Pioneering Female Sci-Fi Star Ursula Le Guin Passes Aged 88 | Alternative Fruit

During the 1960s, the world was treated to swathes of quality science fiction and fantasy writing. The regular magazines were well read and new talent was continuously bubbling up to the surface. With an editorial eye always ever watchful, the cream of this crop could then be highlighted and turned into a nationwide phenomenon. In the stereotypically male dominated science writing sector, seeing a woman's name in the credits must have been extremely promising for other women and girls who knew they could also write well. The prejudices seemed to be fading, and they were as now even more women feel able to and capable of releasing great writing.


Ursula Le Guin's work touches on the human emotions and the subtle interconnectivity of political and factional priorities. She had an incredible reach with the imagination, showing that she could write convincingly in many genres and styles. The science fiction was only one of many routes taken by Ursula, however it was in this genre that she won the most recognition. She's also turned her hand to fantasy, poetry, children's writing, and lectures.


As a child, with her two siblings, Ursula was encouraged to read. Her family had friends from varying cultures in America, including Native Americans. Having this unusual tolerance enabled Ursula to understand dynamic and frictions between cultures from all sides. This no doubt helped her to create full and wholesome writing. She's struggled with technical subjects at school, but found science fulfilling to write about. Ursula clearly had the imagination and the scope, just perhaps not the logic required to do long division.


Ursula died on the 22nd of Jan 2018 in her home in Oregon.


Listen to a free dramatisation of a selection of her books.


Find all the Ursula Le Guin you can ever need on Amazon UK and Amazon US.