Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #250608 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. (US anti-drugs organisation) founders rethinking their motto. Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its boot, they hide "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicoloured uppers, downers, screamers, laughers ... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser [and] a pint of raw ether" which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first- rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren

Synopsis
This is a quest by journalist Hunter S. Thompson into the heart of the American Dream - undertaking perilous, drug-enhanced confrontations with casino operators, bartenders, police officers with a special interest in the narcotics problem, and other representatives of the silent majority.

Customer Reviews

Take a Joy Ride!
There aren't many books that can make me laugh out loud. But this one did. In fact, there were times when I was laughing so hard I couldn't focus my eyes on the page to read. I'd have to stop reading just to compose myself enough to go on. Wild only begins to describe the adventures of Thompson and his lawyer. In all fairness, I should warn you that drinking large amounts of liquor and taking illegal drugs play a big part in the story. If drugs and drug culture easily offend you you may want to pass on this book. My feeling is this: I do not condone drug use but this novel does reflect a period in America's recent past, it is a modern classic, and it's so darned funny that it you really should read it. The story follows Thompson and his lawyer as they search for the real America. On the way, Thompson gets an assignment to cover a motorcycle race in Las Vegas. Armed with a red convertible and enough drugs to kill a VERY large animal, they set off for Vegas. The story is a mixture of reality, drug induced hallucinations, and some fuzzy experiences that are both reality and drug clouded. It's just a flat-out, fun, hilarious romp -- a joy ride of a novel. Don't miss out! Another offbeat novel that I came across recently and enjoyed was THE LOSERS CLUB by Richard Perez.

Pure smooth hell
This is absolutely one of the best books of our time. It's dark, brilliant, hilarious and downright crazy. I read this on the bus to school and sometimes I would just laugh out loud, making everyone else stare at me. If you're a Hunter fan, you have read this, if you're not, you should definitely read it! This is a tale so mindblowing you can't believe it really happened. A must for all fans and lovers of American literature.

Well i wasn't loathing it...
I read the book a fair time ago but my appreciation for it has yet to be expressed in words. This was the book which made me the avid fan I am. The one that shrewdly hurled my into the world of Gonzo with no regrets.
This book is a must have. The talent of Thompson's captivating dark humour which he held is fully visible in this book. Not only does Hunter tell you about his wild and wondrous adventure as his alter-ego Raoul Duke, he take you in till you won’t want to let go, and when you do, you’re speechless.
So if you like stories about the odd road trip with the lone driving forces being drugs, dilemmas, drugs, two convertible, drugs, bad reminiscences and two loony guys on a mound of hallucinations drugs, then as your attorney, I highly advise this book. If this isn't your type, I recommend this book yet again, as you'll soon change your mind.