Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was an American author acclaimed for speculative fiction and fantasy. Born in Berkeley, California, she studied at Radcliffe College and Columbia University. Le Guin became widely known for the Earthsea series, beginning with *A Wizard of Earthsea* (1968), and for her science-fiction “Hainish Cycle,” including *The Left Hand of Darkness* (1969). Her work often explored anthropology, gender, politics, and ecology through imaginative world-building and precise prose. She also wrote short stories, poetry, essays, and books for children, and was a prominent voice on literature and publishing. Le Guin received major honors, including the Hugo and Nebula Awards.