewed) was nearly titled
"The Man Who Dropped Shakespeare".
"My Name is Markham" has the team putting on a Christmas entertainment
for children, and if you're read any of these books you'll know what a
terrible idea that is.
"A Perfect Storm" has the TV people visiting, and needing to be kept
sweet (while nobody admits the time travel thing of course).
There's nothing astounding here; "The Very First Damned Thing" fills
in some background in an interesting way, but it's not essential for
appreciating the stories. Good fun, though.
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