Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

By: Hunter S. Thompson

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Maverick author Hunter S. Thompson introduced the world to "gonzo journalism" with this cult classic that shot back up the best seller lists after Thompson's suicide in 2005. No book ever written has more perfectly captured the spirit of the 1960s counterculture. In Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, Raoul Duke (Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (inspired by a friend of Thompson) are quickly diverted to search for the American dream. Their quest is fueled by nearly every drug imaginable and quickly becomes a surreal experience that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. But there is more to this hilarious tale than reckless behavior, for underneath the hallucinogenic facade is a stinging criticism of American greed and consumerism.

©1971 Hunter S. Thompson (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"The best book on the dope decade." (The New York Times Book Review)

Too Much Fear and Loathing

Just goes to show, you can have great ingredients, but with the wrong chef, you still don't get much of a meal. First audio book in a year that I just stopped listening to, and put on the shelf. I felt like there was a little too much Ron McLarty and he overpowered Hunter Thompson's writing. Accents we're odd and inconsistent. Just my personal taste, take it with a grain of salt.

Ron McLarty?

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Unfortunately, I think Ron McLarty's narration really missed the mark. He sounds like a stoned surfer from Malibu, rather than Hunter. Maybe my problem is I had seen Hunter speak a few times, seen documentaries, even met him once, and McLarty comes off a little too much like Jeff Spiccolli from Fast Times. If you've never seen or heard Hunter speak or read, you might really enjoy it, but for the more familiar, hardcore Gonzo fans, you might want to skip this one.

A Review

Have read this at least 20 times since high school,college, grad school. I couldn't get past the narrator's voice. It kills me to not finish a book but this one was "ejected" after 10 painful minutes.

Warning: listen to sample before spending $$$!

narrator could have respected hunter's cadence

I felt the narrator was not familiar enough with Hunter's cadence and style so parts of this were too dry

I laughed A LOT!!!!

Would you listen to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas again? Why?

IDK..it is really a crazy listen and it jumps around a lot...the story is non existent...but the performance is incredible!

What did you like best about this story?

All the drug abuse...lol

Have you listened to any of Ron McLarty’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no, but I would...he is entertaining!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No...but I laughed and laughed!

Any additional comments?

This is not so much a story as a performance..there is a little story there..but its more a paranoid rant that is hilarious...yes I have seen the movie...and this is worth a listen...but don't take it to seriously...and if you cant find humor in severe drug abuse and partying...than don't even bother...it is well written...and performed...just crazy...I did enjoy it though!

Gonzo Lives!

This is one of the best books I enjoyed on Audible. It is certainly not for everyone, "R" rated, but captures the essence of Gonzo journalism and Rolling Stone Magazine in the 60s and 70s. Exceptional narration.

Sharp and Still Relevant

This is a highly entertaining download. It is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, but also is filled with searingly sharp observations of American culture. Thompson is writer of rare skill, his mastery of the craft sometimes takes your breath away, he's that good.

The book is occasionally a little disjointed (not surprising given the drug use it chronicles in great detail) and will certainly offend those who tend to very straight-laced, conservative Republican views, but it richly deserves its status as an American classic. It translates well into an audiobook format and the quality of the narration is very high. Recommended.

Exaclty what you expect, and perfect narration

This is a classic. You all know what it's about (drugs). And it's exactly what you expect.

The narration is just perfect. He nails the mood of the situation and the character of Thompson.

Haha. His attorney is a really funny guy.

Fear not

Not quite sure how to describe this all-time classic, so I won’t. Suffice to say that you shouldn’t miss it! The narrator, Ron McLarty, hits the spot exactly. There’s nothing about this book that could be improved.

A Literary Buffet

Apart from the absurd and hilarious circumstances of the story, I took delight in Thompson's meandering yet cut-throat prose.

Roller coaster ride of drug abuse

The narration of the book helps to make the disjointed nature of the story roll along more evenly than you would expect. it is well told and the characters come alive. it is hard to believe that this book was written over forty years ago as certain aspects of the culture and lifestyle are as fresh today as they were then and nothing seems dated, it seems relevant, almost as if you could have the same wild adventure today as you could then and nothing would have changed except for the names of the politicians. All in all a solid 5/5 and highly recommended by this listener.

Much better than the clip suggests.

The quality of the recording is much better than the clip suggests.
Narration is great and of course, the book is a classic.

Rooooooooooaaaaaaaaad Triiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip....

It's all you thought and some thoughts you couldn't have without chemical assistance.



This strangely lyrical journey too and from Las Vegas was something I found I couldn't just dip in to. You have to take big slugs and then just hang on and look out... I couldn't decide whether it was a journey I wish I was brave enough to go on, or one I took and just couldn't remember.

BRILLIANT

I READ THIS BOOK AND ALSO SAW THE FILM BUT NONE OF THEM COMPARE WITH THE AUDIO BOOK. I LAUGHED SO MUCH AND REALLY ENJOYED THE PURE MADNESS. THE NARRATOR IS FABULOUS AND PORTRAYS THE EVENTS SO WELL THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS ACTUALLY THERE.

Looking for the American Dream ...

Bravura exploration of ‘How low can you go?’ Underneath nihilistic depravity, disgust and gross-out headbanging, delicately balanced, is aching sensitivity, like Frankenstein’s monster quoting Milton. And there’s the pathos of a beautiful life in the losing. ‘Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight / And burnèd is Apollo’s laurel bough.’ But – hey kids! – who gives a f***?

A great insight into the mind of Hunter S Thompson

An enjoyable drug fueled las vegas journey.
sometimes difficult to follow but worth a listen

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

For the first time ever, I really don't know how to review this book. It's a difficult one to discuss. I enjoyed it. It's funny, it's horrible, and it's nonsensical all rolled into one. Maybe that's what being on drugs is like? I've never done drugs before, so I can't relate. This book isn't going to be for everybody; it can be crass, disturbing, violent, and downright weird. But it works for me, and I enjoyed it. The characters are great, and their adventures in Las Vegas are quite one of a kind journey that I think we should all take by reading this book. It a book I won't be forgetting anytime soon. 7/10

;)

Love this movie the book it’s good good to hear chapters that didn’t make it in the movie plus got it on one credit

Great read, 5 stars....

Great story and performance. Very glad purchased this from Audible. Once started could not stop listening

Decidedly Average

Second HST book I've read on audible and I can't say I get the hype, so many people say he's their favourite author but I just don't get it. Maybe I expected too much.