Ursula K. Le Guin (Berkeley, California, 1929-2018) was a key American author in fantasy literature and science fiction, known for her deep social and philosophical explorations in imaginary worlds. She particularly stood out for two major cycles: the fantasy saga Earthsea - which begins with A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), a story of growth and magic - and the Hainish or Ekumen Cycle, which includes science fiction novels with strong social themes, such as The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) and The Dispossessed (1974).
Her works address complex issues such as gender, politics, anarchism, and ecology, with a critical and humanist approach. She was awarded multiple prestigious prizes, including eight Hugos, six Nebulas, and twenty-two Locus, in addition to the National Book Award and the Newbery Medal. In 2003, she was named Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and received the Alternative Nobel Prize in Literature.
Le Guin left a literary legacy that combines brilliant imagination with deep reflection on the human condition and social justice, establishing herself as an essential voice in twentieth-century literature.
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