Rosemary Kirstein

Ursula K. Le Guin — gone. She was one of the first female SF writers I knew of — not hiding her gender behind initials or an androgynous name. And on top of that, she was so blindingly good at what she did, ground-breaking in so many ways.  Her influence and inspiration are beyond measure…

The Left Hand of Darkness left me stunned.  A Wizard of Earthsea filled me with longing of the sort that’s both painful and beautiful.  Always Coming Home puzzled me; then made me laugh; then made me jealous; then startled me;  then led me in circles; then made me jealous again.

You should read Jo Walton’s essay on her at Tor.com.

And John Scalzi’s at the L.A. Times.

Tor.com has also collected writer’s remembrances from all over the Internet…

I know she had to go sometime — all of us do — but I’m sad that it was now.   And glad that she was with us as long as she was.

I hate to see the great ones pass away…

Oh, I know there are more great ones coming, great ones not born yet; or born but not writing yet; or born and writing but not yet arrived at their best wisdom, their furthest sight —

But I hate to see them go.  They are so precious.