The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Can someone PM me and explain how to change the covers on mine? I think Calibre just shows the cover you import, but doesn't change it on the book itself. I don't want to take up unnecessary thread space since everybody else seems to know.

calibre changes the cover on the copy it pushes to your reader. You can also use Polish eBook to update the library copy itself.

The metadata is not normally applied to the copy in the library so you will have the original version available, and only gets updated when necessary, or when specifically requested.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Can someone PM me and explain how to change the covers on mine? I think Calibre just shows the cover you import, but doesn't change it on the book itself. I don't want to take up unnecessary thread space since everybody else seems to know.

It was funny. I got my sister a used library copy of one of the later HP books and it was this thick thing and she said 'really'? I had bought all of them on audiobook as they came out (replacing the first 2, which were tape, with CDs later on) and that is how we all 'read' them.

If you're talking about a .mobi then it'll get put in the .mobi when you add the .mobi to your kindle using calibre. The epubs will do that too, when you put it on the nook, but can also be installed into the epub with the calibre feature, polish. IIRC a .mobi to .mobi concersion will put the new file in the .mobi and, of course, an .epub to .mobi conversion will add the new cover to the .mobi.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by alansplace

If you're talking about a .mobi then it'll get put in the .mobi when you add the .mobi to your kindle using calibre. The epubs will do that too, when you put it on the nook, but can also be installed into the epub with the calibre feature, polish.

If we're talking about a MOBI it won't get the cover, period. MOBI doesn't recognize cover metadata, and must be updated by performing a full MOBI-to-MOBI conversion (or reconverting from the updated EPUB that spawned it, if available).

For this reason, amongst others, you should go with the AZW3 format, which is an update to MOBI and is a different but equivalent format to EPUB.

Since this is Harry Potter we are talking about, you should've gotten the EPUB from Pottermore, and that's what you should be working with. Make sure you are using AZW3 on your Kindles.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Here are all 7!

Originally Posted by leanansidhe

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

If we're talking about a MOBI it won't get the cover, period. MOBI doesn't recognize cover metadata, and must be updated by performing a full MOBI-to-MOBI conversion (or reconverting from the updated EPUB that spawned it, if available).

INCORRECT! A 'send to device' command puts the new cover into the book being sent in .mobi format but doesn't change the .mobi book in the Calibre library.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

For this reason, amongst others, you should go with the AZW3 format, which is an update to MOBI and is a different but equivalent format to EPUB.

I disgree, as I personally dislike the incorrect formatting that the Kindle software imposes upon the text.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Since this is Harry Potter we are talking about, you should've gotten the EPUB from Pottermore, and that's what you should be working with. Make sure you are using AZW3 on your Kindles.

I HATE AZW3 and will not use it or recommend its use to other Kindle users!

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by alansplace

INCORRECT! A 'send to device' command puts the new cover into the book being sent in .mobi format but doesn't change the .mobi book in the Calibre library.

I disgree, as I personally dislike the incorrect formatting that the Kindle software imposes upon the text.

I HATE AZW3 and will not use it or recommend its use to other Kindle users!

The thumbnail used for books that came from Amazon and still have a valid Amazon ASIN will be uploaded by calibre, but a converted and sideloaded book will have the cover extracted from the .mobi; if that thumbnail is uploaded by calibre, it doesn't matter what the actual ebook-file's cover is, your Kindle will use the thumbnail on the home screen anyway. However, I can assure you that either way the .mobi itself will retain the same cover until you perform a mobi-to-mobi conversion. (IIRC it will add a new cover at the beginning and you will have two covers, one after the other.)

This is a well-known and documented fact about the .mobi format!

As a result, the following problem appears -- an amazon book will get a new thumbnail, so you think the cover has been replaced, however, a book converted to mobi and "updated" with a new cover will staunchly refuse to be updated. This becomes clearer when you look at the actual "first page" of the .mobi ebook, which will be the cover image. It hasn't changed either time.

I don't know what problems you have with the azw3 format, but clearly those are a matter of preference -- the only difference I've noticed between the two while reading is .mobi doesn't split hyphens across lines.

[eschwartz]

Skin Game release date countdown:

112 DAYS!

[Toxaris]

Am I the only one thinking that

Spoiler:

the original Merlin

will make an appearance before everything is done? Think about it, he was involved in almost all ground and foundation work from the past. Also I think that

Spoiler:

he is not 100% human and perhaps related to Harry

. There are things in the books that hint towards that in my opinion.

Another thing.

Spoiler:

Who put all the baddies in the prison? After all, we saw how strong the nagloshii are and that is only the whimp of the yard. That must have been quite a powerful person/creature.

[red_phoenix]

You bring up some interesting points Toxaris. To be honest it had never occurred to me.

[leanansidhe]

Originally Posted by red_phoenix

You bring up some interesting points Toxaris. To be honest it had never occurred to me.

I agree. It would be really cool if that did happen.

Spoiler:

Maybe Mab put the baddies in there? She seems to have a past relationship with Demonreach.

[leanansidhe]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Can someone PM me and explain how to change the covers on mine? I think Calibre just shows the cover you import, but doesn't change it on the book itself. I don't want to take up unnecessary thread space since everybody else seems to know.

It was funny. I got my sister a used library copy of one of the later HP books and it was this thick thing and she said 'really'? I had bought all of them on audiobook as they came out (replacing the first 2, which were tape, with CDs later on) and that is how we all 'read' them.

I'm not very good when it comes to Calibre . All I do is put the cover on the book using the metadata section and then do a Mobi to Mobi conversion, and it's done. I've never done it any other way and it's always worked for me. I hate when my books come with a stupid generic penguin cover like on some the Dresden novels. It drives me nuts.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by leanansidhe

Spoiler:

Maybe Mab put the baddies in there? She seems to have a past relationship with Demonreach.

I don't know if this is likely.

Spoiler:

When Harry threatens Mab with imprisonment at the end of Cold Days, Demonreach rises up silently but threatenly towards Mab, who then backs down. If Mab was the original imprisoner, I don't think Demonreach would have made any movement, nor would Harry have gotten away with the threat.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by leanansidhe

I'm not very good when it comes to Calibre . All I do is put the cover on the book using the metadata section and then do a Mobi to Mobi conversion, and it's done. I've never done it any other way and it's always worked for me. I hate when my books come with a stupid generic penguin cover like on some the Dresden novels. It drives me nuts.

This is all I do too, despite having been warned repeatedly by far more advanced users than I, that if I do fomat to same format conversions, the sky will fall, and there will be unleashed artifacts of lost Elder Ones that reside in my book files that will cause corruption, havoc and war. [citation needed]
I've done epub to epub for years now, and never had any issues, although now I find that if I'm just doing a little bit of editing, like a cover change or metadata update, I'll use the Polish eBooks option.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

I don't know if this is likely.

Spoiler:

When Harry threatens Mab with imprisonment at the end of Cold Days, Demonreach rises up silently but threatenly towards Mab, who then backs down. If Mab was the original imprisoner, I don't think Demonreach would have made any movement, nor would Harry have gotten away with the threat.

Maybe, but

Spoiler:

The various factions, even the opposing ones, do make deals, and will work together for the duration of the deal and not a moment longer. Something like that could have transpired, especially when you consider how Harry came to be kept alive in the first place.

Demonreach was created for a specific purpose - it, or rather its genius loci that controls its manifestation (should one choose to address that aspect separately from the island itself) could very well cooperate in something that furthers that purpose. But once that's done, the deal is over and it's not beholden to anyone. Mab would have no special protection at that point. So I don't think its menacing gesture rules it out as a possibility.

Just thoughts, probably inaccurate ones, but the depth of frenemy politics in the Dresden world allow for so many oddball alliances.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Am I the only one thinking that

Spoiler:

the original Merlin

will make an appearance before everything is done? Think about it, he was involved in almost all ground and foundation work from the past. Also I think that

Spoiler:

he is not 100% human and perhaps related to Harry

. There are things in the books that hint towards that in my opinion.

Another thing.

Spoiler:

Who put all the baddies in the prison? After all, we saw how strong the nagloshii are and that is only the whimp of the yard. That must have been quite a powerful person/creature.

Perhaps you have given an idea for a whole new book if this is not already planned

Helen