@donkeypong A magnificent tribute, and so well written! You have brought to the fore the importance of Ursula's influence over culture and literature. Thank you for impressing upon us the direct impact she had on George Martin, the 'American Tolkien' who, some would say, was inspired solely by Lord of the Rings. Indeed, Game of Thrones has a more complex, true-to-the-Universal-workings Taoist aspect very much akin to LeGuin's cosmology - the villains still have a heart and the goodies are at times bent toward darkness. Upvoted and Following! :)