Ursula Le Guin, Pioneer of fantasy and science fiction, dies aged 88

Hello Gentle Reader

Ursula Le Guin was one of the greatest pioneers of fantasy and science fiction, for nearly a half a century, where she became an ambassador and advocate of the genre fiction, always striving and attempting to bring its merits to the grander literary heights. Ursula Le Guin concreted her career as a voice of epic proportions during the late sixties, with the publication of “A Wizard of Earthsea,” followed by her highly acclaimed science fiction novel “The Left Hand of Darkness.” “The Left Hand of Darkness,” became one core reading materials during early university studies, where science fiction was considered an acceptable form of writing, which displayed how the human race adapted to theoretical changes. Due to its subvert tackling of themes of gender “The Left Hand of Darkness,” also become a core component of the feminist movement of the time. It was during this time, Ursula Le Guin became one of science fiction’s greatest advocates, who attempted to move science fiction and fantasy away from the literary ghetto it had been placed in, and see it taken seriously like any other form of literature. Her “Earthsea,” stories and novels themselves have been compared to the work of C.S. Lewis’s “Narnia.” In the cycle of fantasy stories, Le Guin explored concepts of Carl Jung’s psychological theories, and Taoism, she moved in the opposite direction of J.R.R. Tolkien, and his grand epic narratives and battles, and focused on the less then unique characters as they traverse the archipelago world of Earthsea, and takes considerable note of the economy and social structure of the world, as well as the mundane day to day lives of her characters. As she matured and aged through the years, Ursula Le Guin became a fierce critic of the literary establishment, where she would openly unleash her candid insights. She criticized her friend Margaret Atwood, for refusing to acknowledge some of her works as being science fiction, so that Atwood would retain her high literary sensibilities, while avoiding being placed in the literary ghetto. She viciously swung at Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro, for his novel “The Buried Giant,” and the attempts between publisher and author from playing down the fantastic elements of the novel. It was during this time; Ursula Le Guin had become something of a mother of her tribe, where her works are now considered both entertaining and insightful. She is considered one of the greatest writers of genre fiction during her time, along with: Samuel R Delaney and Roger Zelazny. Throughtout her life, Le Guin had proven to be prolific and apt in many literary genres, beyond the short story and novel, she was a noted poet, and her later years became vastly prolific in essays and columns, where she shared her views and perspectives of the changing literary format. Now numerous writers, readers, and admires all pay their respect to Ursula Le Guin, for her candid insights, her moving and explorative fantasy and science novels, and for her advocacy for genre fiction to be considered more seriously in literary theory and culture.

Rest in Peace Ursula Le Guin.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary

The following are pieces written by Margaret Atwood and David Mitchell, where they pay their respects to their friend and colleague. 

Margaret Atwood

David Mitchell