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The Curse of Lono Hardcover – October 23, 2005

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 231 ratings

A wild ride to the dark side of Americana The Curse of Lono is to Hawaii what Fear and Loathing was to Las Vegas: the crazy tales of a journalist's ""coverage"" of a news event that ends up being a wild ride to the dark side of Americana. Originally published in 1983, Curse features all of the zany, hallucinogenic wordplay and feral artwork for which the Hunter S. Thompson/Ralph Steadman duo became known and loved. This curious book, considered an oddity among Hunter's oeuvre, was long out of print, prompting collectors to search high and low for an original copy. TASCHEN's signed, limited edition sold out before the book even hit the stores, but this unlimited version, in a different, smaller format, makes The Curse of Lono accessible to everyone.
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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Originally published in 1983, Curse features all of the zany, hallucinogenic wordplay and feral artwork for which the Hunter S. Thompson/Ralph Steadman duo became known and loved. This curious book, considered an oddity among Hunter’s oeuvre, was long out of print, prompting collectors to search high and low for an original copy. TASCHEN’s signed, limited edition sold out before the book even hit the stores, but this unlimited version, in a different, smaller format, makes The Curse of Lono accessible to everyone.

About the Author

Hunter S. Thompson's books include Fear and Loathing in America, Screwjack, Hell's Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Proud Highway, Better Than Sex, The Rum Diary, and Kingdom of Fear. He was contributor to various national and international publications, including a weekly sports column for ESPN.com. Thompson was famous for his free-wheeling, intoxicant-fueled observations on politics and society in Rolling Stone. With wit and salty language, he created a public persona of a hard-drinking, gun-toting anti-authoritarian. He centered his reporting around his crazy behavior and called it ""gonzo journalism.""

Hunter S. Thompson died February 2005.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Taschen America Llc (October 23, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3822848972
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3822848975
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.5 x 1.5 x 15.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 231 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
231 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the great artwork, including full-color illustrations. The humor is described as funny and entertaining. Readers praise the pacing as skillfully researched and written. While some consider it worth the price, others feel it's a bit expensive.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it a fun read with interesting collaborations and background stories. Readers appreciate the literary excerpts included in the book. The edition is nice, on glossy paper with an album-size hard cover.

"...Such an unexpected find for a great classic book. Looking towards more business with seller. Would recommend." Read more

"...Very colorful and a quick read. Highly recommend if you are a Hunter fan." Read more

"...The guy was very entertaining, and he has a very creative way of putting words together .. decided to order a couple of his works on CD...." Read more

"...It's an easy read, fairly short and very funny. It's also classic "gonzo" journalism...." Read more

19 customers mention "Artwork"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the artwork. They find the illustrations gorgeous with high-quality printing. The graphics are amazing and a great combination with the book. Readers also like the real photograph at the end that shows HST with his tribal mace. The illustrations are twisted as usual and a must-have for any Thompson or art lover.

"...Hardcover with amazing art work by Steadman too, whats not to love! Very colorful and a quick read. Highly recommend if you are a Hunter fan." Read more

"...- it's a large hardcover with an orange spine, and huge full color Steadman illustrations that are just gorgeous...." Read more

"...The artistic graphics are a little fun, but I wouldn't say they added significantly to the reading experience...." Read more

"...Ralph Steadman's art is fantastic and surreal so the hard bound copy is recommended...." Read more

9 customers mention "Humor"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining. They describe it as a fun smorgasbord of classic Hunter S. Thompson and gonzo journalism. Readers also mention it's an interesting read with a great story and surreal experiences.

"...The guy was very entertaining, and he has a very creative way of putting words together .. decided to order a couple of his works on CD...." Read more

"...I skipped a few but some were fun. The whole book is a fun smorgasbord of classic HST and gonzo journalism - I recommend it!" Read more

"...S. was at the veritable top of his game in this rather typically hilarious and convoluted ode to life in the tropical realms at the northernmost tip..." Read more

"...While the writing was fun and entertaining, I really like the full page art work of Ralph Stedman. It really was worth the price." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They say it's skillfully researched and written, and a must-read for Hunter S. Thompson fans.

"...The Curse of Lono' is a skillfully researched and written Gonzo journalistic account of the author's miserable experience in Hawaii, but I think..." Read more

"...It's basically a novel and an art book in one. Ralph Steadman's work is incredible. And Hunter is one my all time favorites." Read more

"...Simply a must read for any true HST aficionado. Magic." Read more

"The last great Thompson work that I have read which I hadn't bought because it's a bit expensive, but worth it in my opinion...." Read more

3 customers mention "Narrative style"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the narrative style. They say it's a skillfully researched and written account of the author's miserable, sanity-bending adventure.

"...The whole book is a fun smorgasbord of classic HST and gonzo journalism - I recommend it!" Read more

"...The Curse of Lono' is a skillfully researched and written Gonzo journalistic account of the author's miserable experience in Hawaii, but I think..." Read more

"Hunter S. Thompson's most sanity bending adventure, a must read for true Gonzo's...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive2 negative

Customers have varying views on the book's value for money. Some find it worth the price, while others consider it too expensive.

"...First the book was priced well below what some of the others available were priced at...." Read more

"...It really was worth the price." Read more

"Another fantastic work by the Doctor. Well worth buying." Read more

"...The book is hard to get and expensive, maybe not worth the price...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
    Got it quick and in better quality than expected. Such an unexpected find for a great classic book. Looking towards more business with seller. Would recommend.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018
    I am a big fan of Hunter and although this isnt the most popular book of his, it really gives you the same feel that you get from reading Fear and Loathing. Its very Hunteresque and really puts you into his shoes. Hardcover with amazing art work by Steadman too, whats not to love! Very colorful and a quick read. Highly recommend if you are a Hunter fan.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2015
    I don't even know where to begin describing how amazing this book is. Let's start with the physical book itself - it's a large hardcover with an orange spine, and huge full color Steadman illustrations that are just gorgeous. If that doesn't have you hankering to pick this thing up yet, pair it with Thompson's weirdest, most chaotic romp yet and you'll get a feel for what this book's all about. Maybe it's only for serious Thompson fans, but it's probably my favorite work by these two geniuses.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2021
    I was very pleased with my purchase of this hard to find out of print book. First the book was priced well below what some of the others available were priced at. It was listed as in good condition without much further description. I decided for the price it would be worth a gamble. The book arrived quickly and was in excellent condition, no rips or tears or damage. It just shows a little age as it is 35 ish years old. I would order from this seller again without a doubt.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018
    Didn't really know much about Hunter while he was living ... but lately I've been doing some research on him, and have read some of his writings. The guy was very entertaining, and he has a very creative way of putting words together .. decided to order a couple of his works on CD. Very happy I did.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2013
    The Curse of Lono is classic Hunter S. Thompson and very entertaining. It's an easy read, fairly short and very funny. It's also classic "gonzo" journalism. As in, you know HST is in Hawaii covering the marathon and he does some crazy things, but you also understand that HST throws a few twists and turns in to make things more exciting (which may or may not have actually occurred). The artistic graphics are a little fun, but I wouldn't say they added significantly to the reading experience. HST does a good enough job with his writing so I don't really need the graphics, but they were cool. I loved the real photograph at the end that actually shows HST with his tribal mace/ club and marlin. Also, in addition to the graphics, HST adds in a few other things to add to the experience beyond his writing: letters to friends and excerpts from colonial letters about Hawaii. Though the colonial letters didn't seem to add all that much, if you're a fan of Hawaiian culture and history, it would add immensely to your experience. I skipped a few but some were fun. The whole book is a fun smorgasbord of classic HST and gonzo journalism - I recommend it!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2008
    excellent book. i was completely new to his writing beefore reading this gem. crazy bleep* guy! his work seems to be more of a writers' journaling than serious novel-stuff. a travel-blog; if you will.. i haven't gotten into many of his other works yet plan to, eventually. even a holy-roller could come out freshpresssed and standing tall after one of his tales. good stuff, though. very good stuff. if you were one of those, 'say no to drugs' individuals then a lot of this might come off as tumultuous and confusing and weird and odd and, basically, not ur cup of tea.. take care and rest that crazy mans' soul. cheers.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2018
    While Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is certainly a fun flight into the chaotic nether-regions of Dr. Thomson's mind, I must confess to greatly enjoying Curse of Lono maybe a wee bit better. It's essentially a vacation from hell, where nothing goes right, everything is not as advertised, and to top it off you can't leave. While it still feels crazy, it almost has the hint of being more close to reality than Fear and Loathing does, as it deemphasizes the psychedelic elements to a more believable level and emphasizes the unhappiness of the trip and how everything just seems to keep going wrong, spiraling down into a whirlpool of distress. Like everything Hunter though, you just can't quite be sure.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 22, 2017
    Perfect condition
  • jean-philippe Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Boite et quatre CDs en bon état général
    Reviewed in France on August 31, 2016
    La lecture de Malcolm Hillgartner est assez facile à suivre mais j'avais déjà lu la version française de l'épopée Hawaïenne de HST... L'ensemble est assez attachant ;)
  • Arch Stanton
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Curse of Loco
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2015
    Yesterday was the penultimate day of my two week holiday.. What to do, what to do?
    I had chores to be finished (an ideal, not a necessity), but the sun was out and I'm easily led...
    What to do, what to do..?? [finger drum, finger drum.].
    Then it came to me... I thought I haven't read any Hunter S. Thompson in ages.!!
    Be a shame to miss such a golden opportunity on such a nice day.?!
    So that's when I went to Tesco's wearing my ugliest Hawaiian shirt, in search of rum!!...

    In this particular expose, the year of our lord is 1980, and Hunter is employed to travel to Hawaii in order to cover The Honolulu Marathon on behalf of a running magazine called...errr... 'Running'! Whilst there he decides it will be a good idea to cover a big wave surf competition, go on some big game fishing trips, and as usual, take time to discover and embrace the locals, their customs and their environ..

    On taking the assignment Hunter also brings along his wife and kids and then ropes in Ralph Steadman ~ his good friend and illustrator of his journalistic adventures ~ and his family too..
    After all what could be more relaxing than a one month all expenses paid trip to Hawaii?

    So armed with the travel journals/diaries of Mark Twain, Captain Cook and some other explorers I can't remember, the intrepid Hunter (with his type writer under his arm), gets aboard his aeroplane and heads for America's 50th state..

    Once there though Hunter soon discovers that all is not well. That Ralph has been involved in an accident, innocently cracking his back on some corral whilst paddling, and that the locals are an aggressive cavalcade of liars.
    And maybe worse still, that far from being relaxing, the islands are about to be engulfed by hurricanes and huge swells, and that the feared Hawaiian God of Indulgence: Lono, is potentially about to make his second coming....!

    Oh well... If you can't beat 'em join 'em, better find some drugs then.

    Curse of Lono is an extremely well written, amusing account, of the details covered in the synopsis above.
    Thompson's method (if you've never read him) is suitably described as gonzo or surreal, with his journalistic style mostly covering his own inner thoughts and mishaps, as he visits the different events he's employed to provide coverage of, whilst embarking on his own selfish, drug fuelled adventures, into his own egoistic heart of drunkness..

    Generally HST's work follows a pattern, but in this (which is very similar to say Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), as seems customary; Hunter drinks, insults the locals, buys a 300yr old Samoan war club to kill things with, takes drugs, insults the tourists, schemes on how to win a marathon without actually training for it, hooks up with a local marijuana grower, braves a hurricane whilst out at sea in the eye of the storm, and finally proclaims himself God after catching a huge marlin!

    While most everyone else in his party (Ralph, the family, etc) just sit back and let him get on with it!

    Of course you could be forgiven for saying:

    "Sounds great, like reading Moby Dick on hallucinogenics... But Arch why are you telling me all this, aren't you ruining the story..?"

    Well no, not really, because just writing down a few deeds/misadventures that he gets up to, isn't in essence what this 'story' is about. It's more about how you get there, and HST's observations and crazed exploits along the way... Like his discussions on penguin pimping or using his bullhorn to summon more ice and Wild Turkey... I suppose if you will, in answer to your question, spoiling the plot is a little like me handing you the guitar music of Jimi Hendrix on paper, then you actually listening to it!

    All beautifully (hideously?!) illustrated by Steadman along the way. His distinctive artwork just as prickly and disturbing as anything Thompson writes, and a fine bed fellow to his exploits..
    This is after all more art than strict journalism.

    The slightly smaller 210page Taschen release (The original HUGE limited edition goes for silly amounts probably?!) is hardback, and a lovely presentation ~ dimensions approximately 28 x 21.5 x 2.5cm, going off Amazon here. So it's still pretty big! The artwork is full colour and it also features all the original correspondences and excerpts (Mark Twain etc).

    Wait for a nice sunny day, find a comfy deck chair, bring whatever vice you need to the table, then get on board for a highly recommended trip into The Curse of Lono!

    4.5/5
  • crustycronkite
    5.0 out of 5 stars LONO IS BACK!!
    Reviewed in Japan on October 17, 2005
     1980年代初頭の出版、その後実に長い間絶版になっていて、ファンの間では幻の書として伝説になっていた作品がとうとう、本当にとうとう入手可能になりました。
     本作はかの名作Fear and loathingの弟本と位置づけられています(サモア人弁護士のオスカー・アコスタ氏は当時すでに死亡していて出てきませんが、本作でのドクターのパートナーはFear and loathingでイラストを担当したラルフ・スティードマンです)。
     舞台はハワイ、ホノルルマラソン取材のはずが例の薬物とアルコールの狂気にどっぷりはまった二人は各地で騒動を巻き起こします。本の出だしのスティードマンへの手紙からしっかり笑わせてくれます。そしてハワイの悲劇の英雄ロノ、彼が物語に絡んでくると凄惨さが増してきます。
     細かいことは本作を読んでみて下さい。とにかく、まあ、この本が入手できるようになってよかったです。ちなみに純粋なノンフィクションだったFear and loathingとは異なり、本作にはドクターの創作もちょっと含まれているそうです。それはそれで良しです、私は彼は基本的に作家だと思っているので(むろん最高のジャーナリストでもあります)。
     このハードバック、大きさは実に縦50センチ、横30センチはあるくらいの豪華版で、スティードマンのイラストも美しく醜く楽しめます。欲を言えば気軽に持ち運べるサイズのも出してくれれば嬉しいのですが(私は両方買います)。
     天国のドクター、ありがとう!
  • Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2016
    Thompson and steadman 💯