Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929-2018) was born in Berkeley, California. Her first story was rejected by a science fiction magazine--back when she was 11 years old. Since then, she has become recognized as one of science fiction's most critically acclaimed authors, known for her popular Earthsea fantasy series as well as the books Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, The Lathe of Heaven any many other children's books and short stories.