Like a few others, I have to say I wasn't surprised to hear this news, though I am saddened by it. And thankful for the quote from Vonnegut above about his real "disease".

I thought he was an excellent chronicler/journalist of his times in his short lived prime, but not really an artist in the sense that Vonnegut, or Philip Roth, or Arthur Miller, or Saul Bellow, just to offer a couple of "for instances" were.

I loved his Rolling Stone era political writings, but have to say much of his other stuff left me cold, especially the obsession with guns and weapons, his violent nature, and certainly his treatment and depictions of women. He had some serious mental health issues he chose to deal with using drugs, alcohol, and violence, and used them to cultivate his cool and hip persona that became legendary and made him such a huge pop icon among baby boomers.

Sad waste of talent and ability IMO, and I truly pity his family, who are, if nothing else, free of him at last in the physical world anyway. I know this sounds harsh, but come on folks. There just wasn't much to admire about this man beyond about a five year writing streak, is there?