[Help] Can't download books through Calibre

[Corpse3030]

Hello All

I'm new here, I recently downloaded Calibre on my Kubuntu machine deciding to give it a try as a ebook reader, but every time I try to download a book, even if it says It is not DRM protected it returns a error such as this :

calibre, version 3.46.0 (linux2, embedded-python: False)
Failed to download e-book: Failed: Downloading World War Z _ an oral history of the zombie war.htm

Starting job: Downloading World War Z _ an oral history of the zombie war.htm
Job: "Downloading World War Z _ an oral history of the zombie war.htm" failed with error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/threaded_jobs.py", line 83, in start_work
self.result = self.func(*self.args, **self.kwargs)
File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/ebook_download.py", line 86, in __call__
dfilename = self._download(cookie_file, url, filename, save_loc, add_to_lib, create_browser)
File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/ebook_download.py", line 102, in _download
return download_file(url, cookie_file, filename, create_browser=create_browser)
File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/ebook_download.py", line 69, in download_file
with closing(br.open(url)) as r:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/mechanize/_mechanize.py", line 203, in open
return self._mech_open(url, data, timeout=timeout)
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/mechanize/_mechanize.py", line 255, in _mech_open
raise response
httperror_seek_wrapper: HTTP Error 500: Internal Server Error

Called with args: (<calibre.gui2.ui.Main object at 0x7fe3cebdf550>, None, 'https://bookserver.archive.org/borrow/webview/isbn_9780770437404_0', u'World War Z _ an oral history of the zombie war.htm', u'', True, [], <bound method ArchiveOrgStore.create_browser of <calibre.gui2.store.stores.archive_org_plugin.Arch iveOrgStore object at 0x7fe3c3b89090>>) {u'notifications': <Queue.Queue instance at 0x7fe349ebc4b0>, u'abort': <threading._Event object at 0x7fe3b85e9ed0>, u'log': <calibre.utils.logging.GUILog object at 0x7fe3b85e9d90>}

Is there any way to get past this? I have tried with different titles ect. and they all seem to return the same error.

Any Help is greatly appreciated

Thanks.

[DNSB]

Sheesh... doesn't anyone look through the existing threads before posting?

See this thread for more information on your issue: 500 error when adding HTML page from archive.org.

Short answer is you are trying to download books without being logged in. Notice the 'borrow' in the URL you are trying to use.

Even shorter answer since World War Z is still in copyright, you are going to get very little help with pirating ebooks in these forums.

[Corpse3030]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Sheesh... doesn't anyone look through the existing threads before posting?

See this thread for more information on your issue: 500 error when adding HTML page from archive.org.

Short answer is you are trying to download books without being logged in. Notice the 'borrow' in the URL you are trying to use.

Even shorter answer since World War Z is still in copyright, you are going to get very little help with pirating ebooks in these forums.

I didn't look very far back and I didn't use the search function either. I'm sorry I'm new so I went for the easiest way possible.

As for pirating the book, I'm not trying to "pirate" it as I own a physical copy. I would just like a digital copy as well and on Calibre screen it says it isn't "DRM" so I believed that to be completely free and legal to download...I guess I'm wrong int hat belief?

[Quoth]

Most of the Internet Archive/Archive dot org/Wayback Machine "Open Library" is pirated copies, some even scanned by them. Their (mostly) Public Domain works are available directly on the site. Also a lot of their content is OCRed Scans/PDFs. Proper PD sources proofread the text and supply real ebooks, such as the library here or www.gutenberg.org and anything else you need to buy a copy. A few indie publishers include a free ebook download if you buy their paperback. All publishers should do it.

DRM is nothing to do with Copyright. Not really, DRM is about control. Some PD works are distributed with DRM and many copyright works can be bought without DRM.

[Deskisamess]

The publisher is not always the same for a print book and for the digital version.

Expecting the publishers to give away a free digital copy when you buy the print book isn't a reasonable expectation IMO. For one thing, it cheapens the digital copy making it seem like "less" of a value, when in fact a digital book offers more benefit and value. Multiple readers at the same time, font size control, built in dictionary, etc. If a user wants both versions, they need to buy both. You don't get a free paperback when you buy a hard bound copy.

Amazon tried with their Matchbook program which offered a digital copy at a discount if you'd bought the print book from them. Most publishers didn't jump on that program.

Many digital reader users don't want both versions of a book. I know I don't.

[Quoth]

I agree it's not for everyone. I'd not force it on anyone if I was world dictator. Also managing it is harder than you'd imagine. I guess that's why I've only bought two books that included it.
I did buy Magician (Raymond E, Feist) when it was on special offer as my paperback is getting worn.

A free paperback with a hardback isn't comparable. The additional cost for a digital copy is tiny compared to the shipping of a paperback, never mind printing and storage.

However I don't think buying the paper copy gives anyone a right to a free ebook copy if the publisher isn't offering it.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Corpse3030

As for pirating the book, I'm not trying to "pirate" it as I own a physical copy. I would just like a digital copy as well and on Calibre screen it says it isn't "DRM" so I believed that to be completely free and legal to download...I guess I'm wrong int hat belief?

Very, very wrong in so many ways. DRM has nothing to do with copyright—Baen and Tor sell their ebooks without DRM but the copyright is not removed. Downloading a copyright electronic edition without entitlement is piracy.

As for entitlement to a 'free" digital copy? Would you consider that owning a hardcover edition of a book entitled you to walk into a bookstore and walk out with the paperback without having to pay for it? After all, you already own the book.

At times, I think the Internet Archive might consider changing their logo to include a skull and crossbones.