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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Another book that I've been aware of for quite a long time but only just got around to reading. I think this was GRRM's second novel that he published (not counting the one he co-authored) and I think that shows a bit for sure. The writing is not nearly as polished as what we see in the ASOIAF books. I'm also not sure if GRRM really knows a southern accent enough to write it well as our main character, Abner Marsh, sounded a bit like a caricature of somebody speaking with a southern accent.
Additionally, this book really takes until about the 35-40% mark before it really gets interesting. Reader be warned; this book contains a LOT of instances of the n-word. I presume GRRM was going for period authenticity as the majority of this book not only takes place in the South but also from about 1850-1870. Nevertheless, I don't think this is a tack that any writer publishing today would choose to take (this book was published in 1982).
But overall, I did enjoy the book well enough. Once it got going, it kept me interested. It had a slightly unique take on the vampire mythology as to what vampires really are and what is and isn't true about them. This book also had some genuinely creepy bits and a good villain. I felt like the book went on a bit long; 400 pages but with a pretty small font. Seemed like the eventual ending could've happened on a few earlier points without losing much impact.
Anyways, my quest to find and read the best vampire book continues. Looks like a reread of The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman is up next.
Additionally, this book really takes until about the 35-40% mark before it really gets interesting. Reader be warned; this book contains a LOT of instances of the n-word. I presume GRRM was going for period authenticity as the majority of this book not only takes place in the South but also from about 1850-1870. Nevertheless, I don't think this is a tack that any writer publishing today would choose to take (this book was published in 1982).
But overall, I did enjoy the book well enough. Once it got going, it kept me interested. It had a slightly unique take on the vampire mythology as to what vampires really are and what is and isn't true about them. This book also had some genuinely creepy bits and a good villain. I felt like the book went on a bit long; 400 pages but with a pretty small font. Seemed like the eventual ending could've happened on a few earlier points without losing much impact.
Anyways, my quest to find and read the best vampire book continues. Looks like a reread of The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman is up next.
Exceptionally well-written, moving in that GRRM fashion, Fevre Dream begs to be read. It just oozes professionalism. I guess that's why he takes 2 weeks to write a chapter.
This is an old book, pre-Song of Ice and Fire, and based in Civil War-era United States.
It is a Vampire book... sort of.
There aren't any vampires, but there is a different race of semi-humanity that are vampire-like, and possibly inspired the vampire mythos in the South during the time of the Fevre Dream's run.
Joshua York is a compelling character, not a caricature like so many Vampire/Werewolf characters in fiction. He's a really interesting character, and the basis for the dramatic saga of the Fevre Dream, the Steamboat he commissions with the only character more interesting than him, Abner Marsh.
Marsh really steals the show. He's a fat, disgusting pig that you can't help but root for and respect. He's loyal to a fault and slow to adjust, but when he does, he's kind of a Dark Horse champion in his way. His crew of ruffians are top notch as well.
York and Marsh are quite the duo of dreamers. Their dreams are different, but their loyalty to one another is a beautiful thing to behold. I truly enjoyed both characters throughout.
I didn't expect to enjoy this near as much as I did, but I should have known that GRRM doesn't produce refuse. Well, regarding his books, that is.
I give this a solid 4.5, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads rating. Recommended.
This is an old book, pre-Song of Ice and Fire, and based in Civil War-era United States.
It is a Vampire book... sort of.
There aren't any vampires, but there is a different race of semi-humanity that are vampire-like, and possibly inspired the vampire mythos in the South during the time of the Fevre Dream's run.
Joshua York is a compelling character, not a caricature like so many Vampire/Werewolf characters in fiction. He's a really interesting character, and the basis for the dramatic saga of the Fevre Dream, the Steamboat he commissions with the only character more interesting than him, Abner Marsh.
Marsh really steals the show. He's a fat, disgusting pig that you can't help but root for and respect. He's loyal to a fault and slow to adjust, but when he does, he's kind of a Dark Horse champion in his way. His crew of ruffians are top notch as well.
York and Marsh are quite the duo of dreamers. Their dreams are different, but their loyalty to one another is a beautiful thing to behold. I truly enjoyed both characters throughout.
I didn't expect to enjoy this near as much as I did, but I should have known that GRRM doesn't produce refuse. Well, regarding his books, that is.
I give this a solid 4.5, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads rating. Recommended.
Brilliant stuff. Not quite in the five start category, but close. I wish people would write more vampire novels like this instead of the, well, poop that's dominating.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
GRRM always has great pride and always does his research on his subject. I learned a lot about steamboats and the Mississippi but also about his version of vampires.
Proper nasty vampires, no teen romances, just blood and fear and a really good story well told.
An entertaining not-vampire story with as many twists and turns as the river it's set in. Includes early examples of GRRM's writing style we would all come to love in ASOIAF, like sharp period dialogue and thorough cataloging of every meal eaten throughout the book.
This is an enjoyable book. It's might sound like a bit of a contradiction, but, while I had troubled putting it down because it is so enjoyable, I actually didn't find it to be anything special.
Gonna talk basics, then characters, then backdrop/content, finish up with plot and who I recommend it for. :)
George R.R. Martin is excellent at reeling people (namely me) in, and has a really good pacing in his books, and his diction choices flow pleasantly.
But, there is an elephant in the room: This is set on the cusp of when slavery is abolished and it is FULL of racist terms. Being against slavery or for it are used as part of the divide for the good guys and bad guys in this novel, good guys abolitionists, bad guys pro-slavery.
I can't speak to how offensive this is, or not, except to say that I think perhaps such a serious topic could have been a more main thread in the book even than it was.
So, on to characters.
The main character of this particular novel, Abnor Marsh, has a candor to him, and I found him at once unpleasant but likable. Marsh teams up with Joshua, who is smooth as silk and just as slippery. Very-very mild spoiler:
Spoiler
Even though it's obvious to the reader that Joshua is a vampire, the reveal to Abnor is slow, but this doesn't leave us with nothing to wonder at, because every other aspect of him you can't quite pin down, for at least the first half of the novel.The vile villain has a voice through his equally vile sidekick, named "sour bill", and you can feel good about hating them both.
There was a character whose portrayal I was very unenthused about. Valarie's annoyed dialogue.
George R.R. Martin is inconsistent in the writing of her, regular Valarie is regal but seductive, bold but also demurring and easily frightened. For 2 pages, she has cause to be angry and defensive, but instead she is portrayed as 'pissy' and 'prissy'. She basically "sasses" the main character instead of actually getting mad at him.
It felt like a massive stereotype, trying to show "a woman being annoyed", but instead acting like women's anger is always just useless fluffy bitching.
It's against the flow of the book itself and against the way the character had been portrayed before. It added nothing (NOTHING) to the story, and really pissed me right off.
I don't care if this book is on the old side, this is a note for any future author: Do better authors, do better.
This book also has a whole bunch of unusual content! I love unusual content. <3
This book has a lot about boats in it. I don't know much about boats, notably not about steamboats, so I have no idea about the accuracy of the novels portrayal of them, but, I do know it was detailed enough to make me feel like he probably did some research.
This part of the novel was probably my favourite, immersing us in the world of 'steamers' and the river life... This part made sure it didn't feel as much like just a vampire story, and more like it was really tied to the world, however because it's also so central to the main character, and the plot, if you find it boring then I'm afraid you're out of luck.
The basic plot is okay, but I found it kinda boring.
Over all I guess that's really all this book was, just okay. I read it and felt like it was kind of enjoyable, I liked that it had some new elements I hadn't seen done anywhere else, I liked that the characters were emotive, and even when I couldn't relate to them I could appreciate how they were feeling and 'see it' clearly. But there really wasn't much else to it.
The only theme that was really deep was the things about slavery, but I felt like that was not even a real subplot, it was certainly throughout the book in terms of presence, but it didn't feel like the emotions on the matter were clearly defined, and the opinions on the matter barely were either. Hardly mentioned in fact. Making it seem like it was almost an afterthought to deal with slavery as a concept and not just a backdrop.
Everything else, well... The vampires are cool. As far as vampires go they are closer to the kind I like. George tries to give some explanation for why they are the way they are, though sometimes it can be fun for your vampires to scream "Magic!" at you, and then drink your blood.
His lore on them isn't bad either.
Therefore, I think many vampire fans would enjoy this book. I think people who like George R.R. Martin for his writing style would find it is not marred by a genre change. Fans of the mariner lifestyle may also enjoy this. People who like a bit of suspense-action but can hack the idea of vampires thrown in. (non-supernatural ones)
However, over all, I would strongly caution people not to expect any deep wisdoms, this is definitely a book you read for enjoyment not philosophy. And it is fun, and fluffy with a bunch of blood.
Like: (Not for realzy) Blood flavoured cotton candy! :E
Very straightforward for a GRRM novel. GRRM does an excellent job putting the reader in the mind of a riverboatman in the mid 1800s, especially by adopting a dialect appropriate to the time -- that being said, there is a few very racist characters in this book who use the n-word liberally. It's got what I like in a vampire novel though, lore.