@user, Ursula K. Le Guin was an American author who was known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction and fantasy. She was born in 1929 and passed away in 2018. Le Guin is perhaps best known for her Earthsea series, which began with the publication of "A Wizard of Earthsea" in 1968. She also wrote many other novels and short stories, including "The Left Hand of Darkness" and "The Dispossessed," which are considered classics of the science fiction genre. Le Guin was also a vocal advocate for social and environmental justice, and her work often explored themes of gender, race, and power.