The Orbis

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of www.capitolabookcafe.com [Click to enlarge]

Hunter S. Thompson shot himself on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, leaving no apparent note or rationale, only his extensive works and incomparable legacy. Known mostly for his 1971 book, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," Thompson was a part of the journalistic revolution of the ‘60s that based itself on a personal, almost participatory reporting style. Far from being simply the drug-crazed psychotic that he is popularly known as, Thompson was also an avid sports fan (yes, you can be both at once) and an idealist.

His works centered around the idealism that he believed was born in the ‘60s. “We had all the momentum,” he wrote. “We were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave.” His later works examined what happened to this idealist wave, in the context of the 1972 election campaign, the self-centered generation of the ‘80s and the victory of Bill Clinton in 1992. His collected works lament the loss of the idealism of youth and the betrayal of the American Dream by the government. His dedication to truth and honesty in journalism was unique to say the least, and for this America has lost one of its most relevant voices.

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