In January 2018, Ursula K. LeGuin, a luminary voice in science fiction and fantasy, passed away. This roundtable will honor her memory by reflecting on her craft as a writer, her contribution to the science fiction community, and the power of her written work. While this roundtable will briefly feature speakers and a reading honoring her work, an extended discussion period will allow attendees to discuss her powerful influence on them as scholars, fans, and individuals.
About the presentersLeigha McReynolds
Leigha McReynolds has a PhD in English Literature. Her dissertation was on science and the supernatural in 19th Century British Literature, but her current research focus is contemporary science fiction. She has published chapters in Disability in Science Fiction and Dune for the 21st Century, the first edited collections of scholarly work on their respective subjects. In her teaching, Leigha uses science fiction to engage students across disciplines: she is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor for University Honors at UMD. She also teaches literature classes for adults at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C. and runs a writing coaching business to help aspiring writers of all kinds achieve their personal and professional goals. She is the chair of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Area and VP of Publications for the MAPACA Board which entails being Managing Editor for the organization’s online journal: Response.
Patrick Thomas Henry
Patrick Thomas Henry is the Associate Editor for Fiction and Poetry at Modern Language Studies. His fiction has appeared in or is forthcoming from Fiction Southeast, Souvenir Lit, Passages North, Clarion, and others. His essays have appeared in or are forthcoming from European Romantic Review, Response, Massachusetts Review, North Dakota Quarterly, and others. He teaches creative writing at the University of North Dakota. You can find him online at patrickthomashenry.com or on Twitter @Patrick_T_Henry.