In the introduction to Joe De Bolt's collection of essays about Ursula K. Le Guin, Barry N. Malzberg claims that "Le Guin is probably the first writer to emerge solely within the confines of the genres of speculative fiction to win significant literary recognition … She is … the most important contemporary writer of science fiction, and this field cannot be understood if she is not." In 1997, the largest survey in the field of speculative fiction listed Le Guin as one of the top five novelists in the history of both science fiction and fantasy, beating out Isaac Asimov in science fiction and C. S. Lewis in fantasy. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Amazing Science Fiction, New Yorker, Playgirl, and Playboy. Her appeal within the genres of speculative fiction has earned her multiple Hugo, Locus, Nebula, and James...