cover image The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison

The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison

Jerry Hopkins. Scribner Book Company, $19 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-684-19524-7

``He was rolling along, drunk much of the time, putting himself out there, pretty much letting life happen to him,'' writes Hopkins of rock star Morrison (1943-1971) in this refreshing addition to the already large shelf of books about The Doors and their lead singer. Neither mythmaker nor debunker, Hopkins ( No One Here Gets Out Alive ) views Morrison as a talented yet disturbed person, easy to dislike but impossible to dismiss. In particular Morrison fans will welcome the most vivid descriptions of the star's death ever published, an unusually sensitive treatment of his first wife, Pam Coruson, and a previously unpublished interview. Hopkins also dispels the rumors about Morrison's possible survival and describes the making of the Oliver Stone film that sparked a resurgence of The Doors' popularity. His polished style and sense of balance, evident throughout, add luster to this well-explored subject. Photos not seen by PW. (Nov.)