Born in 1929, Ursula Le Guin was a prolific figure in the literary world. The daughter of anthropologist Alfred Kroeber and writer Theodora Kroeber, she grew up in Berkeley, California. Particularly her father inspired her works, as his own anthropologic endeavors centered around the study of humanity, human behavior, human biology, cultural constructs, societies and social relations, and linguistics. Essentially, he led her to ask the question - what makes us human? She attended Radcliffe College at Harvard University and advanced to graduate school at Columbia University. In 1953, she married historian Charles A. Le Guin, and moved with him to Portland, Oregon, in 1958, where they would have three children. Le Guin died in her home in 2018.

Le Guin began publishing her work in the 1960s. Many of the 23 novels, 12 short story volumes, 11 poetry volumes, 13 children’s books, five essay collections, and four translated works depict futuristic or alternative worlds. These universes focus on issues such as politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality, and ethnography. The Left Hand of Darkness was her first major science fiction work, A Wizard of Earthsea her most famous fantasy novel, and So Far So Good her last poetry collection that drew critical reader interest in her later years.

Her most notable awards include a National Book Award, several Hugo Awards and Nebula Awards, and the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Furthermore, the Library of Congress named her a Living Legend in 2000. In 2016, the Library of America published Le Guin’s work as one of few authors alive to see it. Three of her books have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award.

Le Guin’s dedication to publishing her controversial ideas has cemented her legacy as one of the most impactful authors in American history.