There have been a slew of new books out recently on the recently departed Hunter S. Thompson - biographies, oral narratives, deluxe editions. This one is a sort of scrapbook compiled by the weird one himself. There are photographs, letters, and various snippets of memorabilia, all from Hunter's personal collection (somehow, back in the day, he had an early realization that everything he wrote and/or even touched would have value and consequently he saved every scrap and negative).

It is a graphically wonderful resource, an oversized collection printed on fine paper, and certainly a must-have for any rabid Thompson acolyte. There is the (now de rigeuer) intro by Johnny Depp (he has lent his name to many of these new arrivals) and then a chronological rendering of the writer's life. It begins with his time in the Air Force and runs through every area from the Rum Diary Days, Hell's Angels, and F&L in LV, through the Campaign Trail era, the time spent in Key West, and his work on Lono.

Some of this we've seen before, various photos and some of the writing segments. But in the whole, this is new and never-before-revealed material. For those who have already devoured Thompson's 14-book catalog - and are probably now on their second and third re-readings - this should keep you busy for weeks.