Hunter S. Thompson (July 18, 1937 — February 20, 2005) was an
American journalist and author. He was known for his flamboyant
writing style, most notably deployed in Fear and Loathing in
Las Vegas, which blurred the distinctions between writer and
subject, fiction and nonfiction.
The best source on Thompson's writing style and personality is
Thompson himself. His books include Hell's Angels: A Strange
and Terrible Saga (1966), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:
A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American
Dream (1972), Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail
'72 (1973); The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a
Strange Time (1979); The Curse of
Lono(1983); Generation of Swine, Gonzo Papers Vol. 2: Tales of
Shame and Degradation in the 80's (1988); and Songs of
the Doomed (1990).
When Sports Illustrated commissioned Thompson to write a short article on the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas, the editors had no idea what they were setting in motion. This book is the defining moment in Thompson's "gonzo journalism" style of writing. He took this style to the limit with this work, barely covering the race and instead writing a series of weird vignettes, paranoid frenzies, and brilliant political prose. If you lived through the turmoil of the Sixties or want to experience the "high and beautiful wave" and see where it broke and gave way to a generation of swine and the songs of the doomed, this is the place to start. Thompson was always a political barometer-he was the voice of truth shouting about the corrupt system. That voice, now stilled by death, is sorely missed. Ron McLarty, though not the frenzied, manic voice one would expect to hear, does an excellent job of navigating Las Vegas. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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