The Santaverse – An Original Christmas Story by Don McDonald

The Santaverse – An Original Christmas Story by Don McDonald

Author: Short Storyverses December 11, 2025 Duration: 25:52

BE AWARE: This is a family-friendly work of speculative fiction that asks: what if Santa Claus were something far stranger, and more wonderful, than we ever imagined? THose looking for a traditional Santa story may be disappointed.


In Santaverse, a brilliant researcher completes a quantum experiment that opens a door she never meant to find. What begins as a scientific breakthrough quickly turns into something stranger—and far more personal. On the other side of the connection is a presence that shouldn’t exist, a figure woven from equal parts myth, memory, and physics. And once contact is made, nothing in her world—or any world—stays simple.

Season’s Readings is just one corner of the Short Storyverses Multiverse, created for anyone who enjoys a thoughtful pause and a well-told tale. You can explore the rest of the multiverse at shortstoryverses.com.


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Curled up with a blanket as the days grow short, or maybe just seeking a moment of quiet charm in a busy week, you’ll find a perfect companion in Season's Readings-Christmas Stories and Holiday Tales. This podcast from Short Storyverses is less a broadcast and more an invitation to settle in by a imaginary hearth. Voice actor Don McDonald lends his warm, thoughtful narration to a carefully chosen mix of timeless classics and lesser-known original stories, each selected to capture the spirit of the winter holidays. While Christmas is a central joy here, the tales thoughtfully embrace the broader season, offering more than just a single day's celebration. The result is an audio experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh, a personal escape from the seasonal rush. Listening to this podcast is like rediscovering a beloved book of stories each year, where the familiar magic of a well-told tale can make any moment feel a bit more festive. It’s a gentle, heartening collection for anyone who believes the best part of the holidays is often found in the quiet moments and the stories we share.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 21

Season's Readings – Christmas Stories and Holiday Tales
Podcast Episodes
A Set of Poe – a Classic Holiday Tale by George Ade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
George Ade’s A Set of Poe follows Mr. Waterby, a man who wants just one indulgence: a beautifully bound set of Edgar Allan Poe. When his wife discourages the purchase, he spirals inward, convincing himself she must be se…
The Gift of the Magi – A Classic Christmas Story by O. Henry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:48
Some gifts arrive quietly, without ribbons, tags, or spectacle. They’re born in that private space between two people who love each other more than they love their own comfort. The Gift of the Magi is a story about that…
Reginald's Christmas Revel – a Classic Christmas Tale by Saki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:50
A holiday gathering, a knowing smile, and a narrator who sees more than he lets on. Reginald’s Christmas Revel blends elegance and humor in that unmistakable Saki way—light as champagne, sharp as its bubbles. A perfect s…