Order of Book Series
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Ursula K. Le Guin Books in Order

121 books are credited to Ursula K. Le Guin, published between 1962 and 2025; 6 of them appeared after Ursula K. Le Guin's death in 2018. The first book is April in Paris (1962) and the newest is The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin (2025). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
121
Published
1962–2025
Confirmed
119 of 121 titles
Pages on record
12,529 in 69 of 121 books
Reading time
209–313 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 12,529 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 69 of 121 titles with a page count on record.

See all 121 books in order Printable Ursula K. Le Guin checklist
Photo of Ursula K. Le Guin, author

Ursula K. Le Guin (born Ursula Kroeber, 21 October 1929 to 22 January 2018) was an American writer of speculative fiction, including science fiction set in the Hainish universe and the Earthsea fantasy series. First published in 1959, Le Guin wrote for nearly sixty years, producing more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories alongside poetry, criticism, translations and children's books. Catalogued titles include April in Paris (1962), Rocannon's World (1966), A Wizard of Earthsea (1968) and The Left Hand of Darkness (1969). Le Guin series include Hainish Cycle, Catwings, Orsinia and Annals of the Western Shore.

The Earthsea Cycle is set in a world of wizards, dragons and archipelagos. Its mages work to develop their power and confront the shadows of magic.

How many Ursula K. Le Guin books are there?

Ursula K. Le Guin has 121 books, released between 1962 and 2025. 6 of them were published after Ursula K. Le Guin's death in 2018. They include 9 separate series.

Ursula K. Le Guin Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 121 Ursula K. Le Guin books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle (1968)
  2. Cover of Nine Lives by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas series (1968)
  3. Cover of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 4 of the Hainish Cycle (1969)
  4. Cover of The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 2 of the Earthsea Cycle (1970)
  5. Cover of The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels series (1971)
  6. Cover of The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 3 of the Earthsea Cycle (1972)
  7. Cover of The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 6 of the Hainish Cycle (1972)
  8. Cover of From Elfland to Poughkeepsie by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Non-Fiction series (1973)
  9. Cover of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin (1973)
  10. Cover of The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 7 of the Hainish Cycle (1974)
  11. Cover of The Wind's Twelve Quarters, Volume 1 by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series (1975)
  12. Cover of Dreams Must Explain Themselves by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 2 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Non-Fiction series (1975)
  13. Cover of Wild Angels by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 2 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series (1975)
  14. Cover of Orsinian Tales by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 1 of the Orsinia series (1976)
  15. Cover of Very Far Away from Anywhere Else / A Very Long Way from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin (1976)
  16. Cover of The Eye of the Heron by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 3 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels series (1978)
  17. Cover of The Wind's Twelve Quarters, Volume 2 by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 3 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series (1978)
  18. Cover of Malafrena by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 3 of the Orsinia series (1979)
  19. Cover of Leese Webster by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 5 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas series (1979)
  20. Cover of The Beginning Place / Threshold by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 4 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels series
  21. Cover of Hard Words and Other Poems by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 4 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series (1981)
  22. Cover of The Compass Rose by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 5 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series (1982)
  23. Cover of Buffalo Gals and Other Animal Presences by Ursula K. Le Guin, book 7 of the Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story series
  24. Cover of Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight by Ursula K. Le Guin (1987)
  1. 1
    April in ParisWind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas #11962 · confirmed 3/4
    1962–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The MastersWind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas #21963 · confirmed 3/4
    1963–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    The Word of UnbindingWind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas #31964 · confirmed 3/4
    1964–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Rocannon's WorldHainish Cycle #11966 · confirmed 3/4
    1966–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Planet of ExileHainish Cycle #21966 · 10 pages · confirmed 3/4
    196610
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    City of IllusionsHainish Cycle #31967 · confirmed 3/4
    1967–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    A Wizard of EarthseaEarthsea Cycle #11968 · 264 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1968264
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Nine LivesUrsula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas #11968 · 47 pages · confirmed 3/4
    196847
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Left Hand of DarknessHainish Cycle #41969 · 304 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1969304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    The Tombs of AtuanEarthsea Cycle #21970 · 180 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1970180
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    A Trip to the HeadWind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas #41970 · confirmed 3/4
    1970–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Lathe of HeavenUrsula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels #11971 · 192 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1971192
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Vaster than Empires and More SlowHainish Cycle #51971 · confirmed 3/4
    1971–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Farthest ShoreEarthsea Cycle #31972 · 272 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1972272
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    The Word for World is ForestHainish Cycle #61972 · 189 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1972189
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    From Elfland to PoughkeepsieUrsula K. Le Guin Non-Fiction #11973 · 50 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197350
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Ones Who Walk Away from OmelasUrsula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas #21973 · 32 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197332
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The Field of VisionUrsula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas #31973 · confirmed 3/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Stars BelowWind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas #51974 · confirmed 3/4
    1974–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The DispossessedHainish Cycle #71974 · 387 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1974387
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    The Wind's Twelve Quarters, Volume 1Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story #11975 · 157 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1975157
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Dreams Must Explain ThemselvesUrsula K. Le Guin Non-Fiction #21975 · 36 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197536
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Wild AngelsUrsula K. Le Guin Short Story #21975 · 50 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197550
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Orsinian TalesOrsinia #11976 · 216 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1976216
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    OrsiniaOrsinia #21976 · confirmed 3/4
    1976–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Very Far Away from Anywhere Else / A Very Long Way from Anywhere ElseUrsula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels #21976 · 133 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1976133
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Water is WideUrsula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas #41976 · 16 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197616
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    The Eye of the HeronUrsula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels #31978 · 192 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1978192
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    The Wind's Twelve Quarters, Volume 2Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story #31978 · 138 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1978138
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    MalafrenaOrsinia #31979 · 343 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1979343
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Ursula K. Le Guin series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Ursula K. Le Guin books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

Ursula K. Le Guin Short Story

21 books

21 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Ursula K. Le Guin Short Stories/Novellas

19 books

19 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Ursula K. Le Guin Non-Fiction

17 books

17 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Wind's Twelve Quarters Short Stories/Novellas

13 books

13 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Hainish Cycle in order

10 books
  1. 1. Rocannon's World
  2. 2. Planet of Exile
  3. 3. City of Illusions
  4. 4. The Left Hand of Darkness
  5. 5. Vaster than Empires and More Slow
  6. 6. The Word for World is Forest
  7. 7. The Dispossessed
  8. 8. Four Ways to Forgiveness
  9. 9. The Telling
  10. 10. Five Ways to Forgiveness

Earthsea Cycle books in order

7 books by Ursula K. Le Guin
  1. 1. A Wizard of Earthsea
  2. 2. The Tombs of Atuan
  3. 3. The Farthest Shore
  4. 4. Tehanu
  5. 5. The Other Wind
  6. 6. The Daughter of Odren
  7. 7. Firelight

Ursula K. Le Guin Standalone Novels

7 books

7 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Ursula K. Le Guin Picture in order

5 books
  1. 1. A Visit from Dr. Katz
  2. 2. Fire and Stone
  3. 3. Fish Soup
  4. 4. A Ride on the Red Mare's Back
  5. 5. Tom Mouse

Orsinia in order

3 books
  1. 1. Orsinian Tales
  2. 2. Orsinia
  3. 3. Malafrena

Annals Of The Western Shore in order

3 books
  1. 1. Gifts
  2. 2. Voices
  3. 3. Powers

Adventures In Kroy in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Adventure of Cobbler's Rune
  2. 2. Solomon Leviathan's Nine-Hundred and Thirty-First Trip Around the World

Unreal and The Real in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Unreal and the Real, Vol. 1: Where on Earth
  2. 2. The Unreal and the Real, Vol. 2: Outer Space, Inner Lands

Earthsea Non-Fiction

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Earthsea Short Stories/Novellas

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Ursula K. Le Guin Graphic Novels in order

1 book
  1. 1. Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel

Outspoken Authors in order

1 book
  1. 7. The Wild Girls

Last Interview in order

1 book
  1. 23. Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Ursula K. Le Guin books run from April in Paris (1962) to The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin (2025), the sequence in the table above. No separate story order is recorded for Ursula K. Le Guin in the book listings this catalogue merges, so publication order is the only order on record.

Do you have to read Ursula K. Le Guin books in order?

You only need to read Ursula K. Le Guin books in order within each series: the books listed here span 9 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Ursula K. Le Guin

Start with the first book of the Ursula K. Le Guin series you want to read: Catwings starts with Catwings (1988), Earthsea starts with A Wizard of Earthsea (1968) and Hainish starts with Rocannon's World (1966). The earliest catalogued title overall is April in Paris (1962).

What is the newest Ursula K. Le Guin book?

The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin (2025) is the newest Ursula K. Le Guin book released so far.

Is there a new Ursula K. Le Guin book coming?

No next Ursula K. Le Guin book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Awards Ursula K. Le Guin has won

Wikidata records 57 awards and 103 nominations for Ursula K. Le Guin. The most recent 12 are listed here. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Ignotus Award for Best Non-Fiction Book2019Wonfor The Wave in the Mind
  • Hugo Award for Best Related Work2018Wonfor No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters
  • Locus Award for Best Collection2018Wonfor The Hainish Novels & Stories
  • Hugo Award for Best Related Work2017Wonfor Words Are My Matter: Writings About Life and Books, 2000-2016
  • Ken Kesey Award for Fiction2014Wonfor The Unreal and the Real
  • Nebula Award for Best Novel2009Wonfor Powers
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel2009Wonfor Lavinia
  • Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Foreign-Language Short Story2008Wonfor Four Ways to Forgiveness
  • Margaret Edwards Award2004Wonfor A Wizard of Earthsea
  • Locus Award for Best Collection2004Wonfor Changing Planes
  • Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award2003Won
  • Locus Award for Best Novelette2003Wonfor The Wild Girls

Ursula K. Le Guin at a glance

Died
Ursula K. Le Guin died in 2018, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to Ursula K. Le Guin are still being published after Ursula K. Le Guin's death in 2018; the newest appeared in 2025.
Release pace
Ursula K. Le Guin books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
12,529 pages across the 69 of 121 books with a recorded length, a median of 157 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Ursula K. Le Guin books, 24 of 121, were published in the 1990s.

What the Ursula K. Le Guin books are about

76 of the 121 Ursula K. Le Guin books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: science fiction is tagged on 25 of 76. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.