Winter Solstice is something of a continuation of the more simple story by the same name in the Marion and Kristoph series. It is set in the same place and the same things happen in it – the ball, the speeches by the president, the trek up Melchus Bluff. This is a more extended story, though, taking in a lot of personal issues for Chrístõ.

This story is particularly about family. Chrístõ’s relationship with his half-brother is explored at the start, and his relationship with his father. The whole issue of his father making him stay at the Academy he hated for his own good says something about his upbringing. It probably is true that making him face up to the bullies did strengthen his character, although there could have been kinder ways. Ask any victim of playground bullying. Teachers taking a pro-active line against bullying is far better.

Much of this story is about the future, though, not the past. It is the subject of the President’s speech, and it is the subject that occupies Julia and Glenda while their men are taking part in the Rite. Cal is thinking about it all the time, too. Although he is happy to take part in the rituals, he doesn’t really want to be a part of the Time Lord lifestyle.

This story ended up being quite straightforward and uneventful, a place filler with lots of rich Gallifreyan tradition and some deep thought, but no action. At one point I did plan for something to happen within the Bluff that would cause problems for Chrístõ and Cal. I had several ideas in mind, but quite simply I had too much going on that week and it was easier to write the simple place filler story and keep the other ideas for another time.

http://www.pearsecom.co.uk/Marion/100/143solstice.htm