Martin, George R.R.: Fevre Dream
Fevre Dream (1982)
Written by: George R.R. Martin
Genre: Horror
Pages: 334 (Trade Paperback)
Why I Read It: A couple of years ago, I had an idea for a vampire novel, which meant I wanted to immerse myself some in vampire fiction before really getting rolling (to make sure I wasn't reinventing the wheel, so to speak). I knew that Fevre Dream was Martin's take on vampires, and since I was already in love with A Game of Thrones, I knew I couldn't go wrong picking up this book. The only problem was that my own idea so sputtered and died, as did my desire to read vampire books, so Fevre Dream's been languishing ever since. But since October hit, I figured it'd be as good a time as any to read it.
The premise: ganked from BN.com: When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something’s amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn’t care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh’s dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won’t earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh’s concern-no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.
Marsh meant to turn down York’s offer. It was too full of secrets that spelled danger. But the promise of both gold and a grand new boat that could make history crushed his resolve-coupled with the terrible force of York’s mesmerizing gaze. Not until the maiden voyage of his new sidewheeler Fevre Dream would Marsh realize he had joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare...and mankind’s most impossible dream.
Here is the spellbinding tale of a vampire’s quest to unite his race with humanity, of a garrulous riverman’s dream of immortality, and of the undying legends of the steamboat era and a majestic, ancient river.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay, for the most part. I make some vague hints and reveal a tick about how Martin's vampires work, so if you're super-paranoid, just skip to "My Rating" and you'll be fine. Everyone else, onward!
I hate to admit, while I've read very few books utilizing such a setting (Cherie Priest's Dreadful Skin is the only other title that comes to mind), I'm rather fond of horror stories that take place on river boats. Maybe it's my personal fascination with the Titanic leaking through, that notion horror is so easy to come by when people are trapped on a boat in the middle of water. Martin utilizes the river boat setting to great and creative effect in Fevre Dream, despite the fact the book felt longer than it was.
Then again, this IS Martin. I don't think one can read something by him and not be bombarded with details: setting, world-building, and dressing. Every little detail of the Fevre Dream itself was lovingly rendered, which was appropriate, since Marsh was our limited third-person POV, but it's also appropriate because, hello, this is George R.R. Martin. Like I said, you can't read him and not escape detail.
But that attention to detail really helped immerse me into the world. And as I read, I really enjoyed knowing that vampires were involved, but not knowing the hows and the whys of Joshua's plan until it was actually revealed. Seeing how everything played out from there was exciting, because I couldn't fathom how Marsh could ever hope to succeed given his circumstances. Yet his ability to rise above his circumstances is what makes him such a noble character and one worth rooting for.
I also had to laugh when my husband saw I was reading a Martin book and made the snide remark that the main character would probably die in the first three chapters. Given how harsh A Song of Ice & Fire can be to its characters, I should've been prepared for things to go horribly, horribly wrong with Marsh's and Joshua's plans. Yet, when things DID go wrong, I was as shocked and sickened as they were, despite not being under any misconceptions that complications would surely arise. And I say surely because I knew I had a great number of pages to go, and something had to flesh out the rest of the novel, right?
Still though, seeing the horrors unfold was something of a delight. I rooted for certain characters to get what was coming to them and just die already. I was utterly fascinated by Martin's take on vampires and how said vampires are created (or, rather, not created). The notion of vampires living on river boat was just too genius and clever too, especially if one takes that notion and follows it all the way to the worst-case scenario. I love how history can provide all sorts of nooks and crannies for the supernatural to hide, and here, it's done to great effect. Little moments of humor felt just right, especially when Marsh was grumbling about learning Joshua's secret. There was also a moment where I couldn't help but wonder if Stephenie Meyer hadn't read this book before writing the birth scene in Breaking Dawn (and if she didn't read it, did she hear about it?). Then again, the idea of a vampire baby ripping its way out of its mother's womb isn't exactly a huge leap of creativity, but still. I'm glad to see Martin did it first. *** And this book is yet another example (we saw a different version of this in Kristen Painter's Blood Rights) where vampirism and sex isn't mutually exclusive. In fact, it's quite distinct. Feeding is to vampires is what sex is to humans on a certain level, and Martin maximizes the creepiness of that comparison in various ways.
The ending is a wee little bit abrupt, granted, and the pacing at times felt a little sluggish.
*** = Yes, I know that Bella's baby in Breaking Dawn had to be chewed out of her, but if that hadn't happened, it would've ripped its way out, yes?
My Rating: Good Read
But it's very, very close to Excellent. I shied away from that rating because I kept debating between the two, and if I have to debate, I suspect the lower rating ("Good Read" instead of "Excellent") is more appropriate. In this case, while I adored the world-building and sheer horror that went into Martin's vampires, as well as the historical detail and river boat setting, the narrative did drag at times, and the book felt longer than it was. Regardless, it's a very tense book, because there's always that whiff of danger, and the reader is never sure where it's going to strike, or how. And since it's Martin, the reader can never be sure if the good guys win or not, and that too makes for a tense read. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who want vampires who are not sparkly or romantic or full of angst. If you want monsters, Martin gives you monsters, and other shades besides. And as the main POV, Captain Marsh makes for a delightfully likable character, full of flaws though he is. It's a book I'm glad I got around to, especially this time of year!
Cover Commentary: I really like the spooky and eerie blues of the cover, and the little bat flying beside the river boat. But how dumb am I that it's taken me YEARS to figure out that the top panel is a nude woman lying on her side? I feel like such an oaf!
Next up: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson