Put a SpaceBattles Story on a Kindle With Calibre
You can copy a SpaceBattles story to a Kindle without using Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. Download the story as an EPUB with WP Downloader, convert it to AZW3 in calibre, and transfer it to the Kindle over USB.
Both tools are free. WP Downloader runs in your browser, while calibre lets you manage the book’s metadata, cover, and file format.
What you need
You will need:
- The SpaceBattles forum thread for the story
- A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
- calibre, a free e-book manager
- A USB cable for your Kindle
- WP Downloader, which runs in your browser and requires no installation
A SpaceBattles story URL usually looks like this:
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/some-story-name.123456/SpaceBattles stories are forum threads. WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters and puts them into one book. It downloads the whole story, so you cannot use it to download an individual chapter or a list from SpaceBattles.
Step 1: Download the story as an EPUB
Open the SpaceBattles story downloader and paste the story’s thread URL into the box.
WP Downloader recognizes the SpaceBattles link and prepares the threadmarked chapters. You do not need to sign in to SpaceBattles.
Select EPUB as the output format. EPUB is free for everyone, and you can choose whether to include the story’s images.
Save the finished EPUB to your computer. For more detail, see how to download a SpaceBattles story.
WP Downloader does not create MOBI or AZW3 files. You will use calibre to convert the EPUB.
Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB you downloaded and add it to your calibre library.
The story will appear as a book in calibre. You can edit its metadata or cover before converting it if you want to change how it appears in your Kindle library.
You can also check the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer. The viewer has a Read aloud feature for listening on your computer.
Step 3: Convert the EPUB to AZW3
Select the story in calibre and choose the option to convert it. Set AZW3 as the output format and start the conversion.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can copy to a Kindle over USB. calibre can also convert an EPUB to MOBI or PDF.
Amazon’s Send to Kindle service no longer accepts MOBI files. Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI and AZW3 files copied over USB because that restriction applies only to the Send to Kindle service.
Step 4: Transfer the book over USB
Connect the Kindle to your computer with its USB cable. After calibre recognizes the device, select the SpaceBattles story in your library.
Choose Send to device. calibre will copy the converted book to the connected Kindle.
Once the transfer is complete, disconnect the Kindle. The story should appear on the device for offline reading.
Choosing USB or Send to Kindle
Both methods can start with an EPUB downloaded from WP Downloader.
For a USB transfer, calibre converts the EPUB to a Kindle format and copies it directly to the connected device. This method also lets you manage the book in calibre and edit its metadata or cover.
To use Amazon’s delivery service instead, follow the guide to send a SpaceBattles story to Kindle.
Downloading new chapters
WP Downloader cannot add chapters to an EPUB you have already downloaded. When the SpaceBattles thread gets more threadmarked chapters, paste its link into WP Downloader again and download a new copy.
Add the new EPUB to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer it to your Kindle over USB as before.
FAQ
Can WP Downloader create an AZW3 or MOBI file?
No. WP Downloader provides EPUB files for everyone and PDF files after a free Discord sign-in. Use calibre to convert the EPUB to AZW3 or MOBI.
Do I need a SpaceBattles account?
No. You can download a story’s threadmarked chapters without signing in to SpaceBattles.
Why use AZW3 if Send to Kindle stopped accepting MOBI?
The Send to Kindle restriction does not affect books copied directly over USB. Kindle e-readers still open AZW3 and MOBI files transferred this way.
Can I download only one chapter?
No. For SpaceBattles, WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters and downloads the whole story as one book.
Can I use the same EPUB with another e-reader?
Yes. You can add the EPUB to calibre and send books to a connected e-reader over USB. For Kobo instructions, see how to read SpaceBattles stories on Kobo.