Le Guin and the Poetry of Oregon's High Desert

I am one of these writers who actually likes writing.

~ Ursula K. Le Guin

Affectionately called the "Queen Mother of Science Fiction"*, Ursula K. Le Guin (b. October 21, 1929) writes science fiction and fantasy (her well-known Earthsea series is six volumes), essays, criticism, children's books (Catwings and Catwings Return, A Ride on the Red Mare's Back), translations, and poetry. She's published more than four dozen books and is the recipient of a long and varied list of literary honors, including a Library of Congress "Living Legends" award and a National Book Award. Age — she's 81 — isn't an excuse she uses to stop doing what she wants; she still writes, recently contributing to an anthology, Breaking Waves, for Gulf Coast relief; still gives public readings, and speaks, as in the video below, of how much she still enjoys collaborating with artists of all kinds (excluding other writers).

. . . [I]t's as here as a place can be: a landscape that is 
immensely and intensely vivid, present. But still, it's out here.
 Distance is inherent in its presence.**

In this Oregon Art Beat video, Le Guin discusses her collaboration with photographer Roger Dorband on Out Here: Poems and Images From Steens Mountain Country, reflects on her life as a writer who is a woman, and reads some of her work. Enjoy!

Resources

Ursula Le Guin Website

Articles of Note:

* Jeff Baker, "Northwest Writers at Work: Ursula K. Le Guin Is 80 and Taking on Google", Oregonian/OregonLive, February 27, 2010 (This is an excellent profile. Included is a video of her interview.)

Jeff Baker, "Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin Bring Off-the-Wall Humor to Portland Arts & Lectures", Oregonian/OregonLive, September 24, 2010 

** Jeff Baker, "Nonfiction Review: Out Here by Roger Dorband and Ursula K. Le Guin", Oregonian/OregonLive, October 16, 2010

Renee Struthers-Hogge, "'Out Here' Combines Stunning Photographs, Stirring Poetry", East Oregonian, October 17, 2010

Notable Oregonians: Ursula Le Guin — Writer in Oregon Blue Book 

Northwest Writers at Work: The Series

Autographed copies of Out Here may be ordered here through Raven Studios, Roger Dorband's site and the book's publisher. Dorband also collaborated with Le Guin on Blue Moon Over Thurman Street (New Sage Press, 1993).