We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.

[liz_marcs]

Heeeee!

See the title? What author wrote it? Can you tell me what book it came from?

I bet I'll be able to count the number of people on one hand who'll be able to answer either one of those questions.

(Hint: It's from the same book where this quote appears, "We can't stop here. This is bat country!")

I can't tell you how many local indie books stores I tore apart looking for books by this author over the past two weeks. He's all but disappeared off the shelves, even though they're starting to reissue his books in high-quality, hardback bound versions.

[Oddly enough, going to big-box bookstores is actually inconvenient for me because I'd have to go out of my way to get to them.]

Finally, I gave up and have turned to Amazon. I've received the first installment on my order in the form of two hardbound books, one of this lent me the title of this post. *cackles* I can't wait to crack the spine.

You know how in college some people memorized On the Road? Or American Psycho? Or Slaugherhouse Five?

I memorized several books by this author, including the book that lent me the title of this post (it's the first line in the book, in fact).

However, I don't have too many works by this author anymore. Why? Because every time I lend of his books out, I never get them back. I've lost so many due to "borrowing" that I'm down to two of his later (and lesser) works.

I am in the midst of rectifying it even as we speak....

*eyes special edition hardcover of a certain, heavily illustrated book about Hawaii*

Day-um. I think I'm gonna have to ask someone to buy me that for my birthday or Christmas.

And I am never, ever, ever lending books out by this author again. Unless the borrowee signs a promissory note. In blood.

Wheeeeee! I am so excitedly happy. Now I have to resist opening up either one of my books while I'm still at work.

Comments

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

My attorney tells me it is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" - x Raoul Duke.

Now I'll read the rest of the post...

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Yay!

To this day his description of Circus, Circus keeeeels me. I can re-read it for hours.

Sadly, I didn't get Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 in time for the election. (Also waiting for: my replacement copy of The Great Shark Hunt and...a special treat...Screwjack.

But I did get Hell's Angels as well as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas today, too.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Hunter S Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

(Using the icon with another cranky old guy who wrote for Rolling Stone once in a while).

My "Never get them back" list? Ken Kesey, Tony Hillerman, John McPhee... I've never bought any HST- I read all his stuff in the original periodicals, usually.

Julia, those were the good old days, man

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Before my time for reading the originals in RS, I'm afraid.

What's really hilarious is that Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas were both required reading in the Boston University journalism degree program. For serious.

[butterflykiki.livejournal.com]

*cackles* Hunter S. Thompson, Gonzo journalist, inspiration for Duke!

I really do have to see "Fear and Loathing" with Johnny Depp sometime soon.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I tried watching "Where the Buffalo Roam" once, and I couldn't do it. I love, love, love, LOVE the book.

I was too afraid to go see the Johnny Depp version. I heard it's good, but my unholy love for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas makes me leery.

[redbeardjim.livejournal.com]

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

This makes me happy. A lot of people know where this is from.

It makes me very, very sad that the indie book stores all looked at me like I was nuts (or asked "Who?") when I was hunting for Hunter.

[dreamerjules.livejournal.com]

Haven't read the rest of the post yet, but had to answer the questions.

Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

I have read the book, seen it adapted on stage in Chicago and seen the Bill Murray verison called Where the Buffalo Roam, but not the verison with Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. Actually, I got the book at an airport swap desk after seeing the play.

Good choice.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

My love of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (as well as Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72) knows no bounds. None. Among my favorite books, right here.

Wait...there's a stage version of the book? *boggles* I can't even imagine that...

Then again, I didn't like the Bill Murray movie, and I'm too afraid to see the Depp version...despite my equally unholy love for Benicio del Toro

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

Technically I had to Google, because I was having a total mental block, but I was like, "That book with Las Vegas in the title! I totally know this!" I imbibed familiarity with that quote from my dad at some point -- though I've never cracked open the book myself. (I wrote BtVS fic (http://bigdirty.livejournal.com/8888.html) in which Oz references that line.)

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

At least you knew where it was from. And that the book existed.

There are indie book stores where they'll give you a blank look if you ask for this book. The only one where I didn't get a blank look was an indie book store in Newton, and even then they didn't carry Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

When I hitchedhiked across the USA, I was reading Hunter Thompson - a collection called "The Great Shark Hunt", I think (it was twenty five years ago!).

I read On the Road when I got back.

Hunter Thompson is sorely missed!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I will have to post my traditional Hunter S. Thompson quote tomorrow (I do it on every major election day). It's from Hey, Rube which I think is his last published work (or at last one of his last works).

The Great Shark Hunt is one of the books I'm replacing.

I am soooooo asking for the "Curse of Lono" for my b-day though. There's this gorgeous addition with all of Ralth Steadman's color-plate work that's almost $40. Want. Want. Want.

[harmfulguy.livejournal.com]

I suspect you've vastly underestimated the portion of your readership familiar with HST's magnum opus.

There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge...

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Yes...I suspect I have. *grins*

This makes me feel better, though. I can't tell you how many blank stares I got when I was haunting the local indie book shops over the past few weeks trying to find Thompson's oevre.

It was very, very disheartening...

[bellatemple]

I'm on that hand, honey, before I even finished reading the subject line.

Though admittedly, I did spend a moment thinking it was from Camper Van Beethoven.

"Remember," she says, "I'm holding you responsible for all of this."

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm not crazy!

*does happy dance*

Have I mentioned my Thompson hunt has been very discouraging in the meatspace book stores? For surely it has.

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Wait, there are people who didn't devour Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? Are we sure they aren't mythical?

[starbuck-a-dale.livejournal.com]

LOL it's blatanty Hunter S Thompson from 'Fear and loathing in Las Vegas'

[zoethe.livejournal.com]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Duke Hunter S. Thompson.

No, I didn't peek. ;-)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

You're joking of course - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson, possibly the most parodied book of the last forty years or so. Even I've done it twice, once for fanfic and once for a game article that actually earned me money!

I personally prefer F&L on the Campaign Trail, but it's a long time since I've read it so I may be remembering it as better than it is. Hells Angels is also pretty good.

Incidentally, there is quite a good recording of the first part of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, forget the recording company but if I can find the CD I'll name it.

Since the answer has already been given...

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Re: Since the answer has already been given...

[crossoverman.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHAHAHA!

[crossoverman.livejournal.com]

Um, I only know the quotes and the title of the book and the author... because of the film version. What does that say about me?

[silent-ic-river.livejournal.com]

I got to meet him once. Nice guy. Soft spoken. Polite to little peons like me. Got really grouchy with people who called into the program. When I told him I could almost recite the first chapter of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' he told be to get a better hobby.

Answering before looking!

[jenbooks.livejournal.com]

Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas

Hunter S Thompson

JOHNNY DEPP!!!!

[bastardsnow.livejournal.com]

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Interestingly enough I've read somewhere in the area of 4 lines of that book. That one just happens to stick with you.

[norwegianne.livejournal.com]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson. Incidentally, just started on it the other day… which is why I know it. I found it used, and it's been on my list for ages. My list of books I mean to read, but never get around to, so when I found it, it seemed like fate.

Of course, I'm not sure how much fate it was, given that I haven't had the time to read more than the two first pages, yet, because I'm working my way through a school-related literature search, but it's the thought that counts, right?

[nothorse.livejournal.com]

The original of course is by J.R.R. Tolkien: "We were half the way to Mordor on the bank of the river when the lembas began to take hold."

I think there's not a lot of people who like reading and writing who don't know that quote, even if they haven't read the book in question. I only managed part of it because it's just so far away from the planet I live on. (On the planet I live on, you have two conservative candidates in tomorrows election, one of them halfway decent, the other a native of bat country.)

H.S.T was a great writer and I've read as much as I could stomach -- not of his writing but of the world he writes about. Oh, and the movie of course is great fun.

[iko.livejournal.com]

I do agree with those stating above that you have underestimated the reading habits of your readership. Hee hee!

This place is getting to me. I think I'm getting the Fear.

[mosca.livejournal.com]

Well, I am not the first, but I did know it was from Thompson's Fear and Loathing. I've never taught it formally, and Thompson isn't actually one of my favoritest favorite writers. But for whatever reason, a lot of my students end up reading F&L or reading about Thompson and falling absolutely in love with him. If his work is that hard to find everywhere and not just in the Commonwealth of Mass., it's a shame, because it seems like his writing really holds up and appeals to my totally biased sample of smart college freshmen.

[mcamason.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a lot of fingers on that hand, because I'm sure I'm not the only one to guess Hunter S. Thompson, and the book is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

With your love for him, I strongly rec to you the graphic novel series Transmetropolitan.

[angstpuppy.livejournal.com]

Heee...I asked the 17 year old boy child, just to see, and he assures me that both are lines from a really cool movie and the second is a great Avenged 7 Fold song. I fear for this generation.
Ah, Hunter....

[silentpheonix.livejournal.com]

The quote tickled my memory but I didn't get it until you mentioned bat country. Unfortunately, I have only watched the movie and felt as though I had wasted two hours of my life. I have the book on my need to read list though.