Rating: 
Summary: Book left lasting impression
Review: I read this book when it first came out and have always been surprised that no one ever made a movie out of it. I loved the unlikely friendship that developed between Abner and Joshua.
The author brilliantly weaved a tale of horror with 19th century
riverboats as the background. For me, this story magically came to life and I could almost smell the stench of stagnant water when the two protagonists caught up with the evil vampires in a deteriorating southern mansion.
I have often mentioned the plot of this book to acquaintances over the years as one of the best treatments of vampires vs humans.
The ending of the book was satisfying to me also. I read "Interview With a Vampire" by Anne Rice at about the same time and while I enjoyed the book, this one appealed to my emotions in a more positive way. Great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what you'd expect
Review: I am not a fan of the vampire mythos, having seen only one vampire movie and never read any novel on the subject prior to this one. Like many who have read or are considering reading "Fevre Dream", I would not even have looked at it twice if it was written by any other author. But George R. R. Martin is the man, as they say, and I would gladly read anything he produced.
With that said, "Fevre Dream" is not your typical Martin novel. To put it as simply as possible, this book doesn't have the same attitude as his other stuff. There are no tough-as-nails fighters strutting their hilarious one-liners before entering a fight scene. "Fevre Dream" focuses on atmosphere. While it packs plenty of action, gory fight scenes and dramatic riverboat chaces, the book's reason for existence is the personalities that drive the story. The main characters dominate every scene, and their conflicts are truly larger than life. Regrettably, most minor characters are left drifting without much personality.
The writing is mid-range, again below the standard you'd expect from Martin. At this early point in his career he hadn't yet become a true master of dialogue. While the exchanges come across as mostly competent and believable, they lack that special zing you'll find in Martin's later books.
As always, Martin does in for details. I have to applaud him for the tremendous amount of research that must have gone into this work. For instance, he mentions the Galt House hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, a place where I've actually stayed, and he even gets the color of the roof tiles right. After finishing "Fevre Dream", you'll certainly know quite a bit more about life on Mississippi riverboats than you did at the start. And you'll have read a pretty good story, all things considered.
Rating:
Summary: An Enjoyable Read
Review: I discovered Martin a few years back with the Song of Ice and Fire Trilogy. I don't believe there is a comparable author today that can match his brilliant writing style. He keeps you hooked, adds enough description and plot to satisfy many readers. This effort was as pleasing, even though a very different setting. You find yourself visually there every step of the way and once you start reading it, you will NOT be able to put it down. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys adventure, mystery, the supernatural, U.S. History and just a plain good time. You will not be disappointed and will think about the book for days after you finish.
Rating:
Summary: Reprint of a unique vampire tale.
Review: I first discovered Martin in his recent fantasy work, "A Song of Ice and Fire". Having an interest in vampire literature, I dicovered his out of print book, "Fevre Dream". It took awhile to track down a copy, but it was well worth the effort. Now that it's been reprinted, I hope that many others will be exposed to this unique take on the vampire myth.
The setting is perfect, the Mississippi River during the steamboat era... New Orleans. The descriptions are less clinical, and much more 'sensory'. You can quite easily imagine being in the scenes described. The vampires in the book are given a more 'natural' feel than in most vampire myths and in many ways this adds to the horror of the story. Make no mistake, this is a horror novel. It is dark and at times very hard to read due to the imagery which oftentimes is made more shocking due to focusing on a different sense than would be expected. A sound or smell instead of sight.
The sideplots are almost as compelling as the overarching one, such as the attempts to make the steamboat of the story a famous name on the Mississippi. Martin has a knack for ending a story with an indelible image (something he did in "Dying of the Light", also a recent reprint), and he has done so here.
Very highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: good characters slow story
Review: I love vampire novels, and I had really high hopes for Fevre Dream. Perhaps too high. I had read comments that claimed the book was equal in quality to 'salem's Lot and The Hunger, and had always held off reading Fevre Dream until I wanted a really special experience.
The first big disappointment was finding out the 'vampires' were not of the supernatural kind - the wholly unnaturally evil, utterly damned sort - but I adjusted and hoped the plotting and narrative drive would make up for this. It didn't, and that was my second big disappointment.
It was very good quite often but not brilliant. The author was aiming for an epic, which he only occasionally achieved. In his characterisation, however, he did much better. Abner Marsh was a grittily realistic, larger than life, yet sympathetic individual, and to a lesser degree so was Joshua York. The two evil characters were truly evil - I won't be forgetting Sour Billy Tipton and Damon Julian for awhile. Joshua's girlfriend Valerie provides the only truly terrifying moment. But it is Abner that makes the book a good one ultimately, he is the reason why the novel's epilogue is so moving.
A good novel but the potential was there for a much better one. Read it on a slow winter's night to get the full effect, don't expect the earth, and perhaps you will enjoy yourself so much you'll wonder what I'm quibbling about.
Rating:
Summary: good characters slow story
Review: I love vampire novels, and I had really high hopes for Fevre Dream. Perhaps too high. I had read comments that claimed the book was equal in quality to 'salem's Lot and The Hunger, and had always held off reading Fevre Dream until I wanted a really special experience. The first big disappointment was finding out the 'vampires' were not of the supernatural kind - the truly evil, utterly damned sort - but I adjusted and hoped the plotting and narrative drive would make up for this. It didn't, and that was my second big disappointment. It was very good quite often but not brilliant. The author was aiming for an epic feel, which he occasionally achieved, and good characterisation, and here he succeeded. Abner Marsh was a grittily realistic, larger than life, yet sympathetic individual, and to a lesser degree so was Joshua York. The two evil characters were truly evil - I won't be forgetting Sour Billy Tipton and Damon Julian for awhile. Joshua's girlfriend Valerie provides the only truly terrifying moment. But it is Abner that makes the book a good one ultimately, he is the reason why the novel's epilogue is so moving. A good novel but the potential was there for a much better one. Read it on a slow winter's night to get the full effect, don't expect the earth, and perhaps you will enjoy yourself so much you'll wonder what I'm quibbling about.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: I normally hate vampire books... because they're more romance novels than fictional adventures. And the only reason i picked up this book, is because i've been absolutely hooked on GRR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. But i have to say, this book is absolutely amazing. I thought the only reason why Martin was able to recreate medieval life so accurately and amazingly in Song of Ice and Fire was because he must have been a medieval buff or expert... and maybe he is, but that means he must also be a Mississipi steamboat expert as well, because his writing is almost like he lived the time. Heck, i think i would have given this book 5 stars even if it wasn't about vampires and lacked any plot, and it was simply a diary or recounts of somebody from that time.I won't spoil the book, but if you truly want to be transported to another time, this book is definitely for you.
Rating:
Summary: One of the great vampire masterpieces
Review: I waited two long years for this book to roll into my favorite used sci-fi and horror bookstore. The day it came I raced home and read it until I was finished. It is a well crafted story. This book takes place on a boat on the Mississippi river--prehaps an unexpected place for a vampire tale. The characters a fueding an almost good against evil--it works wonderfully in this story. The characters in this novel are well constructed and enjoyable to get to know. The plot is well defined, complex, and detailed. All I can say is that this is a great story. I urge anyone to try to get a copy if they can. I often feel like so many times like Fevre Dream was unfairly put out of print. If you can find it, I hope you enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant.
Review: I'm an obsessed horror fan and I read everything I can get my hands on, but oddly enough I don't care for vampire fiction all that much. It's a subject that's been done to death in my opinion and as a rule it kind of bores me. (With some exceptions, of course.) For years, I passed over Martin's FEVRE DREAM, thinking it was just "another vampire novel". But if you are lucky to come across a copy of this novel, don't make the same mistake I did. FEVRE DREAM is far more than just a vampire novel. It is a brilliant novel, period. I was so spellbound by this book, my house could have fallen down around me while I was reading it, and I probably would not have noticed. By the time I turned the last page, it had ranked itself as one of the best novels I have ever read. George R.R. Martin skills as a storyteller are unparalleled. I'm actually jealous of the fantasy and sci fi fans who've had his attention over the years. FEVRE DREAM has all the elements of the great classics of literature: larger than life characters, a perilous journey, and a story that sweeps you away like the river it is set upon... In a nutshell, it is a tale of vampires clashing on a steamboat in the 1850's. Two "bloodmasters", Joshua York and Damon Julian, are on a collision course of ideals and philosophy, and God help all those who are witness to it. The river will run with blood before it is all over... I'll never forget the cast of characters: the cruel and sick Sour Billy, the beloved curmudgeon Cap'n Abner Marsh, Hairy Mike Dunn, Joshua York, or Tobey the cook. I have never used the word "masterpiece" in a book review, but this book merits the term. Highest recommendation. You'll never forget this book once you turn the last page, I guarantee it.
Rating:
Summary: Martin's quality as a writer shines through.
Review: I'm like many readers who know George R.R. Martin from his fantasy books. I think he's one of the best fantasy writers currently active-- the series Song of Ice and Fire is one of the best going at the moment. I picked this book up because I was curious to see what his take would be on vampires, and while I don't find that it has all the strength of his fantasy novels (_Fevre Dream_ is a very early novel for Martin) it still doesn't disappoint. _Fevre Dream_ is a historical novel, set in the grand days of the Mississippi steamboat captains. The experienced but unlucky captain Marsh takes a strange business partner-- Joshua York. York is an intelligent book-reading man who has the unusual habit of sleeping by day. Anticipates the better-known Rice vampire novels in the idea of a vampire at war with its own nature. _Fevre Dream_ is intelligent and well-written-- well worth reading for both established Martin fans and fans of the vampire novel in general.
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