The Hipsters

by Terry Southern, Nile Southern (Editor), Gabriel Levinson (Editor)

“Thoughtfully edited . . . these pieces show Southern honing his technique and mastering the rules he would later scramble.” — Publishers Weekly “A most welcome collection for longtime Southern fans and neophytes alike.” — Kirkus Reviews [starred review] “As soon as I dipped my eyes into the book I was enchanted and instantly wrapped up inside its lovely walls. For anybody familiar with Terry’s writing, this is the perfect interlude. I love every page of it.” —Victor Bockris “ The Hipsters is a brilliant and important book. Just like his dad, Terry, Nile Southern has edited the writings and the history of a really important author and yet-to-be-documented period in our culture which is finally being addressed. Terry Southern’s combination of street smarts and elegance make his satirical gems classic literature. Like Jonathan Swift, he shows us who we are and how we got that way—and makes us want to read more. And his son, Nile, captures it all with grace and humor. This is a book you will want to carry with you everywhere you go!” —David Amram, composer/conducter/multi-instrumentalist This anthology of never-before-published and uncollected work charts the creative evolution of Terry Southern—from Quality-lit craftsman to visionary provocateur—through journal entries, short stories, an abandoned novel borne of his postwar Paris experience, a declaration of cinema’s triumph over the page, tastes of screenplays (including the first adaptation of A Clockwork Orange and a sequel to Easy Rider ), and a eulogy penned for Charlie Parker that reflects the author's own “mercilessly schizoid, uncompromising integrity.” Bursting from the pen of one of the most original American writers of the twentieth century, these previously unseen gems reveal a searching, fertile mind as he rewires the boundaries of storytelling.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2021

About the author

Terry Southern was an American novelist, screenwriter, essayist, and satirist renowned for his sharp wit, fearless satire, and incisive observations on American life. A leading voice of the counterculture and a progenitor of New Journalism, Southern made lasting contributions to both literature and film, influencing generations of writers and filmmakers with his unique blend of surreal humor and cultural critique.
Born in Alvarado, Texas, Southern served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he was stationed in North Africa and Italy. After the war, he studied philosophy at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago before moving to Paris in 1948 on the G.I. Bill. There, he became part of the expatriate literary scene and developed friendships with other writers and artists. It was during this period that he met Mason Hoffenberg, with whom he co-wrote the controversial erotic satire Candy, published in 1958. The novel was banned in several countries but became an underground classic, cementing Southern’s reputation as a daring literary voice.
Southern’s first novel, Flash and Filigree (1958), introduced readers to his darkly comedic style, but it was The Magic Christian (1959) that brought him broader acclaim. The book, which satirizes greed and corruption through the antics of an eccentric billionaire, exemplified Southern’s trademark irreverence and biting social commentary. He followed this with the acclaimed short story collection Red-Dirt Marijuana and Other Tastes (1967), the porn-industry parody Blue Movie (1970), and the semi-autobiographical Texas Summer (1992).
In the 1960s, Southern turned to screenwriting and quickly became one of the most sought-after writers in Hollywood. He co-wrote the screenplay for Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), a black comedy about nuclear war that earned him an Academy Award nomination. His other screenwriting credits include The Loved One (1965), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Barbarella (1968), Easy Rider (1969), and the film adaptation of The Magic Christian (1969). His work on Easy Rider was particularly significant, as the film became a landmark of the New Hollywood era and a symbol of the American counterculture.
Southern's literary and journalistic work also found homes in major publications such as Esquire, Harper’s, and The Paris Review. His style helped pave the way for the New Journalism movement, and Tom Wolfe cited Southern as a major influence. Beyond his literary and cinematic achievements, Southern was known for his friendships with notable cultural figures, including William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Hunter S. Thompson.
Despite early success, Southern struggled in his later years with financial instability and health problems. He continued to write and teach, contributing to Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s and lecturing on screenwriting at institutions like New York University and Columbia University.
Terry Southern died in New York City in 1995 of respiratory failure. Though his name is less known today than some of his contemporaries, his work remains influential. Revered for his unapologetic voice and imaginative storytelling, Southern is remembered as a fearless satirist who pushed the boundaries of both literature and film.