“The creative adult is the child who has survived.” - Ursula K. Le Guin
This isn't going to be a long post. Ursula K. Le Guin was and is one of my favorite authors. When I first started creating my own fantasy worlds, complete with maps and reams of pages of scribbles about civilizations, it was as a 4th grader tremendously impressed with the Earthsea series. My conception of how magic "works" in the fantasy games I run is strongly influenced by the magic in Earthsea. My own personal conception of gender and sexuality as a fluid continuum owes a lot to her Hainish Cycle (and in particular of course The Left Hand of Darkness). I honestly can't think of another person who has had as great an impact on my life and philosophy than Ursula, outside of my own immediate family.
If you have not had the pleasure of reading her, please rectify this. It is rare to see someone combine such a gift for language and words with such an open and inquisitive mind. She stands among the great thinkers and writers of all time, in my estimation.
Much love - Carl