How did Hunter S. Thompson break the "rules" of fiction?

Question

I recently read in Rolling Stone an article where Norman Mailer said that Hunter S. Thompson broke the rules of fiction. I was wondering what he ment by that and if the rules are still followed by most writers.

Answer 1

He invented "Gonzo Journalism"

Gonzo journalism is a style of reporting that mixes fiction and factual journalism. It uses a highly subjective style that often includes the reporter as part of the story via a first person narrative and events can be exaggerated in order to emphasize the underlying message.
The word gonzo was first used to describe a 1970 story written by Hunter S. Thompson, who later popularized the style. The term has since been applied in kind to other highly subjective artistic endeavors.
Gonzo journalism tends to favor style over accuracy and often uses personal experiences and emotions to provide context for the topic or event being covered. It disregards the 'polished' edited product favored by newspaper media and strives for the gritty factor. Use of quotes, sarcasm, humor, exaggeration, and even profanity is common. The use of Gonzo journalism portends that journalism can be truthful without striving for objectivity and is loosely equivalent to an editorial.
Other writers who have worked in "gonzo" mode include Jordan Kobos, Tom Luffman, William Godwin, Matt Taibbi and Alan Cabal.
Gonzo journalism can be seen as an offshoot of the New Journalism movement in the sixties, led primarily by Tom Wolfe, and also championed by Lester Bangs and George Plimpton.

PaX - C

Answer 2

He incorporated biographical information into it. He took part in his own fiction.