How to Start Writing Ursula K. Le Guin

Author and essayist Ursula C. Le Guin died yesterday at the age of 88, having written a huge number of novels, essays, short stories and collections of poetry. (When you visit her website, the list of main headings spans three pages.)

You can probably see how many people are sharing posts about how much they loved reading Le Guin’s novels, or how much Le Guin influenced their own writing – and if you want to get to know Le Guin’s work, here’s where we recommend you start:

If you enjoy short stories or want to get a quick glimpse of Le Guin’s work, read Those Who Leave Omelas. It’s short enough to fit into a tweet, but it will stay with you for a long time.

If you enjoy epic fantasy, Le Guin’s Cycle of Earthsea is worth reading . This six-book series follows Geda (an impulsive wizard) and Tenar (a rebellious priestess) from adolescence to adulthood; It includes dragons, sorcerers and quests, but like most good fantasy series, it’s really about understanding yourself and choosing how to live in a complex world.

If you prefer science fiction, get the book The Left Hand of Darkness . I do not want to spoil anything, so I will say that we are talking about the interaction of humans and aliens, and you will discover the rest for yourself.

If you like essays or are a writer who loves to read about how other writers work, read The Wave in the Mind: Conversations and Essays About the Writer, Reader, and Imagination.

What other works by Le Guin would you recommend, especially to new readers? Which of her works did you like the most? Let us know in the comments.

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