Ursula K. Le Guin was a prolific author in the sci-fi genre, but her best books encapsulate much more than the traditional narratives readers associate with science fiction. Two of her most famous series are the Hainish Universe and the Earthsea novels. They incorporate fantasy elements and take place on far-flung planets or within unbelievable versions of reality, but the characters that inhabit them feel undeniably real. She focused on issues of environmentalism, colonialism, gender expression, and xenophobia. Her novels might have used alien races and magic systems to communicate their messages, but they are reflections of the real world.

Le Guin had a unique gift for creating worlds rooted in pressing issues and sci-fi books that are more science than fiction while also developing rich characters and fantastical stories. The novels were frequently told from multiple perspectives so the reader had insight into the protagonist’s experiences and, often, the antagonist. However, each character she embodies overcomes great change and a fundamental shift in their nature, as nothing is ever black and white. Publishing sci-fi as a female author beginning in the 1960s was no easy feat, but Le Guin stopped at nothing, paving the way for future writers.

10

The Farthest Shore (1972)

This is the third book in the Earthsea series, which is regarded as the original trilogy’s conclusion.

Though there are many books in the Earthsea series, there was a large gap between the publication of the first three books and the fourth. This allows readers to draw a line between the tales and view The Farthest Shore as a conclusion. It’s a strong finish and demonstrates the best parts of Earthsea, with Ged, the first book’s protagonist, growing old and becoming a mentor to a new young hero. The loss of knowledge, art, and culture are themes in The Farthest Shore, as a breach between realms steals the light and life from the people of Earthsea.

Told from the perspective of Arren, a young prince who joins Ged on his quest to right the world, The Farthest Shore is about coming-of-age and learning to control one’s power, as most books in the Earthsea series are. Like all of Le Guin’s work, The Farthest Shore believes in balance and equilibrium above all. These are heavier and more complex themes for a book intended for young readers, but Le Guin took the intelligence of her audience seriously in the Earthsea books. In doing this, she created fantastic works and a dedicated fanbase.

9

Lavinia (2008)

A feminist retelling of a classic Greek myth that influenced this later trend in literature.

Before the retelling of Greek myths from different perspectives, particularly the perspective of women became popular, Le Guin was exploring this territory. Lavinia was quite a departure for Le Guin and was written much later in life when she was exploring subjects outside of science fiction. The book reimagines the story of Lavinia in The Aeneid, and this time, she’s given a voice like no other through Le Guin’s prose. Though she was always a feminist author, Lavinia was an important work for Le Guin, as it solely focuses on the story of one young woman.

There are many great books, shows, and fantasy movies based on Greek myths, but Lavinia was an early indicator of the direction that tales of Greek mythology were going to take. Always ahead of the curve, Le Guin predicted and enhanced the existing novels that took on ancient tales and encouraged writers and readers to consider the unheard voices in beautiful but lacking pieces of literary history. Le Guin does not denounce the merit of The Aeneid and works like it but opens the door to see the world of the story as just the beginning.

8

Four Ways To Forgiveness (1994)

Through four different stories, Le Guin communicates one essential message in Four Ways to Forgiveness.

As the title would suggest, Four Ways to Forgiveness encompasses four short stories that are all interconnected as part of the Hainish Cycle. Though it later was edited to include a fifth story, Four Ways to Forgiveness was still a complete narrative without the final installment, and seeing the central planets, Werel and Yeowe, through the eyes of so many characters is a delight. Each perspective introduced in a new story gives insight into the inner workings of the planets that recently experienced a revolution and exposure to the Ekumen.

The book is intertwined with discussions on enslavement and sexism above all, as many of the stories take place in the wake of the dissolution of the institution of slavery. However, much like the real world, the fallout from years of subjugation and violence has extreme consequences and effects on every aspect of life for the characters. As they navigate their newly forming worlds and governments, the characters struggle to reconcile their pasts and futures in a world with such a devastating history. Le Guin has a talent for allegorically discussing reality that shines in Four Ways to Forgiveness.

7

A Fisherman Of The Inland Sea (1994)

Though not a novel, A Fisherman of the Inland Sea makes an enormous impact.

The Fisherman of the Inland Sea is a collection of short stories, and though each of them revolves around different characters and plots, they’re connected by similar themes. A few of the stories occur in the Hainish universe, which Le Guin frequently revisited throughout her work, while others take place on Earth and in the contemporary period. This diversity in location and time demonstrates how Le Guin wasn’t confined to one aspect of sci-fi and how she wished to explore philosophical concepts and characters in writing above all.

It should be mentioned that A Fisherman of the Inland Sea is a great example of how funny Le Guin’s writing can be and how not all of her work is existentially dark. She’s still incorporating her most important and influential philosophies in her writing. However, the stories’ brevity lends itself to allowing Le Guin to explore moments of levity and tongue-in-cheek humor. Written in her later period, A Fisherman of the Inland Sea proved that Le Guin never stopped being relevant. The book won the Pushcart Prize, the Kafka Award, and the National Book Award.

6

The Tombs Of Atuan (1971)

Le Guin weaves a sensitive but exciting discussion of womanhood in her second Earthsea novel.

The Tombs of Atuan is the second installment of the Earthsea series and pushes into new territory by centering a new protagonist, Tenar. Though the first book’s lead character, Ged, is still a large part of the story, readers have already watched him grow and develop and now witness him provide support to Tenar in turn. In the 1970s, few novels featured young women as protagonists, and even fewer let them be heroes in tales of magic and action. Le Guin imbues feminism into all of her works, and none so much as the stories where women take center stage.

Though A Wizard of Earthsea was instrumental in developing the Earthsea world, The Tombs of Atuan faced a lot of pressure as a sequel to a beloved novel. However, Tenar’s story is different enough from Ged’s while also drawing parallels so that the audience feels a sense of excitement and familiarity. Tenar’s sense of self, her faith, and her destiny all come into question in ways that Ged has never experienced. Le Guin gives just as much time and care to Tenar’s story as Ged’s but isn’t afraid to grapple with the differences between how they move through the world.

5

The Word For World Is Forest (1972)

Le Guin’s seminal text on the devastation of colonization and environmental exploitation.

One of her shorter novels, The Word for World is Forest, must work quickly to establish the setting, characters, and conceit of the story. However, this is no problem at all, as it takes only a few pages for the reader to completely understand the two groups in the story, their goals, and their sense of morality. Humans have descended on the Earth-like planet of Athshe and view the native people of the planet as less than human. The humans immediately begin destroying the ecosystem for lumber and subjugating the Athsheans to exploit them for their labor.

The Word for World is Forest takes place in the universe of the Hainish Cycle and challenges reader expectations about what to expect from alien races. The villain of The World for World is Forest, embodied by the cruel character, Captain Davidson. However, the issues of colonization and the ingrained attitude of superiority and entitlement shape the antagonist’s actions. Though the book is rarely considered as strong as other installments of the Hainish Cycle, it’s remained relevant. It’s a pure morality tale that intends to communicate a lesson to the reader.

4

The Lathe Of Heaven (1971)

Dreams, power, and the fabric of reality come undone in Le Guin’s novel set in 2002.

The Lathe of Heaven is one of the few Le Guin books to receive a screen adaptation in the 1980 and 2002 films of the same name. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to capture what makes these stories so thrilling to read and translate to a visual medium. Without Le Guin’s words, much is lost in the movie, as the book takes place in dreams and augmented reality. The protagonist, George Orr, is born with the power to shape reality with his dreams, but it doesn’t take long for others to try and harness this power to their own ends.

Many sci-fi movies make the worst future predictions, and as The Lathe of Heaven is set in 2002, it’s common for a knee-jerk reaction to write off the story because it incorrectly assumes the future. However, Le Guin and sci-fi writers like her never presume to predict or know the potential outcome of events to come. Her works should be viewed as fables and exaggerations of the current cultural climate. Within the story, Le Guin argues that trying to create a perfect world of peace and harmony could result in the loss of the best of humanity.

3

The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia (1974)

Questions of ideology and themes of anarchism are central to Le Guin’s decorated novel.

Winning the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, and the Locus Award, it’s difficult to argue that The Dispossessed changed science fiction forever. Like all of her best works, The Dispossessed is in conversation with relevant political issues of its time of publication. In 1974, Le Guin was deeply influenced by the war in Vietnam. Her writing in The Dispossessed marks a distinct political shift in tone and themes across her work. However, this sets the novel apart and helps it retain its relevancy, as well as the mathematical and physics concepts that demonstrate Le Guin’s deep understanding of science.

Though The Dispossessed wasn’t the first book published in the Hainish Cycle, it’s considered the first chronologically, allowing readers to start there if they choose. However, Le Guin frequently stated that the series could be read in any order, as they exist in the same universe but are unique stories. The Dispossessed tells the story of two planets, Anarres and Urras, on the brink of war and revolution. The novel not only contains speculative scientific concepts but also realistically captures the subtleties of culture and politics within the world.

2

A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)

This book introduced readers to the land of Earthsea and the story of Ged.

It speaks to an author’s talent when their works meant for children are just as highly praised and richly imagined as their adult writing. While the Earthsea series is for younger audiences, there is much value in reading it at any age, as the themes and plot are relatable to anyone. The protagonist, Ged, was Le Guin’s contribution to tales of wizardry, as he’s a natural talent but has much to learn before he can fulfill his destiny as a great mage. Though stories of magic and young wizards are common now, many wouldn’t exist without A Wizard of Earthsea.

As several of the other Earthsea novels are among Le Guin’s best works, it’s obvious that the quality and merit of the series’ installments never wavered. However, there is something special about A Wizard of Earthsea, as it sets the tone and creates the world that the remaining books would inhabit. Though it’s easy to get lost in the magical world of Earthsea and its many inhabitants, by the story’s conclusion, Ged’s fate is all the reader can think about. His arc and story sowed the seeds for future works and changed many young readers’ lives.

1

The Left Hand Of Darkness (1969)

One of Le Guin’s most famous novels that tackled subjects well ahead of its time.

In The Left Hand of Darkness, Le Guin delves into discussions about gender identity and physical gender expression that wouldn’t become part of the mainstream cultural conversation for decades. The fact that The Left Hand of Darkness was published in 1969 would be unbelievable if not for the amazing work the author had done leading up to its publication. As part of the Hainish Cycle, The Left Hand of Darkness sees Genly, an envoy of the Ekumen, sent to the planet Winter, where the race of people has no fixed biological sex.

The Left Hand of Darkness is why Le Guin catapulted to fame in the speculative fiction arena, and it’s easy to see why. It won the Nebula and Hugo awards following its publication in 1969 and 1970, two of the highest honors a sci-fi novel can receive. The issues of gender are only the tip of the iceberg for the complex philosophy posited by the story. When reading The Left Hand of Darkness today, Ursula K. Le Guin tells the reader that every person contains a balance of light and dark and that one cannot exist without the other.