I am a fan of Hunter's, nothing more and nothing less. I never had the opportunity to meet the Good Doctor in life, but his works were those that have and will continue to inspire me through my own life. His wife said it best about him "He stomped terra".
I figure that only fans of Hunter's will be seeing this profile so it is you that I am crafting this towards, and perhaps the few curious people who might take a look. I will compile as many facts, websites, and such, as I can.
The Wikipedia has a wonderful submission on Hunter's life here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S_Thompson
I suggest at least a quick look at it.
Then of course there is this wonderful site: http://www.gonzo.org/
It's a misconception that the term was coined by Rolling Stone writer Hunter S. Thompson to describe his reporting. The word is attributed to Thompson, but it was first used by Boston Sunday Globe reporter Bill Cardoso who, after reading Thompson's infamous Scanlan Monthly article on the Kentucky Derby, proclaimed "That is pure Gonzo!" According to Cardoso, 'Gonzo' is South Boston Irish slang describing the last man standing after a drinking marathon. Thompson himself would instigate events, often in a prankish or belligerent manner, and then document both his actions and those of others. The term has also come into (sometimes pejorative) use to describe journalism (or generally any writing) that is broadly in the vein of Thompson's writing, characterized by a drug-fueled, stream of consciousness technique.
I do not claim to be a Thompson guru. I have read several but not all of his books. I'm still working on the Gonzo Letters series. I've yet to read The Boys on The Bus, and I have not found a copy of Screwjack yet.
Like so many people of the current generation I was introduced to Hunter by a friend who was obsessed with Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. I came to love the movie, it was so bizarre, so wonderfuly and so darkly humorous that I had to find out more about it. So I read the book, then I read Hell's Angels, and then The Rum Diary, and I've been moving through the books ever since.
Amazon.com can help you find just about any of the books, and I'll even link you to a search I did of him: Amazon search for Hunter S. Thompson
There is an album out that a label went around and asked artists and writers and the like to compile their favorite music of any genre; A view of the c.d.
I think Hunter was one of the, if not the, most important journalists of the past century, not to mention one of the most prolific writers of our time. Not only did he redifine the rules of journalism, he shattered them. Not only did he do a few drugs, he went on a mind bending rampage through legalities and insanities and he came out alright.
And in the end it wasn't all the drugs and the alcohol that did him in, it wasn't some bad craziness that he had instigitated that had turned bad on him, it was his being human. In the end he had become an old man who could barely walk, and he died how he lived, in his own hands.
Comments are welcome, just try not to hate me, this is a work in progress.
