Le Guin, Ursula K. (1929–)

American science-fiction writer. Name variations: Ursula LeGuin. Born Ursula Kroeber, Oct 21, 1929, in Berkeley, CA; dau. of Alfred L. Kroeber and Theodora Kroeber (writer); atended Radcliffe College; m. Charles A. Le Guin, 1953; children: 3.

Taught French and creative writing at several universities in US, England, and Australia; regarded as one of most literary of science-fiction writers, because of her complex narratives and dense poetic language; works have garnered much critical praise while also having wide popular appeal; writings include Rocannon's World (1966), The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), The Lathe of Heaven (1971), Malafrena (1979), The Earthsea Trilogy (1979), The Beginning Place (1980), Always Coming Home (1985), Tehann (1990), The Telling (2000), Tales from Earthsea (2001) and The Other Wind (2001); story collections include The Wind's Twelve Quarters (1975), The Compass Rose (1982), Four Ways to Forgiveness (1995), and The Birthday of the World (2002); poetry and translations include Wild Angels (1974), Hard Words (1981), Going out with Peacocks (1994), The Twins, The Dream/Las Gemelas, El Sueno (with Diana Bellassi, 1997), and Sixty Odd (1999); criticism includes Dancing at the Edge of the World (1989) and Steering the Craft (1998); children's books include Leese Webster (1979), Solomon Leviathan (1988), Fish Soup (1992) and Tom Mouse (2002); also edited several anthologies, including The Norton Book of Science Fiction (1993). Received Nebula Award, Hugo Award, Gandalf Award, Locus Readers Award, and PEN/Malamud Award; manuscript collection housed at University of Oregon Library, Eugene, OR.

See also Elizabeth Cummings Cogell, Ursula K. Le Guin: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography (Hall, 1983), David. S. Bratman, Ursula K. Le Guin: A Primary Bibliography (Potlatch 4, 1995), and Donna R. White, Dancing With Dragons: Ursula K. Le Guin and the Critics (Camden House, 1998).