Intellectual Poison Bookshelf
Books and Authors I've Gotten Into, Have Loved Forever or Intend on Reading when I can get the chance.
George Orwell - his body of work is enough to warrant a top placement as he is and has been one of my favorite authors of all time. I may post one of his short stories up on the regular blog at some point. 1984 (link is to full text), Animal Farm (link is to full text), Down and Out in Paris and London, Burmese Days, Keep the Aspidistra Flying and As I Like (essays written as editor for the Herald). As well as my favorite essay of all time, Shooting an Elephant, which is a depressing tale but written in a truly remarkable style.
Laurens van der Post - an author of great skill I first read on a 3 month backpacking trip in Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada and other parts of the Southwest. In particular, A Mantis Carol, A Far Off Place (made into a Disney movie that wasn't anywhere near as awful as it could have been), The Heart of the Hunter and The Lost World of the Kalahari. A more complete list of his work is available here.
Eric Kraft - Herb & Lorna and Reservations Recommended
Roald Dahl - My Uncle Oswald, Over to You, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Going Solo and everything else I've ever read by him, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Edward Abbey - Desert Solitaire, A Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness, (Vox Clemantis in Deserto)