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Dreamsongs by George R.R. Martin
01/06/2007 . Source: Paul Skevington 
pub: Gollancz. 1185 page hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07905-3. Buy Dreamsongs in the USA - or Buy Dreamsongs in the UK  check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk
For those of us waiting eagerly for the next instalment of George R.R. Martin's 'A Song Of Ice And Fire' series, this mammoth tome will be a welcome way to spend the time until 'A Dance Of Dragons' hot-steps its way onto your local bookstore's shelves.
'Dreamsongs' is a selection of short stories and novellas by Martin that cross the years from his earliest beginnings as an enthusiastic amateur to his current position as one of fantasy's most popular and talented writers.
Those expecting page upon page of swords, sex and skulduggery will be sadly disappointed though. This book serves as an introduction to the broad range of genre-hopping material that Martin has produced and perhaps will come as something of a surprise to those who are only familiar with his most recent works.
The collection is divided into themed sections, each being introduced by a highly entertaining piece of autobiographical exposition that goes some way to putting the evolution of the writing into context. Martin avoids the usual tone of vomit-inducing narcissism that usually accompanies such text in favour of genuinely insightful, humorous and moving anecdotes that by their inclusion make the stories seem even finer. It's like finding the perfect setting for an elaborate jewel. It's all in the presentation after all.
The chronological nature of these asides makes it very important that the reader approaches the collection in the order it is presented. Only in this way is it possible to appreciate the progression in Martin's abilities and the amount of time and effort it takes to develop the sort of skills a truly great writer requires.
Following this authorial journey provides the fledgling writer with a source of hope and comfort that should not be undervalued. Martin did not start out as a Grade A fully paid-up member of the instant best-seller brigade. He started, like everyone, by being...well, a bit rubbish really.
The first section of the book is entitled 'A Four Colour Fanboy' and contains some of Martin's earliest pieces, including the hilariously terrible 'Only Kids Are Afraid Of The Dark' about a super-hero named Doctor Weird and his encounter with the powers of darkness. Very bad indeed and yet still more fun than the entire duration of 'The Fantastic Four' movie.
Things move on apace from here however as we are introduced to the second story, 'The Fortress', a tale that takes place during an historic encounter between the Swedish and Russian armies. The Swedes are beleaguered in the titular fortress by the Russians who have managed to fool the Swedes' commanding officer into believing that they are heavily outnumbered. Colonel Bengt Anttonen has correctly guessed the truth of the situation and tries to convince his Admiral of his conviction with tragic results. It is here that we start to see the sprouting of Martin's consistent approach to characterisation and although the piece whiffs of high melodrama, to a large extent it works as a short story.
Much later in the collection (and much later in his career), Martin returns to the same subject in the much more accomplished story 'Under Siege'. This complete re-working adds an SF bent to the narrative in the form of a disabled soldier who sends his consciousness back through time into Colonel Anttonen's. He then attempts to change the course of history and avert the terrible and apocalyptic war that has ravaged the planet. Martin takes the rudiments of his earlier work and transforms them into something deeper and much more poignant, proving that the best authors never throw anything away!
From 'The Fortress' forwards, the reader will find nothing that could be described as less than excellent, whilst occasionally encountering a piece that is truly breathtaking. Some of my favourite tales appear in the 'Hybrids And Horrors' section of the book. 'Sandkings' is a story that was adapted for TV into the pilot episode of 'The Outer Limits' 90s run, something that is oddly appropriate considering its ghoulish tone. In it a man buys some exotic pets from an unusual shop called 'Wo And Shade'. His purchase sets in motion a tale wherein the mechanics of worship and morality will be subjected to harsh scrutiny, much to the misfortune of our protagonist. Frankly, anyone who buys something from a shop with that name deserves what's coming to them. It might as well have been called 'Dismemberments R Us'.
'Nightflyers' is an SF story with a horrific twist. The traditionally tense set-up aids its air of classically claustrophobic tension. In it, a small group of explorers travel through space looking to collect data on an unknown and possibly dangerous life-form. They come to realise that they have been carrying the true danger with them all along. 'Nightflyers' excels in Martin's understanding of the complex relationships that develop between the crewmembers, each of which feel fully fleshed out despite the limited space he has to accomplish this. This story has also been adapted into a visual medium becoming, so we are told, a rather bad film of the same name. It's a pity. I'd love to see a good screen translation of this story.
The final part of the collection is called 'The Heart In Conflict' and again is filled with stories that any author would kill to be able to claim even one of them as their own. 'The Hedge Knight' is a story that will cause fans of 'A Song Of Ice And Fire' to do little cartwheels of joy. It is of course set in the same universe as the aforementioned saga, taking place about fifty or so years before its beginning. There are lots of familiar elements here for readers of that series, but it is by no means essential to have any previous knowledge before approaching the text. Martin uses the work he has already put into the setting to provide an environment for a powerful story. Like 'Song', it has a lyrical nature coupled with a painful reality. Reading it is like being punched in the face by a sweet-smelling and well-manicured hand.
Martin ends the collection with a story that appropriately concerns writing itself and its effect on the lives of the people who create it. The piece is called 'Portraits Of His Children'. In it we encounter an author who has had a fight with his daughter and we are not initially told the cause of this conflict. Apart from her, he is alone in the world. His daughter is a painter and one day a painting is delivered to his door. It depicts one of his characters, lifelike and accurate. That night the first of his creations comes to visit...
'Portraits' engages in an interesting conversation concerning the nature of creative writing, making us aware that novels and stories are not made from nothing and are indeed constructed from fragments of the author's life. It acknowledges the isolation of the activity and questions whether it truly is a healthy activity to be engaged in. It also asks whether we as writers should draw a line under our experiences over which we will not cross that some things may be best left unsaid. It also questions whether drawing this line would even be possible. It's a perfect and fitting end to a collection that achieves its aim in highlighting the true challenge creative writing presents and the magic that can appear if we attempt it.
George R.R. Martin's 'Dreamsongs' will fill the world with their sound for some time to come and what better to follow a song than a Dance?
Paul Skevington
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