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Operation: Sugarplum
Clara just wanted to meet her idol. She didn't expect to have video game bad guys come after her in real life.
Clara Steele is thrilled when game developer Max Drosselmeier invites her to test out his new virtual reality system and the game Operation: Sugarplum. But Max didn't warn her about his tendency to accidentally pull characters out of his games and into the real world.
Instead of finishing her Christmas shopping, Clara finds herself attacked by a pixelated seven-headed Rat King intent on taking her back to his castle.
If Clara and Max can't lure the Rat King back into the game and defeat him on his own turf, they might end up as rat food rather than making it to Christmas dinner.
Originally published in the Christmas: Australis anthology, Operation: Sugarplum is a modern retelling of The Nutcracker with an Australian twist.
Clara Steele is thrilled when game developer Max Drosselmeier invites her to test out his new virtual reality system and the game Operation: Sugarplum. But Max didn't warn her about his tendency to accidentally pull characters out of his games and into the real world.
Instead of finishing her Christmas shopping, Clara finds herself attacked by a pixelated seven-headed Rat King intent on taking her back to his castle.
If Clara and Max can't lure the Rat King back into the game and defeat him on his own turf, they might end up as rat food rather than making it to Christmas dinner.
Originally published in the Christmas: Australis anthology, Operation: Sugarplum is a modern retelling of The Nutcracker with an Australian twist.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2020
About the author
Emily Wrayburn
5 books42 followersEmily has been writing since the age of six, but only recently developed the skill of finishing the projects that she starts (and even then, only sometimes). She is currently studying for a Masters in Museum and Heritage Studies and works as a reference librarian. In her spare time she can be found watching Doctor Who or curled up on the couch with a hot chocolate and a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 8, 2020
A clever new twist on an old fairytale
Operation: Sugarplum is a clever retake of the Nutcracker. Wrayburn has imbued the well known fairytale with a fabulous new context and the world slides effortlessly through your mind. She's woven a hot Christmas in Australia with some fantastic weird elements, and given Clara, Max, and the Rat King a new lease on life.
I'll be looking for more from Wrayburn and Drosselmeier Industries.
A great fun short read.
Operation: Sugarplum is a clever retake of the Nutcracker. Wrayburn has imbued the well known fairytale with a fabulous new context and the world slides effortlessly through your mind. She's woven a hot Christmas in Australia with some fantastic weird elements, and given Clara, Max, and the Rat King a new lease on life.
I'll be looking for more from Wrayburn and Drosselmeier Industries.
A great fun short read.
December 17, 2023
I loved this fun, festive, contemporary Australian retelling of the Nutcracker. It has everything—a delightful burgeoning romance, VR adventures, and a giant many-headed rat king!
November 15, 2020
What a fabulously enjoyable novella. Video games come to life? I love the idea. Clara is invited by Max Drosselmeier to test his new VR game and she has a fabulous time playing the game with the handsome IT nerd. But when the evil rat king comes to life, Clara finds out that virtual reality is not all that virtual. To stop the Rat King attacking her in real life Clara must join Max back in the virtual world to fight the Rat King and win... otherwise Christmas dinner won't be happening this year. The pacing and action works really well for this short tale, but it doesn't leave the reader feeling rushed. A great book for a great escape or a short getaway. Enchanting.
November 24, 2020
A fun story that explores what would happen if video game characters came to life. While attending a work Christmas party, Clara meets Max, a young genius gamer working on a secret virtual reality project. When the two play, they let loose the Rat King and must work together to put him back where he belongs. It’s a fun, quick read, with great chemistry between Clara and Max, two characters I’d love to see more of in future stories.
March 13, 2022
Fun and well written! I can't wait to read more in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews