Something the NYT obit doesn't mention: many of LeGuin's protagonists are people of colour, and she vigorously protested any attempts to whitewash them. Her work was more deeply indebted to Daoism than to the Christian ethos underlying fantasy classics like Narnia and LOTR. She spoke out against fascism. She accepted the multiplicity of truths while resisting authoritarian attempts to erode truth itself.
@nev argh, time to go get some more of her books, I guess :s
Earthsea enchanted me. The Left Hand of Darkness portrayed me. The Dispossessed politicized me.