Fevre Dream

By: George R. R. Martin

Narrated by: Ron Donachie

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.

Critic reviews

“A novel that will delight fans of both Stephen King and Mark Twain . . . darkly romantic, chilling and rousing by turns . . . a thundering success.”—Roger Zelazny

“An adventure into the heart of darkness that transcends even the most inventive vampire novels . . . Fevre Dream runs red with original, high adventure.”—Los Angeles Herald Examiner

“Stands alongside Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire as a revolutionary work.”—Rocky Mountain News

“Engaging and meaningful.”—The Washington Post Book World

A story with many twists and turns, enjoyed it!!!

What made the experience of listening to Fevre Dream the most enjoyable?

I had no idea if I would like this story but since I loved the author I took a chance and the narrator was new to me and I just loved this! He is one of the best narrators I have ever listened to and I sincerely hope he does many many more, I will buy them for certain. This story line was so full of unexpected twists and turns it just kept getting better. I thought it would be a typical vampire story but it certainly is not and even the ending seemed predictible and it was not, if this story should turn into a series like The Game of Thrones series I would be hooked yet again. Well done!! Marvelous narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

It kept surprising me over and over again.

What does Ron Donachie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is one of the best narrators I have ever listened to. He must do more books, his voice is easy on ears and his character changes are well done and believable and I would listen to his narrations again and again. I look forward to many many more years of enjoying his voices.

If you could take any character from Fevre Dream out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Julien if you are in to blood and Captn Marsh if your are in to booze and sour Billy for cannabalism. I connected with all of them, well done!!!

Any additional comments?

Offer more books with Ron Donachie's voice for George RR Martin's publications, they are a match made in heaven.

long live the cap'n and his beautiful steamboat!

Any additional comments?

martin can really spin a yarn, and donachie's performance is spot on! the characters are flawed and beautifully realized, most of them walking right off the page. i will certainly listen to this audiobook again some day.

Fantastic Treat

Well performed, quick and captivating.

I wanted to read a Vampire story that was new and fresh, although 35 years old, this re-wrote fantasticla history for me.

Anne Rice by way of Mark Twain

What did you love best about Fevre Dream?

I now love steamboats. I loved the A Song of Ice and Fire series but there's one thing that always bothered me about it: Martin's habit of describing everything everyone is eating and wearing. Every damn person's outfit and every damn course of every damn meal. After a while you learn to skip over it. Martin does the same thing in Fevre Dream, but in this novel it's actually a lot of fun! The novel is set on the Mississippi in the antebellum period and all the descriptions of the clothing, the food, the minutiae of the day to day operations of a steam ship give you a fun portrait of how things worked in a time that's far removed from our own but still relatable and recognizable. What does it take to crew a ship? How is the pilot different from the captain? What's the culture of steamboat people like? How does the river economy work? The book paints a beautiful portrait of a gruff, gritty, and exciting part of American history.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Abner Marsh. He's not brilliant but highly capable. He's gruff and surly in exactly the way you want a steamboat captain to be, but he's got a definite sense of grudging justice.

What does Ron Donachie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've listened to performances where the reader is clearly "doing voices" but with Ron I always heard the character, not the performer. It helps that the cast is rather small but the main characters are done expertly. Abner is surly yet confident, Joshua is regal and authoritative, Julian's voice is malevolent yet seductive, and Sour Billy you despise just from his voice.

If you could rename Fevre Dream, what would you call it?

Steamboat Vampire Adventure

Any additional comments?

If you love George R. R. Martin but don't feel like getting invested in a 15k page epic, throw on Fevre Dream. The pace is brisk, it doesn't overload you with world building (although the world is built in a different way), the character roster is manageable, and the whole thing is just a lot of fun!

Excellent!

The narrator did an amazing job of capturing the characters and telling the story. I felt well immersed and enjoyed it immensely.