William McKeen: Outlaw Journalist

Journalist starts with Thompson's
childhood in Louisville, where he learned the fine art of juvenile delinquency
while applying to the local literary club. He follows through Thompson's time
in the Air Force, champing at the bit under authority's reins, but developing
an interest in journalism that would define his career. McKeen describes the
eventual development of gonzo reportage, a no-holds-barred series of dispatches
that frequently cast Thompson as their focus—drugged out, twitching, and
constantly on the run from last week's deadline. The device came to haunt him
in later years, as the publicity turned him from the voice of a generation to a
celebrity uneasy in the cage of fame, but it also inspired his work. Thompson
always made his own best subject.

McKeen clarifies early on
that he was with friends with Thompson, and Journalist is an affectionate
portrait, albeit one that doesn't ignore Thompson's more difficult side.
Thompson took issue with being seen as a drug-crazed cartoon, but his real-life
antics weren't always amusingly cartoonish; he had a controlling, abusive side
that made relationships difficult, especially romantic ones, and his aggressive
sense of humor could often seem more madness than wit. Still, it's impossible
to finish Journalist without respecting the love others felt for him, or feeling a
pang at his loss. Fear and loathing will always be around, but the craft needed
to make them sing is forever in short supply.