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<h1>Ursula K. Le Guin Calls on Fantasy and Sci Fi Writers to Envision Alternatives to Capitalism</h1>
<p>In November 2014 science fiction and fantasy writer&nbsp;Ursula K. Le Guin&nbsp;was awarded the National Book Foundation&rsquo;s medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.</p>&#13;
<p>In her acceptance speech she called out publishers for turning literature into a commodity and charging libraries ridiculously high rates for books and e-books. Le Guin also explained how authors, especially fantasy writers,&nbsp;<span style="height: 1.5em;">have a special opportunity to stand up to the corporate system&nbsp;</span>because<span style="height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;they can portray a world very different from the one we currently live in.</span></p>&#13;
<p>&ldquo;We live in capitalism,&rdquo; said Le Guin, &ldquo;Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings.&rdquo;&nbsp;<span style="height: 1.5em;">It&rsquo;s up to authors, she explains in the video below, to spark the imagination of their readers and to help them envision alternatives to how we live.</span></p>&#13;
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<p>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a> at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2015/06/04/ursula-k-le-guin-calls-on-sci-fi-and-fantasy-writers-to-envision-alternatives-to-capitalism">https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2015/06/04/ursula-k-le-guin-calls-on-sci-fi-and-fantasy-writers-to-envision-alternatives-to-capitalism</a>.</p><link href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2015/06/04/ursula-k-le-guin-calls-on-sci-fi-and-fantasy-writers-to-envision-alternatives-to-capitalism" rel="canonical"/><p>Yes! Magazine is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of ... . Learn more at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a></p><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://www.yesmagazine.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=12659&ga4=G-74QJNNY44Z" style="width:1px;height:1px;">

Ursula K. Le Guin Calls on Fantasy and Sci Fi Writers to Envision Alternatives to Capitalism
In November 2014 science fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin was awarded the National Book Foundation’s medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
In her acceptance speech she called out publishers for turning literature into a commodity and charging libraries ridiculously high rates for books and e-books. Le Guin also explained how authors, especially fantasy writers, have a special opportunity to stand up to the corporate system because they can portray a world very different from the one we currently live in.
“We live in capitalism,” said Le Guin, “Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings.” It’s up to authors, she explains in the video below, to spark the imagination of their readers and to help them envision alternatives to how we live.
Like what you're reading? We're nonprofit and ad-free—we depend on readers like you. Subscribe or donate today to keep YES! going strong.

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