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| Edition: | Vintage (Paperback) |
| Author: | Hunter S. Thompson |
| Published: | May 1998 |
| Pages: | 224 |
| ISBN 10: | 0679785892 |
| New: | $7.90 (85) |
| Used: | $2.00 (153) |
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. The book is a roman à clef, rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze. The novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971. It was later adapted into the 1998 film of the same name starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.
Plot summary
The novel doesn't have a clear narrative and frequently delves into the surreal, never quite distinguishing between what is real and what is only imagined by the characters.
The basic synopsis revolves around journalist Raoul Duke and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they arrive in 70's Las Vegas to report on the Mint 400 motorcycle race. However, they soon abandon their work and begin experimenting with a variety of recreational drugs, such as LSD, cocaine, mescaline and cannabis. This leads to a series of bizarre hallucinogenic trips, during which they destroy hotel rooms, wreck cars and have visions of anthropomorphic desert animals, all the while ruminating on the decline of American culture.
