by leejoramo on 2/8/26, 2:01 PM
I remember Le Guin speaking at my university around 1990. She was amazingly open about her writing process. While she did not directly answer questions about the “meaning” of her writing, she did facilitate the discussion about her work’s meaning, and asked the audience challenging questions.
Of all my time at uni, I wish I had a recording of this event.
I understood from students who had attended a writing workshop with her earlier in the day, that she was gifted teacher.
by codeduck on 2/8/26, 1:23 PM
Le Guin's characterisation of magic and the power of Names remains one of my favourite treatments of the themes in modern fantasy. Earthsea remains one of my pleasures.
by mark_l_watson on 2/8/26, 12:55 PM
Interesting perspective of someone curating an exhibit for their famous mother. I am a fan of her writing, but strangely I most often go back to Le Guin’s audio book reading of ‘Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching’ with short musical interludes and small sound effects. 100% satisfying to listen to.
by libraryofbabel on 2/8/26, 5:29 PM
Slightly tangential, but I discovered recently that the famous literary critic Harold Bloom was a huge fan of Ursula Le Guin and rated her one of the great canonical writers of the 20th century, in all of literature not just sci-fi. Also, they never met but they struck up a polite friendship over email when they were both old and chatted back and forth.
Some might consider this raises the stature of Ursula Le Guin. I consider it rather as raising the stature of Harold Bloom. He recognized how she transcended genre and belongs alongside (or perhaps, above) writers of highbrow literary fiction.
by jacquesm on 2/8/26, 12:54 PM
Everybody that I know that reads SF has their own favorite Ursula K. Le Guin story. I have a hard time because I have two. 'The Lathe of Heaven' and 'The Left Hand of Darkness'.
by monkeycantype on 2/9/26, 12:16 AM
I only know your mother from a distance, although sometimes that was only few blocks apart on the map, I'm not aware of even passing her on the on the street, I knew only the part of her revealed in her writing and records of her public speaking, but even from that distance she has been one of the most influencial people in my life, her writing had deep impact on me, my view of the world and the person I have become.
by grahamburger on 2/8/26, 5:50 PM
I just started reading the Earthsea series to my kids last night, what a coincidence to see this here! I discovered Le Guin relatively late in life and I'm so glad I did.
by 8bitsrule on 2/9/26, 4:16 AM
Ursula was one of the finest authors in my lifetime, and was a real-life class act to boot. I dared talk to Ellison,Niven, Sturgeon but I only dared a smile in that presence!
by wise_blood on 2/9/26, 7:29 AM
I just wish Library of America published the Earthsea books
by pfdietz on 2/8/26, 3:38 PM
What a nice link. Thank you.
by jibal on 2/8/26, 5:08 PM
Lovely.
by abracos on 2/8/26, 5:01 PM
Why do people rate "The Left Hand of Darkness" so much? Is it because it was good at the time of writing? All concepts there are very shallow and mainstream now
edit: honest question, don't want to flame