Ursula K. Le Guin, born Ursula Kroeber, was an American author renowned for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction and fantasy genres. Her literary career spanned nearly six decades, during which she published over twenty novels, more than a hundred short stories, as well as poetry, essays, translations, and children's books. Le Guin's work often explored social and political themes, such as race, gender, and alternative political structures.

Born in Berkeley, California, to author Theodora Kroeber and anthropologist Alfred Louis Kroeber, she pursued higher education in French and began doctoral studies, which she later abandoned after marrying historian Charles Le Guin in 1953. She began writing full-time in the late 1950s. Among her critically acclaimed works are A Wizard of Earthsea (1968) and The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), the latter earning her both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, making her the first woman to receive both honors for best novel.

Her writings were significantly influenced by cultural anthropology, Taoism, feminism, and the works of Carl Jung. Le Guin often challenged conventional speculative fiction tropes, featured dark-skinned protagonists, and employed unique stylistic devices, such as in her experimental book Always Coming Home (1985).

Ursula K. Le Guin's contributions to literature have been widely recognized. She received numerous accolades, including eight Hugo Awards, six Nebula Awards, and twenty-five Locus Awards. In 2003, she became the second woman to be honored as a Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The U.S. Library of Congress named her a Living Legend in 2000, and in 2014, she received the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Le Guin's profound impact on the field of speculative fiction continues to influence authors worldwide.