Books by Ursula K Le Guin

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Book Synopsis'Her worlds have a magic sheen . . . She moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend' THE TIMES'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power' OBSERVERGeorge Orr is a mild and unremarkable man who finds the world a less than pleasant place to live: seven billion people jostle for living space and food. But George dreams dreams which do in fact change reality - and he has no means of controlling this extraordinary power.Psychiatrist Dr William Haber offers to help. At first sceptical of George's powers, he comes to astonished belief. When he allows ambition to get the better of ethics, George finds himself caught up in a situation of alarming peril.Trade ReviewLe Guin is a writer of phenomenal power * OBSERVER *Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their center ... Literature will miss her. There's no one like her -- Zadie SmithShe is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters * GUARDIAN *Le Guin is one of the singular speculative voices of our future, thanks to her knack for anticipating issues of seminal importance to society * TLS *Her worlds have a magic sheen . . . She moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend * THE TIMES *I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin -- Roddy DoyleA rare and powerful synthesis of poetry and science, reason and emotion * NEW YORK TIMES *[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be * EMPIRE *Ursula Le Guin is a chemist of the heart -- David Mitchell, author of CLOUD ATLASWhen I read The Lathe of Heaven as a young man, my mind was boggled; now when I read it, more than twenty-five years later, it breaks my heart. Only a great work of literature can bridge - so thrillingly - that impossible span -- Michael ChabonLe Guin writes tellingly of different kinds of society . . . and of the individual's response to them * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book Synopsis'A masterpiece of chilling narration' GUARDIAN'Wise, graceful, classic myth-making' THE SCOTSMANThe wizard Alder comes from Roke to the island of Gont in search of the Archmage, Lord Sparrowhawk, once known as Ged. The man who was once the most powerful wizard in the Islands now lives with his wife Tenar and their adopted daughter Tehanu. Alder needs help: his beloved wife died and in his dreams she calls him to the land of the dead - and now the dead are haunting him, begging for release. He can no longer sleep, and the Wizards of Earthsea are worried. But there is more at stake than the unquiet rest of one minor wizard: for the dragons of Earthsea have arisen, to reclaim the lands that were once theirs. Only Tehanu, herself daughter of a dragon, can talk to them; it may be that Alder's dreams hold the key to the salvation of Earthsea and all the peoples who live there.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of chilling narration * GUARDIAN *If you think you don't like fantasy, think again; Leguin's books simply give "reality" another shape -- Erica Wagner * THE TIMES *This absorbing philosophical debate can stand alone for Le Guin's new readers; for long-standing fans of the Earthsea saga, old friends are here * TES *THE OTHER WIND, a new Earthsea novel, felt like a homecoming to the magnificent otherworld that I escaped to at 14; wise, graceful, classic myth-making for all ages * THE SCOTSMAN *The characters and fantasy world are all vividly drawn and the fascinating issues raised by the story are important and profound * NORTHERN ECHO *Ursula Le Guin ... is a creator of marvels ... * THE TIMES *Reads like the retelling of a tale first told centuries ago, and whose twists and turns have been handed down through generations of storytellers. It is timeless. . . . Le Guin's words are magical. Drink this magic up. Drown in it. Dream it * David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas *A memorable exploration of the relationship between life and death. . . Ged, its hero, must face his shadow self before it devours him. Only then will he become whole. In the process, he must contend with the wisdom of dragons: ambiguous and not our wisdom, but wisdom nonetheless * Margaret Atwood *[This series] made me look at the world in a new way, imbued everything with a magic that was so much deeper than the magic I'd encountered before then. This was a magic of words, a magic of true speaking * Neil Gaiman *"¿a thought-provoking continuation of the chronicle of Earthsea¿a luminous, absorbing meditation upon life, death and man's relentless quest for immortality." * Booktrusted News *"This absorbing philosophical debate can stand alone for Le Guin's new readers; for long-standing fans of the Earthsea saga, old friends are here." * TES, 31 May 02 *"¿a masterpiece of chilling narration" * Guardian, 27 Jul 02 *"The characters and fantasy world are all vividly drawn and the fascinating issues raised by the story are important and profound." * Northern Echo, 12 Nov 02 *"Le Guin's storytelling is remarkable¿Without giving away the ending, it is both melancholy and affirming¿moving and rewarding." * The School Librarian, Winter 02 *"If you think you don't like fantasy, think again; Leguin's books simply give "reality" another shape." -- Erica Wagner * The Times, 7 Dec 02 *"The Other Wind, a new Earthsea novel, felt like a homecoming to the magnificent otherworld that I escaped to at 14; wise, graceful, classic myth-making for all ages" -- Julie Bertagna * The Scotsman, 7 Dec 02 *"A powerful and thought-provoking story of magic, love and loss." * Perth Shopper, 25 Apr 03 *

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Book SynopsisGenly Ai is an ethnologist observing the people of the planet Gethen, a world perpetually in winter. The people there are androgynous, normally neuter, but they can become male ot female at the peak of their sexual cycle. They seem to Genly Ai alien, unsophisticated and confusing. But he is drawn into the complex politics of the planet and, during a long, tortuous journey across the ice with a politician who has fallen from favour and has been outcast, he loses his professional detachment and reaches a painful understanding of the true nature of Gethenians and, in a moving and memorable sequence, even finds love...Trade ReviewIt's a giant thought experiment that's also a cracking good read about gender -- Neil GaimanUrsula Le Guin is a chemist of the heart -- David MitchellA rich and complex story of friendship and love * Guardian *Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their center ... Literature will miss her. There's no one like her -- Zadie SmithUrsula Le Guin is a chemist of the heart -- David Mitchell

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Book SynopsisUrsula K. Le Guin's essential guide to the writer's craft, now publishing in the UK for the first time. A guide for writing groups as well as solo writers, with a brand-new introduction from leading SFF writers Kelly Link, Karen Joy Fowler and Molly Gloss.

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Book SynopsisA deluxe hardcover edition of the queen of science fiction’s trailblazing novel about a planet full of genderless beings—part of Penguin Galaxy, a collectible series of six sci-fi/fantasy classics, featuring a series introduction by Neil GaimanWinner of the AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books 50 Covers competition A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary’s mission to Winter, an unknown alien world whose inhabitants can choose—and change—their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Exploring questions of psychology, society, and human emotion in an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of science fiction.Peng

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Book SynopsisThe first three novels set in Ursula K. Le Guin's famed Hainish universe, together in one volume.Trade ReviewLe Guin writes in quiet, straightforward sentences about people who feel they are being torn apart by massive forces in society - technological, political, economic - and who fight courageously to remain whole' - The New York Times Book ReviewAs good as any contemporary at creating worlds, imaginary or our own . . . Le Guin writes with painstaking intelligence. Her characters are complex and haunting, and her writing is remarkable for its sinewy grace - Time Magazine

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Book SynopsisUrsula K Le Guin's essential writings on feminism and gender collected for the first time.Trade ReviewEssential reading -- Kelsey Chen * ArtReview *

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Book Synopsis'One of the most deeply influential of all 20th century fantasy texts' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY'She is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters' GUARDIAN'I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin' Roddy DoyleThese five superlative, evocative and enchanting stories range from a few hundred years before A Wizard of Earthsea to just before The Other Wind, and feature some of Le Guin's most popular characters, including the Wizard Ged himself. The stories are rounded off with an essay about Earthsea's history and people.No Earthsea fan will want to be without this magical collection.Trade ReviewOne of the most deeply influential of all 20th century fantasy texts * THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY *Le Guin makes a triumphant return ... the publication of this collection is a major event in fantasy literature * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the 50th anniversary of the timeless and beloved A Wizard of Earthsea. Includes six novels, short stories and non-fiction, and with over fifty illustrations by Charles VessNAMED ONE OF THE BBC'S 100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLDTrade Review[This] trilogy made me look at the world in a new way, imbued everything with a magic that was so much deeper than the magic I'd encountered before then. This was a magic of words, a magic of true speaking - Neil GaimanThe Earthsea trilogy . . . is a memorable exploration of the relationship between life and death. . . Ged, its hero, must face his shadow self before it devours him. Only then will he become whole. In the process, he must contend with the wisdom of dragons: ambiguous and not our wisdom, but wisdom nonetheless - Margaret Atwoodthe greatest American writer of her generation . . . her work deepened, expanded and challenged my expectations of literature, [and] awed me with the power of an unfettered imagination - Michael ChabonA Wizard of Earthsea reads like the retelling of a tale first told centuries ago, and whose twists and turns have been handed down through generations of storytellers. It is timeless. . . . Le Guin's words are magical. Drink this magic up. Drown in it. Dream it. - David Mitchell

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Book SynopsisThis science fiction novel is the story of Winter, an Earth-like planet with two major differences. Conditions are semi-arctic even at the warmest time of the year, and the inhabitants are all of the same sex. The book has won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.Trade ReviewPraise for The Left Hand of Darkness“[A] science fiction masterpiece.”—Newsweek“A jewel of a story.”—Frank Herbert“As profuse and original in invention as The Lord of the Rings.”—Michael Moorcock“An instant classic.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune“Like all great writers of fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin creates imaginary worlds that restore us, hearts eased, to our own.”—The Boston Globe“A towering figure in science fiction and fantasy.”—NPR

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Book SynopsisShe chose love. The price she paid was war. A stunning combination of history and mythology - 'an intriguing, luxuriously realised novel' FINANCIAL TIMES

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Book SynopsisA world of peaceful aliens conquered by bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters. Desperation causes the Athsheans to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. In defending their lives, they endanger the very foundations of their society. Every blow against the invaders is a blow to the core of Athsheans'' culture. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.Winner of the 1973 Hugo award for Best Novella, and nominated for many others, The Word for World is Forest is part of Le Guin''s ''Hainish Cycle''. It explores a future history of Earth and pacifistic ideals in its depictions of violence, colonialism and resistance.''A simple story that, like most things Le Guin wrote, packs a powerful emotional and critical punch''- Tordotcom''Deeply moving and shocking by tTrade ReviewThe slender book is fairly simplistic, but it's still compelling and thought-provoking. * SFX *It's a compact tale, a masterclass by a powerful writer who fashions a lean narrative where others might have produced a much larger, bloated tome, and yet for all the brevity Le Guin delivers not just a narrative but a believable alien world and society in short yet compelling scenes. * FORBIDDEN PLANET *

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Book SynopsisA long, long time from now, in the valleys of what will no longer be called Northern California, might be going to have lived a people called the Kesh. But Always Coming Home is not the story of the Kesh. Rather it is the stories of the Kesh - stories, poems, songs, recipes - Always Coming Home is no less than an anthropological account of a community that does not yet exist, a tour de force of imaginative fiction by one of modern literature''s great voices.Trade ReviewLyric and luminous . . . a major imaginative vision - The New York Times Book ReviewAn appealing book as well as a masterly one . . . The future world she has created here is awesomely complex - NewsweekThe effect it has on the reader is hypnotic . . . Le Guin has chosen a most original way to reveal this imagined land - People

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Book SynopsisGrand Master Ursula K. LeGuin has been recognised for almost fifty years as one of the most important writers in the SF field - and is likewise feted beyond the confines of the genre. The Wind''s Twelve Quarters was her first collection and it brings together some of finest short fiction, including the Hugo Award-winning ''The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'', the Nebula Award-winning ''The Day Before the Revolution'', and the Hugo-nominated ''Winter''s King'', which gave readers their first glimpse of the world later made famous in her Hugo- and Nebula-winning masterpiece The Left Hand of Darkness.Trade ReviewOne of the most accomplished of contemporary science fiction writers - The New York Times Book ReviewHer worlds have a magic sheen . . . she moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend. - The TimesA wonderfully mordant analyst of human weakness. The gems in this impressive collection have the same power to disconcert as her best novels.On the strength of The Wind's Twelve Quarters, I would not hesitate to say that the short story is the appropriate medium for her, and one in which few contemporary writers . . . can equal her' - New Scientist

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Book Synopsis''Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their centre ... Literature will miss her. There''s no one like her'' Zadie Smith''Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power'' OBSERVERThrough his dreams, George Orr can make alternate realities real - but who is controlling him?War rages and global warming wreaks havoc on the quality of life everywhere as seven billion people jostle for living space and food. For George Orr, a mild and unremarkable man, the world is overwhelmingly difficult. But George is different: his dreams can change reality - although he has no means of controlling this extraordinary power.Psychiatrist Dr William Haber offers to help, directing George to dream a world without racism. But as ambition gets the better of ethics, no one can predict the devaTrade ReviewLe Guin is a writer of phenomenal power * OBSERVER *Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their center ... Literature will miss her. There's no one like her -- Zadie SmithShe is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters * GUARDIAN *Le Guin is one of the singular speculative voices of our future, thanks to her knack for anticipating issues of seminal importance to society * TLS *Her worlds have a magic sheen . . . She moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend * THE TIMES *I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin -- Roddy DoyleA rare and powerful synthesis of poetry and science, reason and emotion * NEW YORK TIMES *[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be * EMPIRE *Ursula Le Guin is a chemist of the heart -- David Mitchell, author of CLOUD ATLASWhen I read The Lathe of Heaven as a young man, my mind was boggled; now when I read it, more than twenty-five years later, it breaks my heart. Only a great work of literature can bridge - so thrillingly - that impossible span -- Michael ChabonLe Guin writes tellingly of different kinds of society . . . and of the individual's response to them * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisWhen the inhabitants of a peaceful world are conquered by the bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters.Desperation causes the Athsheans, led by Selver, to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. But in defending their lives, they have endangered the very foundations of their society. For every blow against the invaders is a blow to the humanity of the Athsheans. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.Trade ReviewThe slender book is fairly simplistic, but it's still compelling and thought-provoking. * SFX *It's a compact tale, a masterclass by a powerful writer who fashions a lean narrative where others might have produced a much larger, bloated tome, and yet for all the brevity Le Guin delivers not just a narrative but a believable alien world and society in short yet compelling scenes. * FORBIDDEN PLANET *

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Book SynopsisNewly revised edition of the 2003 Nebula Award winner.

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Book SynopsisOne of the very best must-read novels of all time - with a new introduction by Roddy Doyle''A well told tale signifying a good deal; one to be read again and again'' THE TIMES''The book I wish I had written ... It''s so far away from my own imagination, I''d love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin'' Roddy Doyle''Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power'' OBSERVER''There was a wall. It did not look important - even a child could climb it. But the idea was real. Like all walls it was ambiguous, two-faced. What was inside it and what was outside it depended upon which side of it you were on...''Shevek is brilliant scientist who is attempting to find a new theory of time - but there are those who are jealous of his work, and will do anything to block him. So he leaves his homeland, hoping to find a place of more liberty and tolerance. Initially feted, Shevek soon finds himseTrade ReviewThe book I wish I had written ... It's so far away from my own imagination, I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin -- Roddy Doyle * THE TIMES *An extraordinary work ... [Le Guin] created a working society in exquisite detail ... a fully realised hypothetical culture [as well as] living breathing characters who are inevitable products of that culture -- Baird SearlesA well told tale signifying a good deal; one to be read again and again * THE TIMES *A deeply imagined work of art * Encyclopedia of Science Fiction *Le Guin's book ... is so persuasive that it ought to put a stop to the writing of prescriptive Utopias for at least 10 years * NEW YORK TIMES *[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be * Empire *Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power * OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis'She's showing no signs of losing her brilliance. She is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters... GIFTS has the simplicity of fairy tale and the power of myth' GUARDIAN'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power' OBSERVEROrrec, the son of the Brantor of Caspromant, and Gry, daughter of the Brantors of Barre and Rodd, have grown up together, running half-wild across the Uplands. The people there are like their land: harsh and fierce and prideful; ever at war with each other.Only the gifts keep the fragile peace. The Barre gift is calling animals. The women of Cordemant have the power of blinding, or making deaf, or taking away speech. The Rodds can send a spellknife into a man's heart. The Callems can move heavy things - even buildings, even hills. The Caspro gift is the worst and best of all: it is the gift of undoing: an insect, an animal, a place ...Orrec and Gry are the heirs to Caspro and Barre. Gry's gift runs true, but she refuses to call animals for the hunt. Orrec too is a problem, for his gift of undoing is wild: he cannot control it - and that is the most dangerous gift of all ...GIFTS is Ursula Le Guin at her best: an exciting, moving story beautifully told.Trade ReviewShe's showing no signs of losing her brilliance. She is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters... GIFTS has the simplicity of fairy tale and the power of myth * GUARDIAN *Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power * OBSERVER *'Ursual Le Guin by be almost 80 but she's shwoing no signs of losing her brilliance. She is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters... Gifts has the simplicity of fairy tale and the power of myth.' -- Eric Brown * THE GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning stories in this collection range from the everyday to the outer limits of experience, where the quantum uncertainties of space and time are resolved only in the depths of the human heart. Featuring such objects of the imagination as a starship that sails on the wings of song, musical instruments that are played at funerals only, and orbiting arks designed to save a doomed humanity.Astonishing in their diversity and power, these stories exhibit both the artistry of a major writer at the height of her powers and the humanity of a mature artist confronting the world with her gift of wonder still intact.''I count myself lucky to have been alive and reading when Ursula K. Le Guin was writing'' Neil Gaiman

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Book Synopsis''A magic of words'' Neil GaimanSet in the same universe as The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed, these five linked stories follow far-future human colonies living in the distant solar system. Here is the complete suite of five linked stories from Ursula K. Le Guin''s acclaimed Hainish series, which tells the history of the Ekumen, the galactic confederation of human colonies founded by the planet Hain. First published as Four Ways to Forgiveness, and now joined by a fifth story, the tales focus on the twin planets Werel and Yeowe - two worlds whose peoples, long known as owners and assets, together face an uncertain future after civil war and revolution. A retired science teacher must make peace with her new neighbour, a disgraced revolutionary leader. A female official from the Ekumen arrives to survey the situation on Werel and struggles against its rigidly patriarchal culture. The coming of age of Havzhiva, an Ekumen ambassador

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Book SynopsisMemer is a child of rape; when the Alds took the beautiful city of Ansul, they descecrated or destroyed everything of beauty. The Waylord they imprisoned and tortured for years until finally he is freed to return to his home. Though crippled, he is not destroyed. His life still has purpose. Memer is the daughter of his House, the daughter of his heart.The Alds, a people who love war, cannot and will not read: they believe that in words lie demons that will destroy the world. All the city's libraries, the great treasure trove of knowledge of ages past, are burned, except for those few volumes secreted inthe Waylord's hidden room.But times are changing. Gry Barre of Roddmant and Orrec Caspro of Caspromant have arrived in the city. Orrec is a story-teller, the most famous of all: he has the gift of making. His wife Gry's gift is that of calling; she walks with a halflion who both frightens and fascinates the Alds.This is Memer's story, and Gry's and Orrec's, and it is the story of a conquered people craving freedom.

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Book Synopsis'Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be' EMPIRE'Told with shimmering lyricism, this coming-of-age saga will leave readers transformed' BOOKLIST'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power' OBSERVER'A tour de force' EVENING STANDARDThe final part in the story that started with GIFTS, and the tale of Gry Barre of Roddmant and Orrec Caspro of Caspromant, two children with extraordinary powers.They play a part in VOICES too, the sequel to GIFTS, in which Memer, a girl who has grown up in a captured city, is part of the people's fight for freedom.And now, in POWERS, we have the conclusion to Ursula Le Guin's beautifully written, powerful and moving story of the Western Isles, a tale that will leave every reader begging for more.Trade ReviewHer worlds have a magic sheen . . . She moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend * THE TIMES *[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *She is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters * GUARDIAN *Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be * EMPIRE *Told with shimmering lyricism, this coming-of-age saga will leave readers transformed * BOOKLIST *

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Book SynopsisA rich, poetic, and socially relevant version of the great spiritual-philosophical classic of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching—from a legendary literary icon Most people know Ursula K. Le Guin for her extraordinary science fiction and fantasy. Fewer know just how pervasive Taoist themes are to so much of her work. And in Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, we are treated to Le Guin’s unique take on Taoist philosophy’s founding classic.   Le Guin presents Lao Tzu’s time-honored and astonishingly powerful philosophy like never before. Drawing on a lifetime of contemplation and including extensive personal commentary throughout, she offers an unparalleled window into the text’s awe-inspiring, immediately relatable teachings and their inestimable value for our troubled world.   Jargon-free but still faithful to the poetic beauty of the original work, Le Guin’s unique translation is sure to be welcomed by longtime readers of the Tao Te Ching as well as those discovering the text for the first time.

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Book Synopsis“One of [Le Guin''s] most radical novels. . . . A study in what a complete and utter rejection of capitalism and patriarchy might look like—for society and for the art of storytelling.—The MillionsReissued for a new generation of readers, Always Coming Home is Ursula K. Le Guin’s magnificent work of imagination, a visionary, genre-crossing story about a future utopian community on the Northern California coast, hailed as “masterly” (Newsweek), “hypnotic” (People) and “[her] most consistently lyric and luminous book” (New York Times). This new edition features an introduction by Shruti Swamy, author of A House is a Body, as well as illuminating extra material that includes interviews and liner notes to the book''s musical soundtrack. Midway through her career, Le Guin embarked on one of her most detail

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Book Synopsis50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION—WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY DAVID MITCHELL AND A NEW AFTERWORD BY CHARLIE JANE ANDERSUrsula K. Le Guin’s groundbreaking work of science fiction—winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards.A lone human ambassador is sent to the icebound planet of Winter, a world without sexual prejudice, where the inhabitants’ gender is fluid. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the strange, intriguing culture he encounters...Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

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