"
Fevre Dream" (1982, Poseidon Press) is a
novel by
fantasy and
science fiction author George R. R. Martin. The
author is best known for his current
epic fantasy series "
A Song of Ice and Fire", which started with the best-selling
novel "
A Game of Thrones".
"
Fevre Dream" is an earlier novel, originally published in 1982. The story is an odd combination of
historical fiction and
horror. The setting is the
southern United States in the middle of the 19th century. The
main character,
Abner Marsh, is a
steamboat captain working the
Mississippi trade. He is contacted by mysterious stranger
Joshua York to build and captain a
steamboat, which is to be named the "
Fevre Dream" after the river
Fevre (now renamed the
Galena). Eventually the true nature of
Joshua York is revealed and the story takes a darker twist.
Once again, "
Fevre Dream" is a much earlier novel in
George R. R. Martin's career, and it shows. The
style is not nearly as polished as his later works, and the
narrative sometimes seems to be almost improvised in structure. I finished the novel but would not give it more than a 6 out of 10. Recommended only for fans of the author. If you're new to Martin, start with "
A Game of Thrones" or "
Windhaven" instead.