His vehicle was found on fire and his body burned inside.

The Painted Word, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, and The Right Stuff are three unassailable books. I’m surprised I haven’t read more of his stuff considering how good all three of those are.

This one plus Branca equals two Important artists in two days.

I didn't know who this guy was but i just heard his music and it's amazing.

Looks like you're well on your way to knowing who he is. You should get acquainted with the no wave scene. Great chaotic experimental punk.

I'm starting here

You already know the Contortions, right? No wave.

^ I've just learned about this sad news: Tom Wolfe was a fabulous writer and journalist, with the NYT describing his style as "shotgun baroque" - a phrase worthy of Wolfe himself, who used words in a way that no-one had before. And under the glittering style, he had a bunch of well-researched stories to tell too, so if you've never read anything by TW, I recommend you change that asap.

OccultHawk mentions three of his best books:-
"The Painted Word" is a good place to start if you have any interest in modern art: it's short and does a great job of ripping away the pretensiousness that goes along with so many art movements today.
"The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" will give you a long, detailed, insider's view of The Merry Pranksters and how LSD use spread out from California to change a generation.
"The Right Stuff" does something similar for the history of manned space flight.

If any of those topics sound dull to you, they are definitely not in Tom Wolfe's hands. Those three books are classic examples of "New Journalism" - a phrase that TW invented when he compiled a collection of articles by George Plimpton, Hunter S Thompson and others.

His novels are rather flawed, imo, but "The Bonfire of Vanities" is a pretty good read.

Big time RIP moment in the Lisna house. :(

And if you want a taste of his writing, here is the opening paragraph of The Painted Word:-

If you're wondering what it was that he noticed, then buy the book you cheap b*stards. :D

He was an excellent writer but I don't like how he's associated with journalism tbh, he has too much commentary and embellishment. Not that that's bad, it's just not journalistic. I view his books more as fiction influenced by true stories than non-fiction books.

You must hate Hunter then...

As a journalist? Yes. I love them both as writers, social commentators, and creative minds though.

^ It's true that anyone expecting the discipline of conventional journalism is gonna be pretty surprised by Tom Wolfe's approach. That's partly why he coined the term "New Journalism" for what some people were beginning to write.

Anyone by any chance read TW's "The Kingdom of Speech" or his last novels, "Back to Blood" or "Charlotte Summers" ? Turns out they're about the only books of his I haven't read: I must be more of a fanboy than I thought.

RIP

Music Banter video clips.

Phillip Roth

Reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated...

Le Guin, Wolfe, Roth...

George is next.

George Saunders?

Are Are Marteeen.

Speaking of Saunders.

RIP John Saunders and his show, The Sports Reporters. Real class act. He died in 2016.

^ Classic TB.

I knew this one would personally affect me tho i knew it would be coming soon. His wife, Jesse and Dodger must be devastated.

Didn't know him but I saw the story when he retired. Apparently he was a StarCraft guy and I was wearing my Day9 shirt when I happened upon the news so I felt some indifferent solidarity.

I still revisit his Secret Hitler vids with Nerd Cube and some Co optional podcast episodes.

Have you video dweebs read the book "Ready Player One"?

If I loved it, you guys will be creaming at the end of every chapter. Seriously, best book I've read about the WWW since Gibson's Neuromancer.

https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-...ady+player+one

Is Keemstar gonna report his death? Will the gnome prophecy come true?

Tell me there's a Keemstar story.

This is old stuff from back when TB's cancer was starting to become known public. Keemstar tags ppl on tweeter "you made the news" if he covers something about them in Dramaalert and TB tweeted back at him

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUXd4ubUsAA2VVn.jpg

And Keemstar replied with this gem.

Sht, im late. Keem alread tweeted this:

"I did not like him & he did not like me at all! But he was a voice for the community & fought for what was right & for that i will always respect him. This community lost a great voice."

He's not covering the story out of respect for him. He wouldn't have wanted that.

Damn.

Has Steven Spielberg died?

I read it a few months ago. Definitely a fun read.

Damn.

R.I.P. Josh Martin, Anal **** guitarist has died at 45

At least two down. Band wasn't meant to live to old age though.

Please god let the video leak

Geesh.

I just hope this doesn't escalate.

I see this thread is descending.