Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: I'm not one who gets into historical, vampire novels especially set in New Orleans (I absolutely abhor Anne Rice), but George R. R. Martin's Fevre Dream sets a new standard for vampire tales. Fevre Dream is a steam boat built in New Albany, Indiana, on the Ohio River right before the Civil War. One reviewer stated that the first 50 pages are rather slow, but I found them to be fascinating. I live in a river town located on the Ohio River, so the historical research of the Ohio River and steam boats fascinated me. In fact, it's motivated to reread Mark Twain. To summarize the story, Joshua was the educated leader of a race of vampires who wanted to break away from hunting humans for sustenance. He desired to take his followers to a new "dusk," to live peacefully amongst humans and learn from them. To many vampires he was the prophetic "vampire messiah" who would lead his race to a subterranean dark city built by their ancestors. Joshua (ironically, the name of successor to Moses, who led the Isrealites into the Promised Land), had developed an elixir of animal blood and wine, that quenched the blood thirst so vampires would not have to hunt humans. Joshua financed the building of Fevre Dream and used it to gather his vampires on board and introduce them to his philosophies of peace and non-violence. Of course, Joshua had an evil nemesis, a vampire who was the head of another clan, who enjoyed the blood-hunt, the killing of innocents, and drinking their life force, and who violently opposed Joshua's altruistic endeavors. This vampire was a little more powerful and appealed to the other vampires' inherent bloodlust. The battle between the two opposing forces built to a dramatic climax at the end of the book. Martin did a great job of developing a likeable human character named Abner, who was the captain of Fevre Dream. Abner suffered a great financial loss when a bad winter caused him to lose most of his boats. His company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Joshua made Abner "an offer that he couldn't refuse." Abner allowed Joshua to finance and build his dream ship, but under the stipulation that he would call all of the shots. Abner sold out, so he could live out his life on the fastest, most powerful steam boat on the Ohio and the Mississippi. He lived to regret his decision. Abner became suspicious of his new partner's behavior, sleeping through the day, coming out only at night, long nonscheduled stops in small cities along the river, coming back with blood on him, and bringing strange individuals on board his ship who also had nocturnal habits. Abner discovered the truth and had to decide to help Joshua or abandon him. In my opinion, Abner was a likeable character who made the novel better. Though I enjoyed the story, I have to agree with F. Paul Wilson, that there is "no such thing as a noble vampire." However, the book is not far fetched. The book is wonderfully written and will hold your interest until the very end. As I mentioned, I'm not a great fan of vampire novels since there are so many of them out there, and most of them are bad, but I have read a few good ones. If you like Fevre Dream, Try reading F. Paul Wilson's The Keep and Midnight Mass. Robert McCammon's They Thirst and his anthology Under the Fang. Richard Laymon's The Traveling Vampire Show, The Stake, and Bite. And finally, the granddaddy of them all, Richard Matheson's I Am Legend.
Rating:
Summary: Too Good to be True...
Review: It may seem a strange concept at first. Who would have thought that a book about vampires on the Mississippi would be so magical?
Let me assure you, that this is better than Dracula and Tom Sawyer combined. This is without a doubt the greatest vampire novel ever written.
For years we have had to endure Anne Rice's take on vampires, and not that she is bad, but Mr. Martin gives us what we really want to read. There are no frilly vampires in this book that whine and complain as in Mrs. Rice's books. Instead we have a little bit of horror, a dash of history, and quite possibly the most memorable ending line that I have ever read. There is a quote from "If You Could Read my Mind" (a song by Gordon Lightfoot) that aptly applies to this book.
It goes: "...You won't read that book again because the ending is just to hard to take..." ...and it truly was. I seldom cry at the conclusion of a story, but no matter how many times I read this masterpiece, the tears continue to swell...
Read this book. You will never forget it, and you will compare all other vampire tales to it, and you will find them sorely lacking... Thank You Mr. Martin.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable
Review: It's been a very long time since I took the time to write a book review. I decided to offer this one because of many of the comments already made. The novel is exactly as people have said: It sticks with you. I read it at least ten years ago, then my copy vanished. That's bizarre, for me, seeing as I have almost every book I have purchased since I was in grade school.
And yet I remember it clearly. Clear enough to be researching it once again, looking for another copy and some info on the author.
It's a page turner. One of those books "you can't put down". The kind that causes you to yell at people to go away if they interrupt you. The characters become people you know, and the ending is as haunting as any I have read. It's an ending that comes too soon and leaves you wanting more. I hope that the author is indeed working on a follow-up. It's a story that definitely deserves it.
One of the best vampire novels ever written, and light-years ahead of anything Rice has done on her best day.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Really Up My Alley
Review: Martin is my favorite author, but Fevre Dream wasn't really up my alley. I figured that since I loved Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, a similar novel by George would have to be at least as good. Maybe I just had my hopes up too high for this one. It was still decent, but I couldn't help but feel that Interview just had it outclassed on so many levels. My main problem with this book, was the same problem I had with Dying of the Light... the pacing. It was just very slow. Maybe I'm just a shallow reader who needs more action in his literature. The Song of Ice and Fire novels, Tuf Voyaging, Armageddon Rag, and almost all of his short stories were simply outstanding, so I'm having a little trouble putting my finger on any other reasons why I didn't like this book. However, as you can tell by its rating, it certainly has it's fans here, so I'll end off just by saying that if you didn't care for Dying of the Light, you probably won't care for this one either, and visa versa. Its out of print in the US, so just get it from the library if you must read it, then buy it only if you liked it.
Rating:
Summary: Southern vampire tale richly backlit by the Steamer trade
Review: Taking place in 1857, this story is about Abner Marsh, who is owner of the Fevre River Packet Company, and once held a profitable steamboat business upon the Mississippi River. But one foul winter and a freezing river crippled his fleet and left him with nothing but his reputation as a formidable captain, and honest tradesman, and the ugliest man on the river. He is down to one lowly boat that travels only on the Illinois, and that one fading fast, when he is approached by Joshua York, a pale, enigmatic businessman who makes an offer of partnership with Abner. York makes an offer far above what the Fevre River Packet Company is worth, but tells Abner that it is because of his desire to own and operate a real steamboat, and be captain though Abner would run the daily functions and pilot the boat. With Abner's experience and York's money, they come to an agreement to build the finest steamboat on the Mississippi, The Fevre Dream. Crewed with the best, she sets out from New Albany towards New Orleans, stopping first in St. Louis. Abner had not batted much of an eyelash when York first mentioned that he and his "guests" would be traveling up and down the river with him, his lust for owning a large, luxurious steamer that could beat The Eclipse's speed driving away the warning from York that he could be a bit...peculiar. For York is a vampire, and is on a quest of his own. He has developed a drink that staves off the Vampire's hunger for flesh, and has a dream of turning his people away from the killing of humans. But working against him is Damon Julian, and his pack of hungry followers, who believe that the old ways are the good ways. Also with Julian is Sour Billy Tipton, their human servant who assists them in acquiring what they need and protecting them. Little by little, things begin to unravel, and by the time Julian and Sour Billy join up with Joshua York on The Fevre Dream, Abner has come to realize his dream of running the biggest and fastest steamer on the Mississippi was nothing more than a dream, and that his desires had blinded him to the reality of York's mission. This is a unique vampire story, appropriate for both vampire purists and vampire modernists; actually staging a battle between the two factions. Should vampires want to mingle amongst the human population, or should they retain their status as feeders and monsters? By taking this approach and placing it in the 1850's South amid the lively steamboat trade up and down the Mississippi River, Martin has created a creepy and exceptional tale of languid horror in a lush backdrop. This is a not to be missed novel whether you love vampire books or creepy southern tales. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Southern vampire tale richly backlit by the Steamer trade
Review: Taking place in 1857, this story is about Abner Marsh, who is owner of the Fevre River Packet Company, and once held a profitable steamboat business upon the Mississippi River. But one foul winter and a freezing river crippled his fleet and left him with nothing but his reputation as a formidable captain, and honest tradesman, and the ugliest man on the river. He is down to one lowly boat that travels only on the Illinois, and that one fading fast, when he is approached by Joshua York, a pale, enigmatic businessman who makes an offer of partnership with Abner. York makes an offer far above what the Fevre River Packet Company is worth, but tells Abner that it is because of his desire to own and operate a real steamboat, and be captain though Abner would run the daily functions and pilot the boat. With Abner's experience and York's money, they come to an agreement to build the finest steamboat on the Mississippi, The Fevre Dream. Crewed with the best, she sets out from New Albany towards New Orleans, stopping first in St. Louis. Abner had not batted much of an eyelash when York first mentioned that he and his "guests" would be traveling up and down the river with him, his lust for owning a large, luxurious steamer that could beat The Eclipse's speed driving away the warning from York that he could be a bit...peculiar. For York is a vampire, and is on a quest of his own. He has developed a drink that staves off the Vampire's hunger for flesh, and has a dream of turning his people away from the killing of humans. But working against him is Damon Julian, and his pack of hungry followers, who believe that the old ways are the good ways. Also with Julian is Sour Billy Tipton, their human servant who assists them in acquiring what they need and protecting them. Little by little, things begin to unravel, and by the time Julian and Sour Billy join up with Joshua York on The Fevre Dream, Abner has come to realize his dream of running the biggest and fastest steamer on the Mississippi was nothing more than a dream, and that his desires had blinded him to the reality of York's mission. This is a unique vampire story, appropriate for both vampire purists and vampire modernists; actually staging a battle between the two factions. Should vampires want to mingle amongst the human population, or should they retain their status as feeders and monsters? By taking this approach and placing it in the 1850's South amid the lively steamboat trade up and down the Mississippi River, Martin has created a creepy and exceptional tale of languid horror in a lush backdrop. This is a not to be missed novel whether you love vampire books or creepy southern tales. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This unique novel is definitely one of the best I've ever read. It's a completely different take on the legend of vampires. Martin's vampires are not undead humans, but rather the remains of an ancient warrior species similar to, but, in some ways different from, man. His vampires don't sleep in coffins, nor are they vulnerable to things like garlic and holy water. They are, however, light sensitive, and, most importantly of all, they have a thirst for blood. It's the struggle of one of these vampires to lift the curse of that thirst that drives the story. "Fevre Dream", though, isn't really about vampires, it's about the struggle for acceptance, and, most of all, friendship. It's the friendship between the crusading vampire and an old Mississippi riverboat captain named Abner Marsh that is the center of this fast-moving tale. Martin creates a wonderful sense of atmosphere throughout, with his story racing through a background of life on the Mississippi river in the 19th Century. The author keeps us interested throughout with a series of twists and turns that throw our two friends together, tear them apart, then toss them together again as they join the struggle to end the thirst and bring vampires as much into the human world as possible. And, the last few pages are simply some of the most touching prose I've ever read. A super read. If you can get a copy, do so, though I'm certainly not giving up mine. Oh, and I e-mailed the author a few years ago to complement him on this work. I was shocked that he wrote me back and said that he's been considering a sequel to "Fevre Dream". We'll have to wait, though, as he mentioned that he would be tied up with a fantasy series, which turned out to be the excellent "Song Of Fire And Ice." We'll wait, George, and thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely a memorable dream.
Review: While i admit the first half of the book, about 150 pages, might be slow going and cookie cutter, the book really kicks into steam after that.
The last half blows by and leaves you thirsting for more. The ending to this book, as others have said before me, is extremely sad and its closing lines are truly beautiful.
Sadly though, this book is out of print and might be tough to come by, i ordered mine through Amazon UK.
You might also want to check out Martin's current series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which overcomes Fevre Dreams brilliance in my opinion.
And i also heard Martin is maybe thinking of doing a follow up novel to Fevre Dream...
We can dream cant we?
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