This short story is the prequel to The Magi series of books - it includes a sample of the 1st novel 'The Magi'.When one of the most elusive criminals in the galaxy uses his power and his money to evade arrest, who you gonna call call?Who else but An Kohli, honoured member of the Guild of Bounty Hunters, pin up girl for police forces across the galaxy and scourge of the criminal classes.This short story is the prequel to The Magi series of books - it includes a sample of the 1st novel 'The Magi'.When one of the most elusive criminals in the galaxy uses his power and his money to evade arrest, who you gonna call call?Who else but An Kohli, honoured member of the Guild of Bounty Hunters, pin up girl for police forces across the galaxy and scourge of the criminal classes.But even An Kohli still has to get up close and personal before she can make an arrest, so when Biggar Fro hides out in a maximum security luxury hotel there are challenges to be faced and bodyguards to be overcome, not least of whom is a knee tremblingly good looking Aloisan by the name of Thomaso.

Ebenezer Smooge is a banker who worships money. His hapless clerk Scratchit ekes out a living while his wife Elisa makes end with a bit of “curtain making” on the side, so her twelve children will be fed. On Christmas Eve Ebenezer is visited first by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Harley, and then by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. But will Smooge change his ways?When Charles Dickens wrote his morality tale, A Christmas Carol, he couldn’t know about the banking crisis, fat cat bankers with six figure bonuses or the selling off of state owned assets at knock down prices, so I’ve had to take his story of misanthropy and redemption and update it a little bit.Ebenezer Smooge is a banker who worships money and luxuriates in the possessions that his wealth brings. He corrupts all he touches and will never do a good deed if a bad deed can be done. His hapless clerk Scratchit ekes out a living working long hours for poor while his wife Elisa makes end meet by supplementing her income with a bit of “curtain making” on the side, just so her twelve children will be fed.As in the original, on Christmas Eve Ebenezer is visited first by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Harley, and then by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Heeding the messages of these three shades Smooge wakes up on Christmas morning and sets out to enjoy the day along with everyone else.Does Smooge change his ways? Can a leopard change its spots? Read An Alternative Christmas Carol to find out.