American writer of science fiction and fantasy, poet and critical essays. Her thought-provoking novels include The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, as did The Dispossessed (1974), and Lavinia (2008). Science fiction was not...
[more]American writer of science fiction and fantasy, poet and critical essays. Her thought-provoking novels include The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, as did The Dispossessed (1974), and Lavinia (2008).
Science fiction was not always a welcoming place for women -- or at least, for women not wearing chrome bikinis. But that began to change in the '60s and '70s, when LeGuin's feminist questionings and ample talent transformed science fiction into a brave and better new world.
She was born in 1929 to the prominent anthropologist Alfred Kroeber and the author Theodora (best known for "Ishi in Two Worlds"). Raised in academia, LeGuin became rather academic herself, earning a B.A. from Radcliffe and an M.A. from Columbia. A Fulbright scholarship brought her to Europe, where she met and married historian Charles LeGuin.
A student of Romance literature, Ursula LeGuin had written poetry and realist fiction. But when she discovered science fiction, she found her niche. Her first book came out in 1966 and by the early 1970s she had become one of the genre's most honored writers, acclaimed for her utopian themes. LeGuin found her greatest success with her "Earthsea" trilogy, books written for teens that were enjoyed by adults as well. With plots similar to those of the more recent "Harry Potter" stories, the series didn't generate Potter-like mania, but it was very popular.
The "Earthsea" books did come under some fire from feminists, however, for their largely passive female characters. The criticism seems somewhat unfair, as LeGuin's other novels sport an ample amount of subverted and questioned gender roles. In any case, the backlash did provoke LeGuin to explore her stance on feminism, and in 1990 she amended the trilogy with "Tehanu," an exploration of female strength.
Throughout her long career LeGuin has written prolifically, producing not just stories, but science fiction scholarship. In her analyses, she argues against science fiction's ghetto status as "genre" fiction, insisting that literature is literature. In light of this, one hesitates to dub her the "First Lady of Sci-Fi" -- perhaps she deserves a wider attribute. In any case, she remains an admired author. LeGuin lives in Portland, Oregon, and is a mother of three.
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