With the recent passing of Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the science fiction greats, I would be remiss if I didn't mention her here. Besides being a fine writer, her science fiction was marked by a distinct humanist bent, with an abiding interest in sociological and political speculation about our species' possible futures. I have read and liked many of her books, even though I tend toward the hard SF side of the genre.
It's worth mentioning that she was on the political left, leaning anarchist, and a great admirer of Murray Bookchin. You can definitely see that perspective coming out in her novels. I wonder if they read Le Guin in Rojava, ostensibly based around Bookchinite priciples.
As for what to read almost all of her work is at least readable and much is outstanding. The works in her Hainish future history cycle are all very good, but the standout books are The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness. Outside of the Hainish cycle, I liked The Lathe of Heaven quite a bit.
Anyway, hard to go wrong with this author. If you haven't yet made an acquaintance with her books, now's an appropriate time.
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