Hunter S. Thompson - Dead At 67

Written by RJ Elliott
Published February 21, 2005

BREAKING NEWS -

DENVER Feb 21, 2005 — Hunter S. Thompson, the acerbic counterculture writer who popularized a new form of fictional journalism in books like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself Sunday night at his Aspen-area home, his son said. He was 67.

From here -

Besides the 1972 drug-hazed classic about Thompson's time in Las Vegas, he is credited with pioneering New Journalism — or "gonzo journalism" — in which the writer made himself an essential component of the story.

An acute observer of the decadence and depravity in American life, Thompson wrote such books as "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" in 1973 and the collections "Generation of Swine" and "Songs of the Doomed." His first ever novel, "The Rum Diary," written in 1959, was first published in 1998.

From here -

"Hunter was the most amazing writer I ever edited," said Larry Kramer, former Chairman and CEO of MarketWatch, now an executive for Dow Jones. "He was a true genius ... and a cult hero for a generation of writers, journalists and political activists."

From here -

"We do have confirmation that Hunter Thompson was found dead this evening of an apparent self-inflicted wound," said Tricia Louthis, spokeswoman for the Pitkin County Sheriff'sOffice. Thompson was found dead at his home outside the ski resort of Aspen on Sunday night.

This is a major loss.

No one will ever be another Hunter S. Thompson. The man was unique. The mold is broken, now and forever.

His style of writing was uniquely masterful and mesmerizing.

RIP HST...

More views and information on Thompson here.

RJ Elliott is a graduate student studying Criminal Justice at the University Of Central Florida. His likes include nature, sports, and pierced blondes. He dislikes daytime television, left-wing dictators, and lead-tainted Chinese imports. He is ambivalent about Angelina Jolie.
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Hunter S. Thompson - Dead At 67
Published: February 21, 2005
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Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Arts, Culture: Media
Writer: RJ Elliott
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Comments

#1 — February 21, 2005 @ 00:46AM — Temple Stark [URL]

Didn't you just say there were too many posts on this already and if you have to do do one add something to it.

Well? Where's the add man?

#2 — February 21, 2005 @ 00:59AM — godoggo

This is the last way I'd expect him to go. It doesn't make sense to me.

#3 — February 21, 2005 @ 01:04AM — godoggo

Via aldaily.com (which will be the place to go for links tomorrow, guaranteed), the nytimes obit is up: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Obit-Thompson.html?hp

#4 — February 21, 2005 @ 01:07AM — zipzip

he lived by the gun, he died by the gun.

#5 — February 21, 2005 @ 01:12AM — godoggo

ps obviously just a preliminary obit I posted a moment ago

#6 — February 21, 2005 @ 01:13AM — RJ [URL]

Why do so many of the greats in the various arts seem to kill themselves via a bullet?

Kurt Cobain. Hemingway. Thompson.

#7 — February 21, 2005 @ 03:42AM — Johnny Roberto

sad, sad, very sad. All he had to do was wait a couple of years and he would have died naturally. Killing yourself is a stupid way to go. Either that or it's a gov't murder

#8 — February 21, 2005 @ 09:38AM — tdchi

Peace good doctor, perhaps now you'll find that sanity that has always eluded you. Hunter was a virulent inspiration to writers and adventurers across the globe. His death, though tragic, is at the very least somewhat predictable -better to go out at the top than die some geriatric burn-out.

#9 — February 21, 2005 @ 10:53AM — razorfish

i am shock as well and make two predictions to soothe my soul:

EITHER
1) HST was drugged up and the suicide was only semi-intentional or a complete accident (ie, no note)

OR

2) HST was suffering form a chronic/terminal pain/illness yet to be disclosed

#10 — February 21, 2005 @ 10:58AM — Honda919Rider

Well, no surprise. He is responsible for the deaths and ruined lives of many people who thought his lifestyle was "cool" and they got caught up in the evil that drugs and that culture have.

He was entertaining, I will give him that. I just hope people see how he ended his life and then ask themselves if it was worth it. IMO no, but then again, I was able to clean myself up and find that true joy and happiness does not come in a pill or bottle.

Godspeed Hunter.

#11 — February 21, 2005 @ 12:29PM — Bill

Response to RJ: Cobain, Hemmingway and Thompson all had serious problems with alcohol and/or drugs. None was able to understand that there was a way out other than the way they chose.

#12 — February 22, 2005 @ 23:13PM — top

You have got to be kidding, the man did not have a problem with alcohol or drugs. The man truly lived, not too mention the man is obviously truly loved by his family (wife and son).

You gotta love somebody who comes out with the truth calling George Bush a "treacherous little freak." Hunter s. thompson, now there's a man who truly loves freedom.

I don't know if the crazies came around and bit him in the demonic ass. A close friend of hunter's had this to say "If he feared anything, Thompson knew how to hide it well." Many people cling to life in desperation, many others cling to the life of another no matter how painful their life may have become.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone," he once said, "but they've always worked for me." Maybe this time things were too crazy. But, if you ask me, it wouldn't have been the crazies that knocked him over to a fear so great and dark as committing suicide, but something so dark, like being terminally ill or something like that which would have led to a slow death. Even if it's merely that he had a bum leg and hip, hunter isn't one to spend his life in a wheel chair or bed-ridden.

A man like hunter could never live a deteriotated life of any sort whatsoever. But, who the hell knows which way the wind blows which such a crazy dude.

the truth of the matter is that it takes a heck of a lot of courage to live as hunter lived--out there in the world--completely opened up to life--and in this case, it took a lot of courage rather than as some of you have said, cowardice, to know when to bring down the curtain.

He did more than merely fill himself with 'chemicals' and 'liquor' he has alweays fought for the dispossessed.


#13 — February 22, 2005 @ 23:21PM — Temple Stark [URL]

>>You gotta love somebody who comes out with the truth calling George Bush a "treacherous little freak."

I think you'll find plenty of people have done this without the use of drugs. Sometimes hard to tell apart of course.

Not cowardice? Please shoot yourself then Top - but don't forget to leave a note: "See, I was right!!!"

Oh and discuss it with your family first and describe how brave it is to them. I'm sure they'll understand.

#14 — February 25, 2005 @ 22:36PM — Stephen Colet

The loss of Hunter S. Thompson will always unfortunately be measured against the insipid contemporary reflections on the American psyche. In these days of political extremism - when civil liberties are under threat, and contrary voices are ever-the-more dimmed - undaunted voices of honest criticism and social commentary are needed more than ever. To the end, Hunter S. Thompson not only gave us the most entertaining ongoing commentary of America's political-social-economic experience, he steered us to the depth of America's heart and soul. Ultimately, sounding a horn and shining a spotlight into the darkness where no one dared. The King is dead, long live the King.

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