Hunter Thompson was a polarizing figure to say the least.  He created a style of journalism that hasn't been recreated very well since his time, and probably never will.  He was one of the voices of a generation, and his influence has been felt far and wide, his words touching many people in all sorts of ways.  Hunter was an extraordinary author, unique, and though he's had many imitators, in many ways he will never have an equal.

 What people should know about Thompson:  He was a part of a generation that saw the clash between the old world ideas and those of the new.  He was along for the Ride, he bought his ticket, and he was unflinching in his reaction and opinion of what he saw happening.  He was there in the thick of it; riding around with the Hell's Angels when they became famous and infamous, he was on the campaign trail with George McGovern in 1972, he was at the Democratic National Convention in 1968 when the police turned on the crowd and proceeded to gas and assault anything that they saw in their path, and he escaped almost physically unscathed, but not mentally so.  He was perhaps the loudest voice of those who were so into the New Ideology, or New Idealism of the late 60s, and also one of those so bitterly disillusioned when it was defeated by what was already the Old Guard, and even more so disappointed when those same people held on for so long that even in this day and age they permeate our government.  A better figurehead for Libertarianism, there has never been, and most likely never will be. 

 Hunter's supreme gift was the gift of language. There has never been so unique a writer of the English language that has been like him.  Intense, descriptive, provocative, at times light hearted and at times so biting and cruel, but always with a sense of Fun.  Perhaps no other American author besides Mark Twain has been nearly as insightful yet as thoroughly, riotously funny.  His command over the English language was a unique one, perhaps not as bitingly ironic as Swift, or as eloquent as Shakespeare, but Hunter's stock-in-trade was raw power.  None could match him for that.  How could anybody?  

 He is also a hero to some for the wrong reasons.  Many people see him as a champion because of his habits.  Now, most famous authors have been substance users, and many will be so far into the future.  However, the amount of people that claim to love Hunter almost solely because he used drugs reveals a flaw in their character.  Hunter was great DESPITE his habits, not BECAUSE of them.  Edgar Allan Poe was laid low just after turning 40 because he couldn't handle his battle with the bottle.  The drug people got a hold of him as a positive role model, but not because it was his ambition to do so (though it probably was in part), but largely because he was one of the ones who were tough enough to survive.  

 What should people know about him?  There hasn't been anyone like him since, or before or during.  He was an American Original.