How to Listen to SpaceBattles Stories With Text-to-Speech
To listen to a SpaceBattles story, download it as an EPUB with WP Downloader, open the file in a reader that supports EPUB, and use the reader or device’s text-to-speech feature. WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters into one book, so you can listen without moving through the forum thread.
Download the story as an EPUB
WP Downloader is a free web tool with nothing to install. Open the SpaceBattles story downloader and paste the story thread’s URL into the box.
A SpaceBattles story link normally looks like this:
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/some-story-name.123456/WP Downloader recognizes the site and collects the threadmarked chapters into a single book. Since SpaceBattles stories are forum threads, the threadmarks identify the story chapters among the replies.
Choose EPUB as the output format. EPUB is free for everyone and works with the reading apps described below. You can also choose whether to include the story’s images.
You do not need to sign in to SpaceBattles. WP Downloader downloads the whole story, not an individual chapter or a list of stories. If the author adds more threadmarked chapters later, download the story again to create a new EPUB with those chapters. WPD cannot update an EPUB you already downloaded.
For more details, see how to download a SpaceBattles story.
Listen on an iPhone or iPad
Apple Books opens EPUB files, and the Speak Screen accessibility feature on iPhone and iPad can read the text aloud.
To turn it on:
- Open Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Spoken Content.
- Turn on Speak Screen.
Open the downloaded EPUB in Apple Books and go to the page where you want to start. Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to hear the page read aloud.
Speak Screen uses the text-to-speech voices installed on your device, so the narration will depend on the voices available in your settings.
Listen on Android
You can listen with Android’s Select to Speak feature or use an EPUB reader with a read-aloud mode.
Use Select to Speak
Open Settings, select Accessibility, and turn on Select to Speak. Once it is enabled, tap items on the screen to hear them read aloud.
Use Moon+ Reader
Moon+ Reader opens EPUB files and has a built-in text-to-speech mode. Open the EPUB from WP Downloader and start its read-aloud mode.
Use @Voice Aloud Reader
@Voice Aloud Reader can also read EPUB files aloud. Open the downloaded SpaceBattles EPUB in the app to begin listening.
Both apps use the text-to-speech voices installed on your Android device, so the selected voice affects how natural the narration sounds.
Listen on Windows, macOS, or Linux
Thorium Reader and calibre can open EPUB files and read them aloud on a computer.
Use Thorium Reader
Thorium Reader is free and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Open the SpaceBattles EPUB in Thorium Reader, then start its read-aloud feature.
Use calibre
calibre is a free desktop program with an e-book viewer. Add or open the EPUB, launch it in the e-book viewer, and select Read aloud.
Like the phone options, these programs use the text-to-speech voices installed on your device.
Listen to a longer story
The process is the same for stories of any length:
- Copy the SpaceBattles thread URL.
- Paste it into WP Downloader.
- Download the complete story as an EPUB.
- Open the file in Apple Books, Moon+ Reader, @Voice Aloud Reader, Thorium Reader, or calibre.
- Start the device or app’s text-to-speech feature.
If you also want the book on an e-reader, follow the guide for sending SpaceBattles stories to Kindle or reading SpaceBattles stories on Kobo.
FAQ
Does WP Downloader turn a SpaceBattles story into an audiobook?
No. For SpaceBattles, WP Downloader creates an EPUB or PDF. To listen to the story, open the EPUB in a compatible reader and use text-to-speech.
Do I need a SpaceBattles account?
No. You can download a SpaceBattles story with WP Downloader without signing in.
Can I download just one SpaceBattles chapter?
No. WP Downloader downloads the whole story and combines its threadmarked chapters into one book.
Why does the narration sound different between devices?
These readers use the text-to-speech voices installed on your device. How natural the narration sounds depends on the voices available on that phone, tablet, or computer.
Will my EPUB gain new chapters automatically?
No. WP Downloader cannot update an existing EPUB. When new chapters appear, paste the story link into WPD again and download a new copy.