Culture Thursday: Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin of blessed memory was one of the most seminal science fiction and fantasy writers of her generation. When she began her writing career the field was dominated by men who couldn't write a female character to save their lives. Le Guin brought a feminist perspective to what had been a genre focused on men and men's views. From her Earthsea novels to The Lathe of Heaven to the post-apocalyptic feminist novel Always Coming Home, she addressed themes and concerns which had been absent in mainstream science fiction and fantasy. She opened the door for other female authors, like Mercedes Lackey and Marion Zimmer Bradley, to come barreling through, continuing her work in upsetting the apple cart of what were once male genres, where female characters were at best window dressing. 

For this week's culture snap, let's explore some of her work, from her own words and those of others.

Remember, my friends: without art, life is a poverty.

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