[Ouroboros]

This stand-alone 1982 Martin novel melds horror with Twainesque adventure on the riverboats of old America and remains my favourite book by the author.

While I understand the fan base that a multi-book series like ASOIAF can develop, almost to the point of being a small industry, I actually found 'Fevre dream' a more unusual and rewarding read. It's not just a fine book, it's one of the most graceful stand-alone alternative fantasy novels I have ever read - not a princeling with a sword in sight...

I'm curious as to how many ASOIAF fans have read this, and what you think of it - as at work in this book is a rather more romantic Martin than many have come to be familliar with.

[Voland]

Read it and liked it a lot. Quite some time ago tho, and since then my brother or my dad managed to lose it so I can't reread it.


Speaking of Martin's other works, I am currently reading his RRetrospective, and it has had some really good stories. Now I have only read up until Meathouse Man and the material isn't, understandably, as good as asoiaf, or fevre dream for that matter, but he's still fairly early in his career. His quality shines through tho.

[rune]

I read this and liked it better than the fantasy series. I went onto the other after reading Fevres Dream only to be disappointed.

This is a really good book, very original :)

rune

[Evil Agent]

I'm definitely adding Fevre Dream to my "to-read list".

[Khallandra]

I haven't read it but I have read "Songs a Dead Man can Sing" which is a bunch of short stories :) Very morbid sotries mind you - Sandkings is the best :)

[Eldanuumea]

I am in the middle of Fevre Dream right now and am enjoying it tremendously. It is unlike any other vampire novel I've read.
The riverboat atmosphere is fascinatingly different from the usual.

I have been recommending it to everyone.

[AuntiePam]

I've read it twice. The sequence in the middle where the main character describes his vampire beginnings is riveting.

I liked Sandkings too. I keep hearing rumors that it will be filmed, either for a movie or TV. Wouldn't that be great?

The only Martin I haven't been able to get into is his SF novel, The Dying of the Light. It puts me to sleep every time I pick it up.

Try Armageddon Rag too -- it's sort of a supernatural thriller. Excellent.

[knivesout]

Isn't Sandkings a short story collection too? I picked it up recently, haven't got to it yet. I shall probably get Fevre Dream too, if I like his writing style. I'm afraid there's little chance of me reading his ongoing series because I avoid multi-volume epic fantasy like the plague these days.

[Ouroboros]

Auntie Pam-

'Sandkings' was filmed as an 'Outer Limits' TV movie in 1995, starring Beau Bridges and Helen Shaver. It was actually really really good. You might have trouble finding it these days, though...

Ironically, I'm actually re-reading 'Fevre Dream' at the moment, and its still an amazingly accomplished novel.

[AuntiePam]

I'll watch for it -- doesn't the SciFi channel rerun Outer Limits episodes?