"Set in 1857 along the muddy Mississippi, Fevre Dream introduces Abner Marsh, a remarkably ugly man who longs to captain the fastest steamboat on the river. When a pale, mysterious gentleman named Joshua--who keeps strange hours and stranger friends--approaches him with an offer of partnership, Abner's dreams appear to come true ... though he may have unleashed a nightmare on the unsuspecting shores!" --Page 4 of cover.