Ursula K. LeGuin was an American author who was born on October 21, 1929, in Berkeley, California and passed away on January 22, 2018. ¹⁾

LeGuin wrote numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, including the Earthsea series. ²⁾

The Earthsea series consists of five novels and several short stories, which were published between 1968 and 2001. ³⁾

The first book in the series, “A Wizard of Earthsea,” was published in 1968 and tells the story of a young wizard named Ged, who attends a school for magic and battles his inner demons. ⁴⁾

The Earthsea series is widely regarded as a classic of fantasy literature and has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award, the Nebula Award, and the Hugo Award. ⁵⁾

LeGuin's writing is often praised for its lyrical prose and complex characters, as well as its exploration of themes such as the balance between light and dark, the power of language, and the importance of understanding and respecting the natural world. ⁶⁾

The Earthsea series has been adapted into various forms of media, including a 2004 animated film and 2018 miniseries produced by Studio Ghibli. ⁷⁾

LeGuin was also a prolific essayist and critic, and her non-fiction work includes “The Language of the Night,” a collection of essays on science fiction and fantasy. ⁸⁾

LeGuin was a fierce advocate for social and environmental justice and often used her writing to explore these themes. ⁹⁾

LeGuin was awarded the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2014. ¹⁰⁾

LeGuin's parents were both well-known authors, and her father, Alfred Kroeber, was a prominent anthropologist. ¹¹⁾

LeGuin attended Radcliffe College and earned a degree in Renaissance literature. ¹²⁾

LeGuin was married to Charles A. LeGuin, a historian, and writer, and the couple had three children. ¹³⁾

LeGuin was a prolific letter writer and corresponded with many other writers and intellectuals throughout her life. ¹⁴⁾

LeGuin's influence on the science fiction and fantasy genre is immense, and her work has inspired countless writers and readers around the world. ¹⁵⁾