Conversation so far:
what influenced Ursula K. Le Guin?
She later said that science fiction did not have much impact on her until she read the works of Theodore Sturgeon and Cordwainer Smith
who were Theodore Sturgeon and Cordwainer Smith?
Theodore Sturgeon was an American fiction author, primarily of fantasy, science fiction and horror. Cordwainer Smith was the pen-name used by Paul Linebarger for his science fiction works.

Question: how did they influence her?
Self-contained rewrite: how did Theodore Sturgeon and Cordwainer Smith influence Ursula K. Le Guin?