Calibre ebook manager adds AI-powered writing game

According to the official release notes accompanying the update, Calibre v9.15 introduces a brand-new "Create Your Own Adventure" mode. This experimental feature allows users to construct a custom fictional world and hand over real-time control to an artificial intelligence, which then manages the narrative environment based on the user’s ongoing responses and choices. The gameplay dynamic closely mirrors classic text-based role-playing games from the early days of personal computing, offering an interactive storytelling experience directly inside the desktop application.

The project began as an internal testing mechanism for developers to evaluate the software’s underlying AI backend before eventually evolving into a distinct, playable feature intended for lighthearted entertainment. The development team noted with characteristic understatement in the changelog that the addition is "a little different" from the software’s typical array of library management tools.

Because the feature relies entirely on modern large language models, it is kept strictly optional. Users who wish to experiment with the interactive fiction mode must manually supply their own API key for a compatible LLM. To access the feature, users can navigate to the preferences menu, locate the toolbar settings, and add the "Create your own Adventure" button to their preferred toolbar. Clicking the button initiates an interactive setup wizard that guides the user through the process of defining the parameters of their newly generated AI world.

This unconventional addition follows a trend of unexpected experimental features making their way into Calibre’s recent releases. Just last month, the software introduced hooks allowing users to generate custom ebook covers using AI prompts and preset visual styles, ranging from noir-inspired interpretations of classic literature to pulp science-fiction aesthetics.

These developments have sparked conversations within the community regarding the software’s long-term direction. Calibre’s core user base largely consists of avid readers who often maintain extensive digital backlogs of titles they have yet to finish. Observers have pointed out that individuals who actively utilize large language models to generate custom fiction or automated artwork often overlap very little with traditional ebook enthusiasts, raising questions about utility.

Critics within the community have suggested that development resources might be better directed toward enhancing practical productivity features that assist readers with their existing libraries. Potential areas of improvement frequently cited include more advanced automated sorting tools, streamlined metadata correction mechanisms, or intelligent reading recommendations that curate personalized reading playlists based on a user’s specific tastes and historical library data. Features such as automated cover generation, book summarization, and interactive storytelling can sometimes feel somewhat detached from the primary purpose of a dedicated library manager.

Other changes in Calibre 9.15

Fortunately for users seeking traditional software refinements, version 9.15 also delivers a robust selection of practical improvements and bug fixes that address long-standing workflow requests without adding unconventional experimental novelties.

Among the most notable interface updates is an enhancement to the Highlights panel within the built-in ebook viewer. Users can now select multiple highlights simultaneously and use a right-click menu to modify their styling all at once. Furthermore, if a particular highlight includes accompanying personal notes, hovering the mouse cursor over the highlighted text will display the note inside a convenient tooltip. For those who prefer a cleaner reading experience, this hover behavior can be disabled in the settings.

Additional customization options have been integrated into the user interface as well. A new button can now be added to the sidebar allowing users to quickly toggle between saved window sizes. In the main cover grid view, users are now granted greater control over visual presentation, with the ability to choose precisely which corner of the display emblems appear on book covers by navigating through the preferences menu to the layout settings.

The release also addresses a wide variety of software bugs reported by the community. Notable fixes include a resolution for an issue where the Read Aloud function would unexpectedly halt when encountering large embedded images. Additionally, a minor spellchecking quirk that previously overlooked words containing a single apostrophe has been corrected. The update also resolves a startup failure that affected users residing in Alberta, Canada, following recent regional timezone adjustments.

Where to get Calibre

Calibre remains free, open-source software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

Users can download the latest version directly from the official website. On Linux systems, Calibre is typically installed and updated using an official command-line installation script that automatically downloads the required binary, unpacks it to the appropriate system directory, and generates the necessary desktop application shortcuts for easy access through system application menus.

Alternatively, users can obtain Calibre through Flathub, though the platform hosts an unverified community build of the software.