For years, hstbooks.org has been a gathering place for wild words, Gonzo spirit, and the strange light that flickers between madness and meaning. It began as a tribute and guide to the works of Hunter S. Thompson. But like all living things, it has evolved.

The story now deepens.
The Spirit’s Janitor has joined the newsroom.

I’m still the same writer, thinker, and occasional troublemaker, but these days, the exploration has turned inward as well as outward. Alongside the Gonzo journalism and cultural riffs, you’ll now find reflections on therapy, spirituality, philosophy, and the poetic imagination. All of which are seen through the cracked lens of the human soul.

This next chapter blends Gonzo energy with Hillmanian depth psychology, the irreverent with the sacred, the absurd with the soulful. It’s therapy without the beige walls, philosophy without the ivory tower, and spirituality without the halos.

You’ll see more essays, reels, and reflections under The Spirit’s Janitor banner, stories that sweep through fear, healing, creativity, and the mad beauty of being human. The goal is simple: to re-story our lives, to make meaning where the world says there’s none, and to laugh along the way.

If you’ve followed hst_books on Instagram, you’ll notice the same spirit, just with more heart, more humour, and more soul dust.

Welcome to the hybrid zone: Gonzo meets Depth Psychology. Hunter meets Hillman. The newsroom meets the soul.

Stay tuned the mop’s out, the kettle’s on, and the next dispatch is already brewing.

— Martin Flynn
The Spirit’s Janitor

In an interview with Contact Music.com Johnson said –  “My neighbour and friend, God rest his soul, Hunter Thompson and I were sitting around talking about television. Hunter and I came up with one idea and out of that idea it evolved and underwent a metamorphosis. I took that idea and I brought it to Carlton Cuse (executive producer/creator Miami Vice) to help format Nash Bridges into the show that finally made it on the air.” 

Another little bit of information is that Hunter wrote an episode of Nash Bridges called Pump Action about villainous bodybuilders on strong, illegal steroids. It aired in 1999.

The ridiculous thing is the YouTube clip (see below) claiming  it shows Hunter in a cameo on the show.  It is only 30 seconds long. Have a look and let me know what you think. If that is Hunter in the clip I will eat my first edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I’m not sure where the rumor started that it was Hunter in the clip, but as someone commented  “That ain’t Hunter, know your dope fiend”

Discuss. Well there is probably nothing to discuss. It is not him. But discuss anyway.

(The featured image, I assume, is owned by CBS. I added the Gonzo fist. I will remove it all on request by the owners of the image, with the humblest of apologies)

I’m not going to launch in to any obituary or tearful regret. My purpose on this site is to track, find, detail and connect all aspects of Hunter’s work. A post about Hunter and Playboy, given Hugh’s passing, is an apt segue.

Hunter’s first, main appearance in Playboy was in November 1973. It was in their “On The Scene” segment. The small piece was about Hunter called Hunter S. Thompson: Commando Journalist. See image below

The next time he appeared was in November 1974 where he was interviewed by Craig Vetter. With photographs by Al Satterwhite. Headline image below.

December 1974 there was The Great Shark Hunt. An article by Hunter written when he was contacted by editor David Butler. Butler asked Hunter to write a piece about a fishing competition in Cozumel, Mexico. Image below was the lead-in by illustrator Paul Lamantia.

November 1976. In this one there is a Jimmy Carter interview. Mr Carter mentions Hunter a couple of times. Also there is a piece in the “On the Scene” segment called Checking in With Dr. Gonzo, where a movie version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with a screenplay by Larry McMurtry is discussed. Image below of first paragraph.

December 1983. There is a book excerpt from The Curse of Lono. Image below

Next was May 1988. Where Hunter talks about Ralph Steadman. The article is called Scar Strangled Banger to coincide with Ralph’s book of the same title. Article image below.

January 2004 50th Anniversary issue. Fear and Justice in the Kingdom of Sex. Where Hunter writes to Hugh Hefner. With great artwork by Ralph Steadman. See below.

Finally for now. The May 2005 issue. The cover says “Last words from Hunter S. Thompson. Post Cards form the Proud Highway. See image..

There are a few more where Hunter gets mentioned in different articles. For now the above are the main ones.

Enjoy.

Marty.

Hunter’s book Better Than Sex. Confessions of a Political Junkie. Trapped Like a Rat in Mr. Bill’s Neighborhood. Gonzo Papers Volume 4 has a very interesting story.

On July 31st 1992 Hunter, along with P. J. O’Rourke, William Greider and Jann Wenner flew to Arkansas to see and have a conversation with the then Governor Bill Clinton. Click here  The interview was published in Rolling Stone issue 639 Sep 17th 1992. Hunter referred to it as “the four stooges meet the next president.”

In 1994, a double issue of Rolling Stone magazine  (issue 686 and 687)  was published on July 14th. Hunter’s article was called Trapped in Mr. Bill’s Neighborhood.  Also in 1994 the book Better Than Sex was published. A fair amount of  what appeared in the above issues also appeared in the book.

Sometime during (or after) the above publications and meeting, Hunter prepared 3 red binders, thick with material. These binders went on to become the book, Better Than Sex. At least one of the binders was inscribed by Hunter “To Julie” Julie Oppenheimer was a “beloved friend” of Hunter’s.

Here are the basics gleaned from emails to me from a friend of Hunter’s. Hunter wrote an outline to the publisher (Random house in this case) to get the book contract. He’d wait to receive a check then send the first binder. He would then wait for the second check before sending the next binder and the same with the third. I’m not sure how often, or if at all he used this method vis-à-vis his other books. At worst, though, the binder method created a humdinger of a collectible set.

I came to find out about all this when a lady contacted me in 2010 after she came into possession of one of the binders (image above.)  It was first described to me as follows… “I was given a 3-ring binder with approx 275 xerox reproductions of HST correspondence and notes, all in plastic sleeves.”

The binder was in NYC. I live in Ireland so I contacted the good and helpful Peter Knox who agreed to visit the lady and investigate the binder. After that we contacted a friend of Hunter’s who lives on the West coast. He flew in, met Peter and the lady, and they struck a deal. The binder was brought back to the West coast and now it sits in a collection somewhere. I’ve no idea where the other two binders are. I can only hope they survived.

As always feel free to contact me if you have any more information or want to correct anything I’ve written here. Out of respect for the collector any other information I have about the content of the binder will not be shared.

Marty.

The news of this print’s imminent release has given the Hunter Thompson / Gonzo world a great injection of life. I will continue to do anything I can to maintain the momentum.

Also here is a link to a PDF of a great Steadman bibliography (Click Here) by Scott M. Burns. It was last updated in 2013 but I’m sure it’ll be a help in any browsing you want to do.

The featured image above is the print in question. Its not mine. It’s from his Facebook page.

If any new information arises I’ll post it here, on Facebook and Twitter.

More soon..

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Until…. 

Yesterday I got word that this (see above image) would soon be winging it’s way to my little corner of Ireland. Huge thanks to Ralph Steadman Joe @thejacka_lope and Brian @thelaunchpad for making this happen.

That is all..

Feeling honored and re-motivated.

Marty.

P.S Hope yer happy, John, aka savagehenry 101 

To be a bit fussy about it fifty years marks the anniversary of the book being published which will be in early 2017.

Photo Joe Y

The whole thing began as an article commissioned by Carey McWilliams. It was published in The Nation Newspaper (or magazine depending on how fussy one is) on 17th May 1965. Hunter was paid $100 for the article which he later broadened into what became the book we know today.

In 1966 an excerpt from the book appeared in Esquire Magazine (Volume 67 No 1. Image below) as part of an article on the Hell’s Angels.

In early 1967 Random House of New York published the 1st Edition, hardcover (with dust jacket) of Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.

There are 7 prints of the 1st edition.. I have not seen an 8th print and I’ve been collecting and dealing with this stuff for years.. If you know of more prints of the 1st edition please send word. The top closed edge of this edition had a black stain, and embossed on the front boards (main cover under dust jacket) was a silver motorcycle.

Also in 1967 the Book Club edition was published by Random House in New York. To the novice eye this edition looked identical to the 1st edition. The differences are simple to identify. The top closed edge of this edition has a red stain, and the motorcycle embossed on the front boards was red too. This book is a bit smaller than the 1st edition proper. See images at bottom of page for comparisons.

Now, every collector has one book that makes them go weak at the knees. My kryptonite, if you will, is a 1st UK edition (with dust jacket) of Hell’s Angels. Published in London 1967 by Allen Lane – The Penguin press.

Photo Joe Y

I have pounded the streets for years looking  for more information about this edition. According to some folks not many were released. Apparently only a chosen few libraries and suppliers were given copies of this edition. As always if anyone has information about this please send word.. It is hard to find this one in good condition. (Image right)

Later in 1967 a Taiwanese hardcover, pirate edition surfaced. It was noticeably smaller than the real deal when they were put side by side. The paper was of horrible, flimsy quality. A cool thing to have now if you are running out of things to collect.

In 1968 New York Ballantine Books published the 1st soft cover edition. Then onward from that almost every year up to the year 1985 various paperback editions were released in several languages. More on the foreign editions later.

In 1985 a significant audio book version was published by Copenhagen State Library for the blind, read by Paul Becker. Why significant? Because as a collector I find it significant that it is the only audio book version of Hell’s Angels. To my knowledge, that is.

In 1999 the first hard cover edition since 1967 was published by The Modern Library (A division of Random House) in New York. Much smaller with a dust jacket sporting a selfie by Hunter himself. Image below-top left.

A bit more on the foreign editions. Up to the time of writing this, Hell’s Angels has been published in 14 languages including Japanese, German, Polish, Dutch, French and more. The first non-English Hell’s Angels book was published in The Hague, Netherlands by Bakker publishers in 1971. Translated by Adriaan Venema.

I like to think that every book maintains a journey separate from the story contained within. Hunter’s work, including Hell’s Angels is no exception. If anything, considering the potency of Gonzo journalism, maybe Hunter’s writing forms a twisted sentience, hopefully destined to claw and stomp its way through the literary world.

As always, behind every writer there are folks tasked with editing, copy editing, handling, enduring all manner of torture. Jim Silberman edited Hell’s Angels. Margaret Harrell was the copy-editor. I have no doubt they played no small part in the book’s success. Moreover because of Margaret’s and Hunter’s chemistry they formed a friendship that lasted decades as mentioned in Margaret’s own series of books. More about Margaret’s books here..

Many thanks to Collector Joe Y for the images (credited as such) Header image by Kevin Hanrahan. All other images are mine.

As always I’m open to correction or new information. Feel free to comment with any suggestions. Abusive comments will never see the light of day.

One of Brian’s creations, a weighty, bronze Gonzo sword was delivered to my home yesterday. It is number 57 of only 100 made. I was expecting it but didn’t think it would be so impressive. More details on it here.

Please be sure to go to Brian’s site here Where you can see images and details about their collaboration with Ralph Steadman in creating a bronze of Vintage Dr Gonzo. The whole process is fascinating and the end result is excellent.

Thanks Brian! Thanks Joe!

The worldwide community of Hunter S. Thompson and Gonzo folk are in the main a righteous bunch. Back in 2008 when I started this site, and my friend Rory over at Totally Gonzo started his, I don’t think either of us could have imagined what a journey was ahead. And what is STILL to come..

The mind boggles when I think of Hunter’s enduring style and personality. His writing still brings people together as friends, helpers of each other from all over this planet. It’s not about the “Greedheads” It’s about the spirit of reciprocity. We owe it to Hunter to maintain this attitude. Its about the books, the work, the message he wanted to share.

So, after that brief moment of lucidity, I’ll sign off.

More soon.