How to put an AltHistory story on a Kindle with calibre

You can put an AltHistory story on your Kindle without Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. First download the story as an EPUB with WP Downloader, then use calibre to convert it to AZW3 and transfer it to your Kindle over USB.

What you need

You will need:

The AltHistory thread URL
A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
calibre, the free e-book manager
A USB connection between your Kindle and computer
WP Downloader, which runs in your browser and does not need to be installed

An AltHistory story link usually looks like this:

https://althistory.com/threads/some-story-name.123456/

WP Downloader handles whole AltHistory stories. It collects the threadmarked chapters from a forum thread and combines them into one book. It cannot download a single chapter or a list of stories from this site.

Step 1: Download the AltHistory story

Open the AltHistory downloader and paste the story’s thread URL into the box. WP Downloader detects the site and prepares the story.

Choose EPUB as the output format. EPUB is free for everyone and can be added to calibre. If you want the pictures from the thread in the book, select the option to include images.

You do not need an AltHistory account. WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters, leaving out ordinary replies and discussion posts.

When processing is complete, download the EPUB to your computer. If the author adds more chapters later, paste the link into WP Downloader again and download a new copy. WPD cannot add chapters to an EPUB you already downloaded.

See how to download AltHistory stories for a general guide to downloading from the site.

Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre

Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB from WP Downloader and add it to your calibre library.

You can edit the story’s metadata or cover before transferring it if you want to change how it appears on your Kindle. Otherwise, leave the downloaded information as it is.

You can also check the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer before converting it. The viewer has a Read aloud feature for listening on your computer.

Step 3: Convert the story to AZW3

Select the story in calibre and choose Convert books. Set AZW3 as the output format and start the conversion.

WP Downloader does not create AZW3 or MOBI files. It downloads the story as an EPUB, and calibre converts that file into a Kindle format.

AZW3 works for books transferred directly to a Kindle over USB. Kindles can still open AZW3 and MOBI files copied this way. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI through its Send to Kindle service, but MOBI files can still be copied to a Kindle over USB.

Step 4: Connect your Kindle over USB

Connect the Kindle to your computer. After calibre detects it, select the converted story and choose Send to device.

If calibre asks which version to send, choose the AZW3 file created in the previous step. Wait for the transfer to finish before disconnecting your Kindle.

The story is now stored on your Kindle and can be read without an internet connection.

When to use calibre

This method works well if you already keep your books in calibre or want to convert the EPUB before transferring it. The file moves directly from your computer to the connected Kindle without being uploaded through Amazon’s service.

To use Amazon’s service, follow the guide to send an AltHistory story to Kindle. For another e-reader, see how to read AltHistory stories on Kobo.

FAQ

Can WP Downloader make an AZW3 or MOBI file?

No. WP Downloader provides EPUB files for everyone and PDF files with a free Discord sign-in. Use calibre to convert the EPUB to AZW3 or MOBI.

Do I need an AltHistory account?

No. You can download AltHistory stories with WP Downloader without signing in.

Does WP Downloader download every post in the thread?

No. It collects the threadmarked chapters into one book and leaves out the rest of the discussion.

Can I update the EPUB when new chapters appear?

WP Downloader cannot update an existing EPUB. Paste the story link into the downloader again and download a new copy with the currently available threadmarked chapters.

Can calibre send the EPUB directly to my Kindle?

For this USB method, convert the EPUB to AZW3 in calibre and use Send to device. calibre converts the file and transfers it to the connected Kindle.