August Book Club: The Dispossessed

Panther City Page Turners - August Book Club:
The Dispossessed

Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
387 pages, paperback
First published May 1, 1974

📅 Date: Monday, August 17, 2026
🕒 Time: 6:00 pm
📍 Location: Tommy’s Hamburger Grill & Patio - Forest Park Blvd location
👤 Book Sponsor/Host: Chandler
👤 Co-Host: Anjali (Organizer)

Welcome to Panther City Page Turners, named after Fort Worth's iconic "Panther City" nickname. The nickname dates back to 1875, when a Dallas newspaper mocked Fort Worth as being so quiet that a panther could sleep undisturbed in the middle of downtown. Rather than taking offense, Fort Worth embraced the story, turning the panther into a lasting symbol of the city's resilience and pride. Formerly known as Funky Town's Page Turners (founded in 2013 by Kaity Stone), our group began a new chapter in 2026 while continuing a long tradition of bringing readers together. New members are always welcome!

About the Book
The Dispossessed (1974) is widely regarded as Ursula K. Le Guin's masterpiece and one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. Winner of both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award, it helped redefine the genre by showing that science fiction could be a vehicle for exploring philosophy, politics, ethics, and human relationships as deeply as any literary novel. Through its exploration of capitalism, anarchism, freedom, power, inequality, gender, and the tension between individual ambition and collective responsibility, Le Guin challenges readers to question their assumptions rather than offering simple answers. More than 50 years after its publication, its ideas remain remarkably relevant. Although it is part of Le Guin's Hainish Cycle, the novels are loosely connected and can all be read independently, making The Dispossessed an excellent standalone introduction to her work.

Discussion Format
We'll begin with casual conversation as people arrive, followed by introductions and a group discussion of the book. Participation is always optional. Feel free to share your thoughts, ask questions, or simply listen and enjoy the conversation. We welcome a variety of perspectives. Whether you loved the book, disliked it, or are still deciding how you feel, respectful discussion is encouraged.

Didn't Finish the Book?
You're still welcome to attend.
While we encourage everyone to read as much of the book as possible, you're welcome to join the discussion even if you didn't finish. You may enjoy hearing different perspectives and deciding whether you'd like to continue reading afterward.
Please note that the discussion will include spoilers.

Future Reads
We are piloting a new system for selecting future books. By attending a book club meeting, you'll join the queue to become a future book sponsor/host. When it's your turn, you'll nominate two books, and members who attended the previous meeting will vote on the selection. As the book sponsor, you'll help lead the discussion, and Anjali (Organizer) will work with you to schedule the meeting on a date and time that fits your availability.

Attendance Limit
To keep discussions engaging and ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate, attendance is limited to 15 attendees.
If the event fills, please join the waitlist. Spots often become available as the event approaches, and waitlisted members will be notified automatically when openings occur.

RSVP Notes

• Please RSVP only if you plan to attend.
• If your plans change, please update your RSVP as soon as possible so another member can attend.
• Some venues may require a small purchase as a courtesy for using their space.
• Please register all attendees through Meetup so we can provide accurate headcounts to the venue.

Good Stories Bring Us Together.