Christmas is dying! The Arctic ice is melting, and Santa's magic is failing. Are the two problems linked? With only a few days to go to Christmas Day, Santa sets off on a quest for answers.

Having lost his elves to oblivion and most of his flying reindeer, Santa is in a race against time to find out what is going on and devise a solution. Seeking out the wisdom of mortal humans, Santa meets an interesting host of characters along the way.

But his journey is far from easy. Attacked by a Polar Bear, punched in the face, arrested, and then on the run, he finds himself as Britain's most wanted criminal.

As Father Christmas performers are rounded up by the police, he ends up wandering alone around London, bereft of his magic. His quest has led him to a shocking truth about the very nature of Christmas and what it has become.

Worse still, he sees no way to fix the problem. Watching all this with interest is Death and his three brothers War, Pestilence and Famine.

Long have they sought an end to the jolly old red and white fool. Now they sense their chance is at hand.

But Death also senses something else - a new power rising as Santa's wanes. If he can ally himself with this new power, it would mean the complete destruction of Christmas and a new brother amongst their ranks.

If Death gets his way, there will be no joy and goodwill to all men - just more famine, war, pestilence, and of course, death. Thrust into this mix is Joel - brought into existence by forces beyond his control.

All he knows is he's on some sort of mission to save Christmas. He soon realises that he has three uncanny abilities - a winning personality, the ability to know things he should not, and the power to literally kick people into the future.

With Josh his driver, and Holly the West Highland Terrier, he sets off on a road trip across the United Kingdom. Following in Santa's wake and the chaos caused of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Joel sets about to bring balance back to Christmas.

But as Christmas Eve looms large, so does Joel's taste for power. The temptation of all that Christmas magic up for grabs, is overwhelming.

Offered a deal by Death that he can't refuse, Joel holds Santa's very existence in the palm of his hand and the very future of Christmas itself. As Joel discovers his true purpose, he realizes that he may have to sacrifice Santa after all, if his own plans are to succeed.

Approx 80 000 words. .