Ursula K. Le Guin Books

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Ursula K. Le Guin was a famous American author that wrote science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. She wrote several novels, short stories, poems, and children’s books over the course of her 60-year career.

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Born in 1929 in Berkley, California, her father (Alfred Louis Kroeber) was an anthropologist. Theodora Kroeber, her mother, was an author. Theodora started writing in her 60s, producing works like ‘Ishi in Two Worlds.’

Ursula and her siblings were avid readers. The author took an interest in science fiction and fantasy at a young age, reading Norse Mythology, Native American legends, and publications like ‘Astounding Science.’

A passion for writing followed soon after, with Ursula submitting her first short story (to Astounding Science Fiction) before she was a teenager. Admittedly, the achievement did not bolster her confidence because the short story was rejected.

Ursula moved on, joining Berkley High School, attending Radcliffe College (Harvard University), and earning a Master of Arts from Columbia University. In the early 50s, a Fullbright Grant allowed her to travel to France to further her studies.

The author’s birth name was Ursula Kroeber. On her way to France (1953), she met Charles Le Guin. She married the historian that same year, taking his surname.

The development upended her studies. At the time, her husband was pursuing his doctorate. Later on, they had a daughter (1957). Another daughter followed (1959), and then a son (1964).

Even though she wanted desperately to write, her children kept the author busy. But she persevered, publishing her first short story in 1961. Publishers had rejected the five novels she had written in the last ten years, so the publication of her short story (An die Musik) was significant.

She wrote and published several stories until ‘Rocannon’s World’ came out in 1966, her first novel. Many people believe that ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ is her best novel.

It came out in 1968, and even though she aimed the story at teenagers, it also appealed to adults. Ursula had no interest in writing for young adults. She wrote the book because an editor assured her that teenagers were a lucrative market.

Her next novel, ‘The Left Hand of Darkness,’ shocked the publishing industry because it tackled controversial themes such as sexuality and gender. The book generated a lot of buzz among critics and audiences. Eventually, it received awards recognition.

Today, the book sits alongside ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ as one of Ursula’s most important works. Though, it is worth noting that she wrote sequels for ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ that critics and audiences loved.
The books are rarely mentioned because ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ tends to eclipse them. But diehard Ursula K. Le Guin fans love the entire series.

Her literary heroes include Victor Hugo, J.R.R. Tolkien, Philip K. Dick, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy, to mention but a few.

Ursula K. Le Guin Awards

Ursula has won several Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards.

Ursula K. Le Guin Books into Movies

‘The Lathe of Heaven’ became a film. Studio Ghibli used two Earthsea books (3 and 4) to create ‘Tales from Earthsea,’ an epic fantasy anime film. The Sci-Fi Channel turned the Earthsea books into a miniseries (Legend of Earthsea).

Best Ursula K. Le Guin Books

The author was 88 when she died. Her health was poor for months before she passed away in 2018. Ursula’s best books include:

A Wizard of Earthsea: A Wizard of Earthsea is the first novel in the Earthsea Cycle series. The central character, Ged, is the greatest sorcery the world has ever seen. However, in his youth, Ged used the name Sparrowhawk, and he was a far cry from the influential figure so many people respect.

Sparrowhawk was brash and arrogant, and he wanted power. But his carelessness unleashed a dark entity. And now, Sparrowhawk must restore the balance.

The Left Hand of Darkness: The Left Hand of Darkness is part of the Hainish Cycle of books. The novel follows a human emissary that travels to an alien world in the hopes of convincing the civilization to join an intergalactic empire. But the inhabitants of the strange world are unlike any the emissary has ever met because they can discard their gender for a new one. The emissary is forced to confront and reexamine his views.

When Does The Next Ursula K. Le Guin book come out?

The next book by Ursula K. Le Guin is Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel and will be released on March, 11th 2025. It is the newest book in the Ursula K. Le Guin Graphic Novels.

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