The Hugo Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 22 (1975) award
Ursula K. Le Guin
アーシュラ・K・ル＝グウィン
Ursula K. Le Guin
Pen Names:
U. K. Le Guin（Abbreviated byline or credit name used occasionally）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1929-10-21 （Berkeley, California, USA）
- Died
- 2018-01-22 （Portland, Oregon, USA） age 88
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Berkeley, California (birth / childhood) → Portland, Oregon (later life / residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Short story writer, Poet, Translator, Essayist
- Active Years
- 1959-2017
- Affiliations
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), Authors Guild (member / affiliated organizations)
- Memberships
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
- Influenced By
- Alfred L. Kroeber (influence of anthropology / her father), Taoist texts (notably the Tao Te Ching), Anthropological and folkloric traditions
- Influenced
- N. K. Jemisin, China Miéville, A generation of feminist and worldbuilding-focused writers
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radcliffe College (Harvard University) | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | English | Bachelor of Arts | 1947–1951 | United States |
| Columbia University (attended) | — | — | — | 1951–1952 | United States |
Radcliffe College (Harvard University)
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
/ English
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
1947–1951
Year of Graduation:
1951
Country:
United States
Received BA. Influenced by family background in anthropology.
Columbia University (attended)
Period:
1951–1952
Country:
United States
Attended graduate-level study for a period; no recorded degree.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Nebula Award for Best Novel | The Left Hand of Darkness | Best Novel | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) | Winner |
| 1970 | Hugo Award for Best Novel | The Left Hand of Darkness | Best Novel | World Science Fiction Society (Worldcon) | Winner |
Nebula Award for Best Novel
1969
Work:
The Left Hand of Darkness
Category:
Best Novel
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result:
Winner
Hugo Award for Best Novel
1970
Work:
The Left Hand of Darkness
Category:
Best Novel
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society (Worldcon)
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Otherwise Award
2 appearances
-
Edition 4 (1994) award
-
Edition 6 (1996) award
Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 20 (2003) award
Works
Major Works
A Wizard of Earthsea
1968 Fantasy 205 pagesFollows the young wizard Ged as he matures and confronts a shadow he unleashed. The novel emphasizes moral responsibility, the power of true names and a richly imagined magical world.
Coming-of-ageResponsibilityLanguage and the power of namesEthics
Adaptations
- [Film] Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki) / Goro Miyazaki (2006)
- [TV miniseries] Legend of Earthsea / Robert Lieberman (2004)
Translations
- A Wizard of Earthsea (Japanese edition)
The Left Hand of Darkness
1969 Science fiction (socio-political SF) 304 pagesOn the planet Gethen, an envoy explores gender, culture and politics among a people who are ambisexual. The novel examines gender, identity and political structures.
GenderPoliticsCross-cultural understandingAlienation and belonging
Translations
- The Left Hand of Darkness (Japanese edition)
The Dispossessed
1974 Science fiction (political / philosophical SF) 341 pagesSet between two contrasting societies, the novel explores themes of idealism, freedom, responsibility and the tensions between anarchist and capitalist systems.
AnarchismFreedom and responsibilityScience and ethics
Translations
- The Dispossessed (Japanese edition)
Bibliography
- Earthsea series (complete)
- The Left Hand of Darkness
- The Dispossessed
- Numerous short stories and essay collections
Adaptations
- Studio Ghibli film 'Tales from Earthsea' (2006)
- US TV miniseries 'Legend of Earthsea' (2004)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrical, poetic proseAnthropological attention to worldbuildingIncorporation of ethical and philosophical discourse
- Recurring Motifs
- Otherness and assimilationLanguage and the power of namesPolitical systems vs. individual freedomNature and ecology
Legacy
Ursula K. Le Guin profoundly influenced feminist science fiction, worldbuilding and ethical imagination. Winner of multiple major awards (Nebula, Hugo), she remains a central figure in contemporary speculative fiction and a major influence on subsequent generations of writers.
Academic Societies
- Subject of study in science fiction and literature research associations
In Popular Culture
- Earthsea adaptations for TV and film (2004, 2006) have brought her work wider recognition
Quotes
-
The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.
Source: Speech / interview (commonly cited)
Trivia
- Her father was the anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber and her mother was writer Theodora Kroeber.
- The middle initial 'K' derives from her maiden/family name Kroeber.
- She publicly criticized some adaptations of her work (notably responses to the Studio Ghibli film).