I picked up 'Sugar Plum' expecting a light, quirky tale. What I got was a surprisingly sharp and creepy story that packs a lot into a few pages. Reginald Bretnor, best known for his humorous 'Feghoot' stories, shows a darker side here, and it completely hooked me.

The Story

The plot is straightforward but effective. Jim, a newspaper editor in a remote mining town, meets a young woman who calls herself Sugar Plum. She appears vulnerable and sweet, quickly winning over the tough locals. But Jim soon notices strange things. People who cross Sugar Plum have sudden, devastating 'accidents.' The town's mood shifts, becoming paranoid and controlled. Sugar Plum isn't just a girl; she's a powerful psychic with a cruel streak, and she's decided this town is hers to play with. The story becomes a tense cat-and-mouse game as Jim, one of the few people immune to her influence, tries to figure out what she really is and how to stop her before there's nothing left of his community.

Why You Should Read It

What I loved most was the atmosphere. Bretnor builds a real sense of creeping dread. The horror isn't from monsters in the dark, but from a smiling girl in the daylight who twists people's minds. It's a brilliant take on the idea of absolute power. Sugar Plum is a fascinating villain—charming, utterly ruthless, and all the more terrifying because she enjoys her control. Jim is a great, relatable hero; he's not a super-soldier, just a decent guy using his wits. The story also makes you think about group mentality and how easily a society can be corrupted from within by someone who promises comfort in exchange for freedom.

Final Verdict

'Sugar Plum' is a hidden gem. It's perfect for fans of classic, thought-provoking science fiction and psychological horror. If you enjoy episodes of 'The Twilight Zone' or stories by authors like Theodore Sturgeon, where the speculative element exposes something ugly about human nature, you'll devour this. It's a short, potent read that proves a story doesn't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impression. Just be warned: you might side-eye overly friendly strangers for a while after finishing it.