Everybody's heard of George R R Martin. After Game of Thrones he's got to be one of the most famous living writers. But not everyone has read him. Me, for instance - Fevre Dream is my first Martin, bought because it's a vampire novel and therefore my cup of tea.
It's certainly that. Abner Marsh is a steamboat owner down on his luck who dreams of captaining the fastest steamer on the Mississippi. Along comes the mysterious Joshua York, who offers him precisely that. Together, as partners, they create the Fevre Dream, using York's money and Marsh's expertise.
Things start going wrong on the maiden voyage. The fastest steamship on the river is constantly being delayed by York's nocturnal trips ashore. Marsh confronts his partner, who reveals the truth. I don't think it's giving too much away to say it's about vampires. I've already stated the fact - it's what drew me to the book. What kept me at the book, among many other things, is Martin's take on vampires, which includes the idea of the bloodmaster, the dominant vampire, the pale king. Is it Joshua or his rival, plantation owner Damon Julian. Well, one of them has Abner Marsh as his partner, the other Sour Billy Tipton. Marsh is said to be the ugliest man on the Mississippi but he's honest and honourable. Sour Billy runs him close in the looks department, but keeps his true, profound ugliness on the inside.
With this material Martin embarks on his forte, the adventure quest as full of twists and turns as the great river itself. He carries it off perfectly, his writing just sufficiently elevated to entertain the higher aspects of the reader's mind while the pounding plot grips the emotions. I liked it so much that I have already picked up what looks like a linked project edited by Martin. Mississippi Roll is a portfolio collection by other writers set aboard the steamship Marsh travels aboard after he has lost control of the Fevre Dream. I can't wait.
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