

His earlier books were really speculative fiction crossing genre lines in unpredictable ways, always character-driven, and they always make you rethink what you thought you knew about genres. Another of the author's early and decidedly different than the normal approach to horror fiction - this one about vampires taking refuge on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. This story was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. The Near Fine price clipped dustjacket is crisp, clean, bright and unfaded but has 3 'very' tiny edge nicks. The spine ends are a tiny bit folded from shelving but the cloth is not at all limp or worn. Near Fine clean, straight and very tight (unread) book bound in blue cloth with silver gilt spine lettering, with no soiling or wear but with 2 very small, faint smudges to page edges - the page edges otherwise squeaky clean and text paper untoned. A solid copy of this collectible first edition first printing title, that feels great in the hand and looks very nice on the shelf in the archival fitted cover. Note we do not use stock images, the book pictured is the book described. This book is fitted with a non adhesive archival quality book protector to make a quality addition to your collection. For grading accuracy books are photographed without a protective book cover. The rear panel has a couple of very small rubs. The spine ends are crimped, and there is a 8 mm tear with associated crease to the head. There is a rub to the head of the front joint. There are two 12mm closed tears to the top edge of the front panel. The fore-edge corners are a little rubbed. Jacket is in very good condition, but is smart. Previous owners book plate to front pastedown, partially hidden by front jacket flap. A tight clean first edition, first printing, signed and inscribed by George RR Martin on the title page. Imagine Bram Stoker, Stephen King and Mark Twain all rolled into one for George RR Martin's third novel published back in 1982, way before steampunk became its own genre. DJ is bright with an open chip at upper front flap-fold and shallow chipping at base of spine. Original DJ with $14.95 price intact on flap.

On the bottom page edges of this edition, Simon & Schuster's sower emblem is stamped. Simon & Schuster, parent company of Poseidon Press, uses their famous sower emblem as their logo. Pages lay tight in seemingly unread condition. Pages and endpapers are bright and clean. Minor shelf-rubbing to one corner tip with one bumped corner-tip on rear board otherwise about fine.

Red cloth binding over black paper-covered boards. Martin on the title page: To _, Warm Regards -Keep Your Steam Up. Signed and inscribed by author George R.R. First edition, first printing with a full numberline down to 1.
