Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century

In this collection of twisted parables and outlaw adventures, Thompson writes about his early run-ins with agents of authority and the lessons learned; his stint in the Air Force and the beginning of his journalism career; his unsuccessful, though illuminating, bid for Sheriff of Aspen, Colorado in 1970 as the Freak Power candidate; the casualties and unintended consequences thus far in the War on Terror; and numerous examples of present-day injustice and hypocrisy--all with his characteristic mix of brutal frankness laced with humor. He also offers his own take on state of the Union: "The prevailing quality of life in America--by any accepted methods of measuring--was inarguably freer and more politically open under Nixon than it is today in this evil year of Our Lord 2002." Thompson continues to make even the most deadly serious subject matter endlessly entertaining. --Shawn Carkonen

Product Description

Brilliant, provocative, outrageous, and brazen, Hunter S. Thompson's infamous rule breaking -- in his journalism, in his life, and of the law -- changed the shape of American letters and the face of American icons. Kingdom of Fear traces the course of Thompson's life as a rebel -- from a smart-mouthed Kentucky kid flouting all authority to a convention-defying journalist who came to personify a wild fusion of fact, fiction, and mind-altering substances.

Call it the evolution of an outlaw. Here are the formative experiences that comprise Thompson's legendary trajectory alongside the weird and the ugly. Whether detailing his exploits as a foreign correspondent in Rio, his job as night manager of the notorious O'Farrell Theatre in San Francisco, his epic run for sheriff of Aspen on the Freak Power ticket, or the sensational legal maneuvering that led to his full acquittal in the famous 99 Days trial, Thompson is at the peak of his narrative powers in Kingdom of Fear. And this boisterous, blistering ride illuminates as never before the professional and ideological risk taking of a literary genius and transgressive icon.

The publisher has been billing this book as a biography or a memior, but it really isn't. Although the book is organized around incidents and stories in the life of HST by the end of the book it became clear to me that all of the stories have one theme and purpose - to illuminate HST's view that American culture is making an authoritarian shift in what HST calls the "Final Days of the American
Century."

HST describes himself as a "fifteen year old girl in the body of a 65 year old junkie." A writer who came out the 1960's counterculture, he is now a libertarian who calls September 11th "the day the fun stopped."

For HST since then America has been gripped by fear and worry. He doesn't see the country in a state of war but having a nervous breakdown.

The result is a crackdown on freedom and behavior which is seen as a threat to the system and an overzeolous justice system. Almost every single story in the book touches on this. That's why I don't think it is really a biography. There is a reason why he chose the stories that he did.

HST is the only author I know of who is talking about this great shift in American post Sept-11th right now. America has changed and the country is at a fork in the road. George Bush is not going to be able to kill all of the terrorists or stop them. A choice is going to be made. Our country is either going to have to accept the possibility of terrorism as a fact of life and just move on with the understanding that no matter how bad an act of terrorism is it isn't the end of the world or else we are going to have to have the government take away many of our freedoms in order to protect us. It's a choice that needs to be made.

It is one or the other and HST shows us in this book some of the consequences of the second path. Unfortunately this is an issue that no one is talking about or debating over. As a result the Justice Deparment is increasing its power by the power of default.

HST forces you to at least briefly glimpse at this serious topic in this book by getting you to enj oy doing so through his humorous and frenzied writing style. He quotes Muhummad Ali as saying - "there are no jokes, truth is the funniest joke of all" - and shows us that the Champ is right.

This is an important book.


Nice to see you back Doc!   January 7, 2003
Dan Utter (Colorado (My Fortified Mtn Compund))
28 out of 35 found this review helpful

This Book is one hell of a ride in todays fischer price pre packaged world. We need this infusion to make us look at ourselves and realize what a real individualist is.

Our proud doc laces his own personal experiences with his dire outlook on todays world. Hopefuly this voice can be heard louder up and down the food chain and can influence another generation to see something besides the processed meilieu on the news today.

Its scary to see things were freer under President Nixon than today. It opens your eyes.

All and All a brilliant script to the whirlwind life of the Grand Pubah of Gonzo.

Many More to come, PLEASE!


Memior of a Prescient Patriot   February 23, 2006
Book_Wyrm (San Francisco, Ca USA)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Hunter was a lot of things to Americans of all stripes, but is abundantly clear in hindsight that he was a true American patriot, a canary in the mine-shaft. He knew, as he wrote, that Sept 11, 2001 was "the day the fun stopped". That George W. Bush, "the goofy child-President, has been chosen by fate and the Global oil industry...He will declare a National Security Emergency and clamp down Hard on Everybody, no matter where they live or why. If the guilty won't hold up their hands and confess, he and the Generals will ferret them out by force... September 12, 2001."

That kinda sums up the last 4 plus years in Gulag Americana, and the rest of the world that is suffering along with us. Hunter saw it coming the very next day, and we have been unwilling participants in the so-called "Global War On Terror", the GWOT, ever since.

Kingdom of Fear is certainly one of his best books, and it is an important book. He saw very clearly the America that George Bush would create, invoking 9-11 every time he stretched the limits of his presidential authority, or whenever one of his disastrous misfires threatened to overcome the MSM's blockade and wake up the chumps who voted for him, afraid that they might get a glimpse of the truth and demand some real changes. The true Kingdom of Fear is George W. Bush's kingdom, that of the appointed president, the unelected dweeb that thrives on violence and has made America a reflection of his inner monsters, the most feared and hated country on earth.

Doc saw things with a clarity that is denied most people, & he had the gift of being able to write about it in a way that was unique, that pulled us in and made us passengers on his literary flights. Gonzo journalism is what it was called and we sure could use a lot more of it, real soon, because the Doc checked out on February 21, 2005, one year and two days ago. He is sorely missed. I don't blame him for leaving, I often wish I could get out of the nightmare Bush has created with his GWOT, but I don't have the guts that Hunter had. He choose his exit on his schedule, and on his terms. There are a hell of a lot of American soldiers and Marines who didn't get to choose; Bush made their choice, along with God knows how many innocent Iraqi's.


Bad craziness in sheep country   January 25, 2003
17 out of 22 found this review helpful

I think the reviewer who called this book a "Big Dissappointment" is too concerned with politics and not concerned enough about keeping the buzz alive.
Which is what this book is all about. I would much rather read Fear and Loathing in Elko over Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail.

As for some of his old writings being rehashed, what's wrong with that? Considering that HST has documented most of his life, and this book is supposed to be a memoir, isn't it natural that some of his old work would show up again?

Whip out this book at night over a cold beer, and you'll be glad you did.

Did anyone else find the poem that was included on page 242 (Knock, Knock--Who's There?) to be exceptionally beautiful?
I did a search for this Edward T. Cross fellow but came up with nothing...If anyone can contribute some info about the man I would appreciate it.


A view like no other!   January 29, 2003
H. Row (Arvada, CO United States)
17 out of 23 found this review helpful

HST is bitingly funny in his recounting of episodes fighting against the System. In "The Witness" a has been well known porn star tries her damndest to set Hunter up for a BIG fall on drug charges and sexual assault. Thompson embarasses and shames the District Attorney and LEO's of Pitkin County (here in Colorado where he lives in Aspen).Thompson is, as always, his own person. Describing his days in SF working as Night Manager for the Mitchell Brothers famous O'Farrell Theater - THE center of pornography in it's heyday. Long running legal battles with Diane Feinstein and the leading edge of Freedom of Expression involving Sex in America. Oh enough BS! Thompson loved hanging out with strippers and other free spirits!

This is Thompson's first book since the September 11 attacks. He (accurately, in my opinion) feels that life in America will never be the same. Our generation and todays children, will be in a state of war for our lifetimes. He speculates that, for the first time in recent American history, the next generation will be less well off than the current generation. And America will relearn the sacrifices of previous generations. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Kingdom of Fear is a series of funny, irreverent memoirs describing events in Hunter S Thompson's life. He admits that some embellishing took place. A bit of what he writes about takes place in Aspen with quite a bit of Colorado "references" and landmarks, and personalities. Which (as a long time resident) I found enjoyable. The Ducati blast through "ranch" traffic and close calls with the "sausage maker" are hilarious.
The book has quite a few photographs including the back cover of Hunter buck naked except his famous hat firing a shotgun.
To sum up: As HST's good friend Warren Zevon wrote: "lawyers, guns and money"

A fun read from a guy who has led an interesting life!