The 16 previously unpublished short stories of this collection, taken from
the beginning of Vonnegut's career, show a young author already grappling
with themes and ideas that would define his work for decades to come. "Girl
Pool" features typist Amy Lou Little, employee of the Kafkaesque Montezuma
Forge and Foundry Company, who is tasked with transcribing a plea for help
she receives on her Dictaphone from an escaped, dying murderer hiding
somewhere in the works of the company's cavernous factory. The tale reveals
Vonnegut investigating one of his recurring themes: the isolation brought
by technology and the necessity for basic humanity in the workplace.
The title story melds a sentimental meditation on the true meaning of
Christmas with elements of the mystery genre as a hard-nosed reporter stalks
the story of stolen nativity scene characters. While these early stories show
an author still testing the boundaries of his craft and obsessions, Vonnegut's
acute moral sense and knack for compelling prose are very much on display.
In the foreword, Dave Eggers calls Vonnegut "a hippie Mark Twain," which
perfectly captures an essential truth about this esteemed author.

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