1 of 15

by Tim Swan

• A
• A
• A

"We were somewhere around Barstow when the drugs began to take hold." And it was with those words that the work of Hunter S Thompson was introduced to a whole new generation of "Gonzonians". That of course was one of the most memorable lines from the 1998 film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I first saw the film shortly after it was released on VHS (yes, VHS. The kind you had to rewind before returning, imagine that!), and I instantly fell in love with it. It wasn't long before it was frequently viewed before heading out for a night reckless teenage fun and underage drinking.

It wasn't until 6 months after I first saw the film that I discovered that it was originally a book. I was absolutely ecstatic and immediately hopped in my parents Caravan, and took off to the nearest book store to purchase it. I was absolutely positive that it was going to be a read that would keep me entertained for hours and I couldn't wait. I brought it home and began flying through it as soon as I could. I was not disappointed, it was even more vivid than its on-screen counterpart. I couldn't put it down, not even for a minute, and before I knew it I had read it front to back in just a few hours. Hunter's writings had a way of doing that, it was just something in the way he was able to describe the surroundings and characters that he was writing about that would keep you reading the whole night through. His work had a certain tone to it, an authenticity, which I feel was attributed to the fact that he lived through the characters he was writing about, and vice versa. It's hard to explain, but his work had a very clear feel, and at the same time it was very opaque, incoherent ramblings that at the same time were incredibly lucid. I would read his books and there would be certain lines, or even entire paragraphs, that would have me in awe as I read them, "How in the hell did he think to write about this in that manner, using those words? He could describe the most simple situations or surroundings in such a descriptive and beautiful manner, and that was his brilliance.

It wasn't long before I moved onto more of his writings, Hells Angels, The Rum Diaries, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, etc. The way and manner in which he wrote was groundbreaking for the time. By putting himself directly in the situation or subject that he was writing about brought his books that authenticity and feel that was nearly impossible to achieve with any other author of that era. Whether it was drugs, politics or sporting events, he gave you the real story, as only he could.

Hunter S Thompson had a sense of humor that was second to none among authors, during that time or presently. He was able to inject his own outlandish, frequently hilarious and irreverent thoughts and outlooks into any subject that he was covering. He could make even the driest material readable, and more importantly, enjoyable. I have never been an avid follower of politics, but as I was making my way through his extensive catalog of writings, I eventually came across Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. I thought to myself that if anyone can make the apparent monotony of politics exciting and humorous, it was Thompson. I was correct, he injected the story with life and vibrancy that until then, I didn't believe could be associated with American, or any sort of Political writing(albeit, that is just my simple opinion). That was what I loved about Thompson, it was as if he was looking at a situation from a whole other angle, while everyone else was seeing it from the same, tiresome side. He had a ferocity to his writing style, and that was especially clear when it came to writing on a subject such as Nixon. It made everything he wrote worth reading, and it was always hard to put a Thompson book down.

Although it was frequently his eccentric nature or his fondness for high powered weapons and Wild Turkey Bourbon that gained him attention and notoriety, it was his brilliance and creativity on the typewriter that kept his fans coming back. He was one of few authors that had that sort of appeal. Not only did he have it, he was able to keep it throughout his entire writing career. When Hunter Thompson released a new book, you bought it, and rarely did it disappoint. He was a Doctor of Journalism, and we were his patients, eagerly awaiting our next appointment with his genius.

His influence reached far and wide, not only throughout the writing community but throughout all artistic circles. Unique does not begin to describe Hunter S Thompson, but it is the best description I can think of. He was a unique voice in a chaotic time, and that has endeared him to his legion of fans and admirers, and continues to garner him a whole new generation of dedicated and appreciative followers who wish he was still with us.

Learn more about this author, Tim Swan.

Add your voice
Know something about Hunter S. Thompson and gonzo journalism? We want to hear your view. Write now!