Hunter S Thompson

[someone447]

Damn, I miss that guy. I have been reading some of his articles again, and he may be the greatest American author of the 20th century. Hell, he may have been the greatest author in American history. He just had such a unique style of writing, he was just so eclectic.

I need to go out and buy all his books.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=thompson/030819

[someone447]

What, does no one else like him?

[DChess]

he's the ******* man, but we've had like ten circle jerks threads about him

[A Perfect Score]

Im a big fan of alot of hsi writing to be honest. He was one of the fathers of the "new journalism" era, along with guys like truman capote and Thomas Wolfe. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an excellent novel, though no doubt most know it from the movie.

Also, being a writer myself, I really enjoy looking at his work. it fits right into my genre, which is the dark, satirical novels (my favourite authors are Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis)

[Addict]

Hunter S. Thompson.... he rules. His style is amazing.

[andyjo672]

Damn, I miss that guy. I have been reading some of his articles again, and he may be the greatest American author of the 20th century. Hell, he may have been the greatest author in American history. He just had such a unique style of writing, he was just so eclectic.

I need to go out and buy all his books.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=thompson/030819


Greatest author in American history? Easy fella.

[josh07039]

Greatest author in American history? Easy fella.
I know, I mean that is just ridiculous hyperbole.

[someone447]

Greatest author in American history? Easy fella.

I absolutely loathe most American authors. I am not sure if any American author has ever captured the spirit of the times like HST did with the 60's and 70's.

I hate Faulkner, Steinbeck, and Hemmingway makes me want to cry. The few American authors I consider among the all time greats are HST, Mark Twain, Robert Frost, and Edgar Allen Poe.

[andyjo672]

I absolutely loathe most American authors. I am not sure if any American author has ever captured the spirit of the times like HST did with the 60's and 70's.

I hate Faulkner, Steinbeck, and Hemmingway makes me want to cry. The few American authors I consider among the all time greats are HST, Mark Twain, Robert Frost, and Edgar Allen Poe.

In all reality capturing the spirit of the times is easier in the 60's and 70's than the periods the others were writing in...simply consume massive amounts of drugs and start writing. BOOM, essence of the times.

[someone447]

In all reality capturing the spirit of the times is easier in the 60's and 70's than the periods the others were writing in...simply consume massive amounts of drugs and start writing. BOOM, essence of the times.

It wasn't only the drugs. It was the whole culture. After the Kent State Massacre, we were probably the closest we have been to a civil war since the actual civil war. Had that been handled poorly, there would have been a revolution. He captured the mindset of that period, with or without drugs.

[Hurricane Ditka]

In all reality capturing the spirit of the times is easier in the 60's and 70's than the periods the others were writing in...simply consume massive amounts of drugs and start writing. BOOM, essence of the times.Thompson's writing is about alot more than drugs.

[andyjo672]

It wasn't only the drugs. It was the whole culture. After the Kent State Massacre, we were probably the closest we have been to a civil war since the actual civil war. Had that been handled poorly, there would have been a revolution. He captured the mindset of that period, with or without drugs.

Thats fair, in reality I haven't read a lot of his work, I just tire very fast of that counter culture mumbojumbo that came about during the 60's and 70's. Also, interms of Civil War, we were much closer during the socialist and anarchist upheavals of the 30's.

[someone447]

Thats fair, in reality I haven't read a lot of his work, I just tire very fast of that counter culture mumbojumbo that came about during the 60's and 70's. Also, interms of Civil War, we were much closer during the socialist and anarchist upheavals of the 30's.

I see a lot of parallels in the counter culture to what is going on now. Our involvement in Iraq closely mirrors our involvement in Vietnam.

"The 82nd Airborne was in the basement of the executive office building, so I went down just to talk to some of the guys and walk among them, and they're lying on the floor leaning on their packs and their helmets and their cartridge belts and their rifles cocked and you’re thinking, 'This can't be the United States of America. This is not the greatest free democracy in the world. This is a nation at war with itself.'" Charles Colson (Counsel to President Nixon from 1969 to 1973

We were as close to civil war in the aftermath of the Kent State shootings as we were in the 30's. Had those shooting been handled poorly, I have no doubt the country would have fallen into a civil war.

Amazingly, I have never read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Every time I have tried to get it from the library it has been checked out. I have gotten to the point where I am just going to buy it.

[andyjo672]

I see a lot of parallels in the counter culture to what is going on now. Our involvement in Iraq closely mirrors our involvement in Vietnam.

"The 82nd Airborne was in the basement of the executive office building, so I went down just to talk to some of the guys and walk among them, and they're lying on the floor leaning on their packs and their helmets and their cartridge belts and their rifles cocked and you’re thinking, 'This can't be the United States of America. This is not the greatest free democracy in the world. This is a nation at war with itself.'" Charles Colson (Counsel to President Nixon from 1969 to 1973

We were as close to civil war in the aftermath of the Kent State shootings as we were in the 30's. Had those shooting been handled poorly, I have no doubt the country would have fallen into a civil war.

Amazingly, I have never read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Every time I have tried to get it from the library it has been checked out. I have gotten to the point where I am just going to buy it.

How was Kent State handled well? It is often cited as one of the worst parts of the Vietnam war, and easily the worst on the home front.

As to your relation to today, I think that is off base. People that were alive in both periods claim that this i nowhere near the uprising that occurred in the 60's and 70's. They had violent student protests (Kent State), violence in the election process (1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention). The real tipping point in that time period also had a lot to do with the fact that there was a civilian draft, something that would almost be politically impossible in today's America. So comparing the two isn't really an option.

Also, a Civil War would necessitate a mass mobilization of uprisings accross the nation including the mobilization of military powers to battle the US government, which was never even close to occurring. Were there mass protests, yes. Was there ever serious talk of secession or uprising against the US government, no.

[someone447]

How was Kent State handled well? It is often cited as one of the worst parts of the Vietnam war, and easily the worst on the home front.

As to your relation to today, I think that is off base. People that were alive in both periods claim that this i nowhere near the uprising that occurred in the 60's and 70's. They had violent student protests (Kent State), violence in the election process (1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention). The real tipping point in that time period also had a lot to do with the fact that there was a civilian draft, something that would almost be politically impossible in today's America. So comparing the two isn't really an option.

Also, a Civil War would necessitate a mass mobilization of uprisings accross the nation including the mobilization of military powers to battle the US government, which was never even close to occurring. Were there mass protests, yes. Was there ever serious talk of secession or uprising against the US government, no.

The aftermath was handled as well as it possibly could have been. Very shortly after the shootings, the guardsmen were indicted, and the National Guard reexamined their crowd control tactics. The government didn't try to defend the shootings.

Remember, we are only a few years into the Iraq War. Large scale Vietnam protests didn't happen for about 5 years after the beginning of our involvement. I don't think it will ever rise to the levels it did at Vietnam, but I can see almost daily the disillusionment with our government growing in people my age. This next presidential election will go a long way to determining if it can escalate to Vietnam like levels. If the GOP wins and there are reports or even rumors of improprieties, we could be in for some exciting times.

There does not need to be succession for their to be a civil war. Had one of those military guys got an itchy trigger finger during the riots in DC who knows what mayhem would have erupted. It undoubtedly would have led to mass riots across the country.

Our involvement in Iraq is an awful lot like our involvement in Vietnam. The protests haven't reached the same levels, but if we continue to handle it as poorly as we have, they still might. But, both wars were started(or escalated) based on lies. Both wars started out successfully, but got bogged down in guerilla warfare shortly thereafter. Only about 1/3rd of the population has approved of the handling of the war.

I think the biggest thing that could prevent an escalation of protests is a wide margin of victory in the upcoming elections. It doesn't matter which candidate it is, only that there is no controversy surrounding this election.

[andyjo672]

The aftermath was handled as well as it possibly could have been. Very shortly after the shootings, the guardsmen were indicted, and the National Guard reexamined their crowd control tactics. The government didn't try to defend the shootings.

Remember, we are only a few years into the Iraq War. Large scale Vietnam protests didn't happen for about 5 years after the beginning of our involvement. I don't think it will ever rise to the levels it did at Vietnam, but I can see almost daily the disillusionment with our government growing in people my age. This next presidential election will go a long way to determining if it can escalate to Vietnam like levels. If the GOP wins and there are reports or even rumors of improprieties, we could be in for some exciting times.

There does not need to be succession for their to be a civil war. Had one of those military guys got an itchy trigger finger during the riots in DC who knows what mayhem would have erupted. It undoubtedly would have led to mass riots across the country.

Our involvement in Iraq is an awful lot like our involvement in Vietnam. The protests haven't reached the same levels, but if we continue to handle it as poorly as we have, they still might. But, both wars were started(or escalated) based on lies. Both wars started out successfully, but got bogged down in guerilla warfare shortly thereafter. Only about 1/3rd of the population has approved of the handling of the war.

I think the biggest thing that could prevent an escalation of protests is a wide margin of victory in the upcoming elections. It doesn't matter which candidate it is, only that there is no controversy surrounding this election.

Im nearly the same age as you, graduated last year. I went to one of the most liberal universities in the United States, the disilliusionment that you speak of isn't nearly on the same level. University of Wisconsin had massive protests of the Dow Chemical Company(made agent orange) during the Vietnam war era, the largest bombing in US history (up until Oklahoma City) occurred there as a protest to what was believed to be physics research for the government. University buildings were constructed during this time period to be designed to be able to control crowds in response to some of the protests that were going on (one infamously ugly building that was built for crowd control, Humanities Hall, was so ugly that upon its completion the architect committed suicide because he was so disgusted with how it turned out).

As of last year the largest protests that I have seen in response to the war or the Bush administration were no more than a few dozen people handing out pamphlets and some people writing in chalk on the ground. I undestand that there is resentment, yes, but it isn't necessarily resentment of the war as it is of the administration, something that can't be said of the 60's, where most of the resentment was for the war, not as much the administration.

Why you assume the GOP would be responsible for election frauds that could potentially come up shows your ultimate bias.

[Gatz]

How in the hell did a thread about Hunter S. Thompson turn into a thread about the Iraq war? I thought you aren't allowed to discuss politics on this board, and from this thread I can see why. "Disillusionment with people your age?" Geez. Vietnam War compared to the Iraq War? Wth?

Back to the topic though, he's not even close to being the best American writer on my list. I would consider the best american writers to be ones such as Salinger, Fitzgerald, and Nabokov(yes, I know where he came from). He's not even the best writer of his time/type of writing.

[andyjo672]

Its more of a discussion, nothing was getting heated or argumentative. If its against the rules I apologize. It started because Thompson was highly involved in the politics of the times and remained so up until his death. We were paralleling certain points in history as it related to writing.

[Gatz]

Its more of a discussion, nothing was getting heated or argumentative. If its against the rules I apologize. It started because Thompson was highly involved in the politics of the times and remained so up until his death. We were paralleling certain points in history as it related to writing.
I understand, the post was directed at someone447 anyways, I just find some of his points absolutely ridiculous. But I won't get into it as that'll violate the rules.
Also, politics or not, I don't think Thompson even comes close to being one of the greatest american writers of all time.

[someone447]

Im nearly the same age as you, graduated last year. I went to one of the most liberal universities in the United States, the disilliusionment that you speak of isn't nearly on the same level. University of Wisconsin had massive protests of the Dow Chemical Company(made agent orange) during the Vietnam war era, the largest bombing in US history (up until Oklahoma City) occurred there as a protest to what was believed to be physics research for the government. University buildings were constructed during this time period to be designed to be able to control crowds in response to some of the protests that were going on (one infamously ugly building that was built for crowd control, Humanities Hall, was so ugly that upon its completion the architect committed suicide because he was so disgusted with how it turned out).

As of last year the largest protests that I have seen in response to the war or the Bush administration were no more than a few dozen people handing out pamphlets and some people writing in chalk on the ground. I undestand that there is resentment, yes, but it isn't necessarily resentment of the war as it is of the administration, something that can't be said of the 60's, where most of the resentment was for the war, not as much the administration.

Why you assume the GOP would be responsible for election frauds that could potentially come up shows your ultimate bias.

Nonono, that isn't what I meant. I meant that people would not be as outraged if it was the Dems that did it. Sorry I wasn't more clear. I voted Republican last election, but I am not sure I will this time. Dems may be more responsible for election fraud than the GOP. But since they haven't won the last two presidential elections, it hasn't been made a big deal. The whole florida fiasco in 2000 has done a lot more to damage our election process than the underreported vote early, vote often campaigns that the dems have seemed to run.

I am not saying the disillusionment is anywhere near Vietnam levels. I am saying that it seems to be growing every day. I think it is definitely possible that we may eventually get to that level. It won't necessarily be about the war, just the direction our country is headed in.

[someone447]

I understand, the post was directed at someone447 anyways, I just find some of his points absolutely ridiculous. But I won't get into it as that'll violate the rules.
Also, politics or not, I don't think Thompson even comes close to being one of the greatest american writers of all time.

You don't see parallels between the wars? I have said multiple times that we are not at the level they were at during vietnam.

Nothing we have talked about has even been political. This thread has been much more a historical thread than a political one. Everything we have discussed has been in the realm of history rather than politics.

[NYGibril28]

If he's anything like Dr. Seuss I'll definitely look into him

[someone447]

How in the hell did a thread about Hunter S. Thompson turn into a thread about the Iraq war? I thought you aren't allowed to discuss politics on this board, and from this thread I can see why. "Disillusionment with people your age?" Geez. Vietnam War compared to the Iraq War? Wth?

Back to the topic though, he's not even close to being the best American writer on my list. I would consider the best american writers to be ones such as Salinger, Fitzgerald, and Nabokov(yes, I know where he came from). He's not even the best writer of his time/type of writing.

I can't stand Salinger and Fitzgerald. Admittedly I have never read Nabokov, so I can't comment on him.

Who do you consider the best writer of his time?

[Gatz]

Well Salinger and Nabokov both wrote around that time, but if I am looking at his type of fiction, I prefer Ken Kesey over Thompson.
Meh, it's arbitrary, I am just not into that group of writers. I still think though, calling Thompson one of the greatest american authors, even of the 20th century, as another poster said, is a hyperbole. I am more into european fiction than american fiction anyways.

[adschofield]

Greatest American writer? Easy there chief.

1. Hemingway









2. Everybody else

But I do like Thompson...I just finished his book, "Hell's Angels," and it was pretty good. But I don't think he's in the class of Hemingway.

Other Favorite American Authors
-John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath- greatest American novel)
-Kurt Vonnegut (Very underrated)
-J.D. Salinger
-Henry David Thoreau
-Mark Twain (Huck Finn is one of my favorite books)

I think all those guys are better than Thompson

Tolstoy, Nabokov, and George Orwell are some other favorites of mine

[Gatz]

Greatest American writer? Easy there chief.

1. Hemingway









2. Everybody else

But I do like Thompson...I just finished his book, "Hell's Angels," and it was pretty good. But I don't think he's in the class of Hemingway.

Other Favorite American Authors
-John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath- greatest American novel)
-Kurt Vonnegut (Very underrated)
-J.D. Salinger
-Henry David Thoreau

Tolstoy, Nabokov, and George Orwell are some other favorites of mine
Eh, I definitely think Hemingway is overrated, so is his style. Fitzgerald was the best lost generatioin writer in my opinion, I just don't like Steinbeck, even though he's easy to read.
A note on Salinger, I liked Catcher in the Rye, and I think he did a masterful job with the novel, but Nine Stories impressed me much more than his novel.

[someone447]

Greatest American writer? Easy there chief.

1. Hemingway









2. Everybody else

But I do like Thompson...I just finished his book, "Hell's Angels," and it was pretty good. But I don't think he's in the class of Hemingway.

Other Favorite American Authors
-John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath- greatest American novel)
-Kurt Vonnegut (Very underrated)
-J.D. Salinger
-Henry David Thoreau
-Mark Twain (Huck Finn is one of my favorite books)

I think all those guys are better than Thompson

Tolstoy, Nabokov, and George Orwell are some other favorites of mine

I can't stand Hemmingway. Reading him makes me want shoot myself in the head with a shotgun.

Thoreau has some pretty good stuff, Mark Twain is absolutely amazing. Animal Farm is my favorite book ever.

Well Salinger and Nabokov both wrote around that time, but if I am looking at his type of fiction, I prefer Ken Kesey over Thompson.
Meh, it's arbitrary, I am just not into that group of writers. I still think though, calling Thompson one of the greatest american authors, even of the 20th century, as another poster said, is a hyperbole. I am more into european fiction than american fiction anyways.

I definitely like european fiction more than american.

They were 20 years before HST. I really like Ken Kesey, but I think HST is quite a bit better. I am not only thinking about HST's novels, in fact, I like much of his writings for magazines better. The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is my favorite magazine article of all time.

[adschofield]

Funny story about Hemingway...When he married his second wife, he was forced to convert to Catholicism, and while he was in Spain on his honeymoon, he became impotent. His wife told him several times to go pray in one of the nearby churches in Spain. He left the hotel for a while, and jokingly went into the church to pray. Let's just say that he was a Catholic until he had, as my English teacher who is a huge Hemingway fan puts it, "a gun cleaning accident."

[adschofield]

I can't stand Hemmingway. Reading him makes me want shoot myself in the head with a shotgun.

Thoreau has some pretty good stuff, Mark Twain is absolutely amazing. Animal Farm is my favorite book ever.



I definitely like european fiction more than american.

They were 20 years before HST. I really like Ken Kesey, but I think HST is quite a bit better. I am not only thinking about HST's novels, in fact, I like much of his writings for magazines better. The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is my favorite magazine article of all time.

George Orwell is my favorite author, no doubt about it. 1984 and Animal Farm were brilliant. However, I identify most with Hemingway

[Vikes99ej]

R.L. Stine is a pretty good author.

[someone447]

George Orwell is my favorite author, no doubt about it. 1984 and Animal Farm were brilliant

I liked Animal Farm much, much, much more than 1984, but I read them both in HS, and I need to read them again.

[adschofield]

I liked Animal Farm much, much, much more than 1984, but I read them both in HS, and I need to read them again.

Animal Farm is a much more enjoyable read, but I thought 1984 was better, although it's written like Orwell's essays at times.

Even though I really like Orwell, I relate much more to Hemingway

[someone447]

Animal Farm is a much more enjoyable read, but I thought 1984 was better, although it's written like Orwell's essays at times.

Even though I really like Orwell, I relate much more to Hemingway

That might be why I like Thompson so much. I relate more to his writing than any other author I have read.

Have you ever read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole? I started reading it, but didn't get a chance to finish it because I had to return it to the library before I moved. I got through about the first third, and it was one of the funniest books I have ever read.

[adschofield]

That might be why I like Thompson so much. I relate more to his writing than any other author I have read.

Have you ever read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole? I started reading it, but didn't get a chance to finish it because I had to return it to the library before I moved. I got through about the first third, and it was one of the funniest books I have ever read.

No, but I have heard good things...I had completely forgot about that book until now...I may have to take a trip to the library today