"After the death of Mary Hastings Bradley in 1976, "Tiptree" mentioned in a letter that "his" mother, also a writer, had died in Chicago—details that led inquiring fans to find the obituary, with its reference to Alice Sheldon; soon all was revealed.Once the initial shock was over, Alli wrote to one of her closest friends, Ursula K. Le Guin, confessing her identity.