The left-hand of darkness was strange, but somehow spiritually uplifting in a way I have trouble expressing.

Going to buy LHOD now, thank you very much.

Not a problem. The author is a good writer. Not overly verbose or too terse.

I had to read two of her short stories in jr high. One was "those who walk away from omelas" and the other was "the power of a name". Those probably aren't the full titles, but should be close enough and should be available online.

I would also _highly_ recommend The Dispossessed from her same universe. I personally preferred it, but both are really great "sci-fi tackles seriously complicated real life topics" reads.

Have you read Lathe of Heaven? I don't love all of the Hainish Cycle books (they're all good, just not peak Le Guin good), but that book I would consider in my top 5 books of all time easily.

Oh, didn't know about it. Thanks!