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

Fear and Loathing has always been touted as a defining work as both autobiography and fiction melded together. By reading it, I expected to gain an understanding of the reasons why it has gained such a reputation as a modern literary classic. I did.

Fear and Loathing is a bull-in-a-china-shop romp through a weekend in the life of Raoul Duke (a journalist, and Hunter Thompson's alter ego) who is sent to Vegas to cover the Mint 400 desert race. Accompanying him is his somewhat unhinged 'attorney' who is also affectionately referred to as 'the Samoan' amongst some more unfavourable names.

What ensues is a drug fuelled, mind bending onslaught of major fraud, technical rape and a near death experience for the protagonist.

This is a lively novel with the narrative astyle of a truly drug addled writer. Some would criticise it for glorifying drugs, drink and hedonism. Others would perhaps say that it is a thoughtful insight into the motivation and psyche of a 20th Centrury substance abuser. In my opinion, it's 200 or so pages of pure fun and laugh out loud dialogues and situations which make the reader glad they are not in the same position as the character(s).

I would certainly recommend this title, not because of it's status as a modern classic, but due to the fact that it is a quick, intense and involving read that takes you quite literally on a fun filled journey of fear and loathing. Definitely worth a read.