Legendary Sci-Fi Author Ursula K. Le Guin Passes Away

Ursula K. Le Guin, the legendary sci-fi author, has passed away. She has died at the age of 88. Le Guin was mostly known for her Earths series. She has written more than 20 novels, 100 short stories, won the most prestigious sci-fi award and influenced geniuses like Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin.

Here are a few things to know about the pioneer:

Her work explored sociology and politics. It also explored and pushed gender boundaries. For example, her novel, The Left Hand of Darkness, imagined w world where people could change between male and female

Le Guin was born in Berkeley, California. She went to Radcliffe College, Massachusetts and then to Columbia University, where she became a Fulbright Fellow.

Her first novel, Rocannon’s World, was published in 1966.

Her famous Earthsea series is set on hundreds of islands, surrounded by uncharted ocean. Magic is a central part of life at Earthsea.

Le Guin was tech-savvy and started a blog in 2010. She included her reflections about writing and her age.

She often spoke about the unsustainibility of capitalism. “We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable – but then, so did the divine right of kings,” she said during a speech at the 2014 National Book Awards. “Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art, the art of words.”

She spoke about women's rights. "When women speak truly, they speak subversively — they can’t help it: if you’re underneath, if you’re kept down, you break out, you subvert. We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experience as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains. That’s what I want – to hear you erupting. You young Mount St Helenses who don’t know the power in you – I want to hear you," she said at a commencement speech at Bryn Mawr College.

Authors around the world are expressing their condolences: 

I just learned that Ursula K. Le Guin has died. Her words are always with us. Some of them are written on my soul. I miss her as a glorious funny prickly person, & I miss her as the deepest and smartest of the writers, too. Still honoured I got to do this: https://t.co/U4mma5pJMw

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 23, 2018

"Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom and so they use them with care with thought with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger brighter deeper.” Thank you Ursula K. Le Guin pic.twitter.com/iSS0o3aUOM

— Rachel Miner (@RachelMiner1) January 24, 2018

Also Read: Angela Saini’s New Book Challenges Sexism in The Field Of Science