Hunter Thompson Is Dead

(1937-2005)

[HyperGeek]

It's with most sincere regret that I inform you that Hunter S. Thompson, writer of "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" - and one of the most influential writers of the 20th century - he fatally shot himself in the head early Sunday night.

He was absolutely one of my favorite writers in the World, and I haven't been affected by such a literary loss since the untimely passing of Douglas Adams.

Bon Voyage, Doc. It's been pure Gonzo.

[Rugles]

Sad.

Why that guy was allowed to possess firearms is a mystery to me.

I sure will miss him.

[mona]

In case you haven't heard, he has passed - he commited suicide:( This is the first 'celebrity' that has died who has ever affected me. His ideas, passion, and writing have changed the way I've seen the world over the last 20 years of my life. And the man also made me laugh.

As an example. From his last column for ESPN's Page, he asks his friend "Are you ready for a powerful idea?"  People just don't think like that, write like that. Just by adding that one word 'powerful' it completely changes that sentence. *sigh* I'll stop, I'm rambling and probably not making much sense....

[HyperGeek]

It makes total sense. He was a modern-day cowboy poet, and the greatest ammunition he ever fired were his words.

I'd like to think that his final action came from a "powerful idea", and not from sadness or self-pity.

I also wonder if a note was left, and if so, whether we'll ever be able to know what it said.

[ndillon]

This is a sad day. If you have not seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I suggest you watch it.

<snip>

[edited by: pmac at 7:38 pm (utc) on Feb. 21, 2005]
[edit reason] no sigs please [/edit]

[HyperGeek]

Even better... read it. :)

[mivox]

*sigh*

Somehow knowing how he went makes me feel a little better. Seems oddly appropriate.

[HyperGeek]

I wonder if they're going to build his rocketship and launch his remains into space like he stated he wanted done in his will.

[stuntdubl]

>fear and loathing

If you haven't seen "Where the Buffalo Roam" it is excellent as well. His books are a hoot as well.

Hunter S. was a true original.

[Rugles]

>>Even better... read it. :)

Oh, ya. The book is great, better than the movie.

[HyperGeek]

>If you haven't seen "Where the Buffalo Roam" it is excellent

Go to ESPN's Page 2 (on their web site) and you can view most of the archive of Hunter's articles that he wrote for them.

For fans of "Where the Buffalo Roam" (funny enough, Thompson's least favorite movie in the world) I highly recommend that you CTRL-F "Fore!" (as mentioned by Mona in a previous post).

It's the last article he wrote for them, and it highlights a fantastic exchange between him and Bill Murray where he calls Murray at 3am and proposes that they start a new sport called "shotgun golf".

Before Johnny Depp had his turn at the role in "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas", Bill Murray played Hunter in "Where the Buffalo Roam".

To really get a good idea of who the man really was, and how true to life those on-screen portrayals of him really were, I highly suggest you find a copy of the Criterion Collection Fear & Loathing. One of the best DVDs I've ever owned.

[mattglet]

My only confusion came from his method of dying. He was such an odd/insane/brilliant person, you would have thought he wouldn't have waited this long.

[danmccarthy]

I just finished watching fear and loathing. I think it is worth both watching and reading in this case. Neither will spoil the other. Quite the contrary in fact.

[grandpa]

I don't think I really ever understood Hunter. Could be I was just drunk at the time.
I read of his passing with some regret, but not really a feeling of loss. (No offense to those who did, please.)

Does this emphasize a generation gap here at WW? I thought the recent passing of Arthur Miller [silverchips.mbhs.edu] was, no less sad, but more noteable.

[Automan Empire]

Favorite quote: "The first thing you have to learn is, you always have to wait."

[twist]

Wow, first I heard was right here. Really don't know much about him outside of fear and loathing but I would easily say that movie is one of the top 10 movies of all time. Would be hard pressed to find any other movie like it. Definitaly not the typical hollywood cookie-cutter movie.

Funny coincidence, about 3 weeks ago someone brought up the movie out of the blue, I was watching spider man 2, finally, and someone pointed out that Toby Maguire was the hitchhiker in fear and loathing.

[garyr_h]

Hunter S. Thompson wrote some of the best articles I have ever read. Fear and Loathing was also one of the better movies I have ever watched, never got around to read the book, although I should someday.

He has influenced many writers over his time, one of them being a good friend of mine. Thompson will definately be missed by many...