Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea was a breakthrough novel when it was first published in 1968, pushing the boundaries of fantasy in literature. Explore how Earthsea paved the way for this beloved genre in this video from the American Masters film Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin. Support materials help students examine elements of fantasy and discover why coming-of-age stories continue to draw readers to young adult fantasy fiction.

Best known for her science fiction and “Earthsea” fantasy series, celebrated author Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929–2018) wrote 21 novels, 11 volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, 12 children’s books, six volumes of poetry and four of translation during her life. American Masters presents the first documentary film exploring the remarkable life and legacy of the prolific and versatile author. Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin tells the intimate coming-of-age story of the Portland, Oregon, housewife and mother of three who forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction into the literary mainstream. Through her influential work, Le Guin opened doors for generations of younger writers like Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, and David Mitchell — all of whom appear in the film — to explore fantastic elements in their writing.