The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction and Fantasy

In Language of the Night, Ursula K. Le Guin reflects on genre, imagination and the ethical work of writing. Illuminating the making of major works such as A Wizard of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness, Le Guin argues for science fiction and fantasy as literary modes that sustain philosophical, political and emotional inquiry. She considers artistic responsibility, the uses of myth, the craft of storytelling, and the role of the writer as both public intellectual and teacher. This wide-ranging collection traces Le Guin's emergence as one of the most influential literary voices and champions the imagination as a vital instrument of freedom.

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was a celebrated author of twenty-one novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve children’s books, six volumes of poetry and four of translation. The breadth and imagination of her work earned her six Nebulas, nine Hugos and SFWA’s Grand Master, along with the PEN/ Malamud and many other awards. In 2014 she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2016 joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America.