Convert EPUB to FB2

Why Convert EPUB to FB2?

Converting EPUB e-books to FB2 (FictionBook) format is essential for readers and publishers targeting the Russian and Eastern European e-book markets. FB2 is the dominant e-book format in Russia and CIS countries, with extensive support in popular e-readers like PocketBook and reading software like FBReader and CoolReader. By converting to FB2, you make your content accessible to this large reader base.

FictionBook was specifically designed for fiction and literary works, with a focus on semantic structure and rich metadata. Unlike EPUB's presentation-oriented approach with CSS styling, FB2 emphasizes content structure - sections, poems, epigraphs, and citations are described by their semantic meaning. This makes FB2 particularly well-suited for novels, short stories, poetry, and literary collections where content structure matters more than visual design.

One of FB2's key advantages is its simplicity: a single XML file containing all content and metadata, with images Base64-encoded directly in the XML. This single-file design makes FB2 books easy to manage, validate, edit, and archive. While this increases file size slightly compared to EPUB's ZIP compression, it simplifies the format significantly and makes it human-readable in any text editor.

The conversion process transforms EPUB's XHTML structure into FB2's XML schema. Chapters become sections, paragraphs and formatting are preserved, and metadata (title, author, language) is mapped to FB2's rich description structure. While some complex EPUB layouts may not translate perfectly, the text content and basic structure are fully preserved, making FB2 ideal for text-focused fiction books.

Key Benefits of Converting EPUB to FB2:

• Russian Market Access: Dominant format in Russia and Eastern Europe
• Fiction-Optimized: Designed specifically for novels and literature
• Simple Structure: Single XML file, easy to edit and validate
• Rich Metadata: Comprehensive author, translator, and genre information
• PocketBook Support: Native format for popular e-reader brand
• Human-Readable: Plain XML viewable in any text editor
• Version Control Friendly: Single XML file works well with Git

Practical Examples

Example 1: Fiction Novel Chapter

Input EPUB content (chapter2.xhtml):

<h1>Chapter 2: The Journey Begins</h1>
<p>The morning was cold and grey. Elena packed her belongings
with trembling hands, knowing she would never return.</p>
<p><em>"Are you certain about this?"</em> her mother asked softly.</p>

Output FB2 XML structure:

<section>
  <title><p>Chapter 2: The Journey Begins</p></title>
  <p>The morning was cold and grey. Elena packed her belongings
  with trembling hands, knowing she would never return.</p>
  <p><emphasis>"Are you certain about this?"</emphasis> her mother
  asked softly.</p>
</section>

Example 2: Poetry with Stanzas

Input EPUB with poem:

<div class="poem">
  <p>In winter's grip, the world stands still,</p>
  <p>White silence covers vale and hill.</p>
  <br>
  <p>But spring will come with gentle rain,</p>
  <p>To wake the earth from sleep again.</p>
</div>

Output FB2 with poem structure:

<poem>
  <stanza>
    <v>In winter's grip, the world stands still,</v>
    <v>White silence covers vale and hill.</v>
  </stanza>
  <stanza>
    <v>But spring will come with gentle rain,</v>
    <v>To wake the earth from sleep again.</v>
  </stanza>
</poem>

Example 3: Book with Epigraph

Input EPUB with epigraph:

<div class="epigraph">
  <p><em>"Not all those who wander are lost."</em></p>
  <p class="attribution">— J.R.R. Tolkien</p>
</div>
<h1>Part One</h1>

Output FB2 with epigraph element:

<epigraph>
  <p>"Not all those who wander are lost."</p>
  <text-author>J.R.R. Tolkien</text-author>
</epigraph>
<section>
  <title><p>Part One</p></title>
  ...
</section>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is FB2 (FictionBook)?

A: FictionBook (FB2) is an XML-based e-book format developed in Russia in the early 2000s. It's designed specifically for fiction and literary works, emphasizing semantic structure over presentation. FB2 files are single XML documents with Base64-encoded images. It's the most popular e-book format in Russia and is widely supported by Russian e-readers and software.

Q: Why is FB2 popular in Russia?

A: FB2 was developed in Russia before EPUB gained worldwide adoption. It became the standard in Russian e-book libraries and reading communities. Major Russian e-book stores, online libraries (like Lib.ru, Flibusta), and popular e-readers (PocketBook) adopted FB2. Its simple XML structure and excellent support for Cyrillic text made it ideal for the Russian market.

Q: What devices support FB2 files?

A: PocketBook e-readers (native support), most Android e-reading apps (FBReader, CoolReader, Moon+ Reader), iOS apps (FBReader, KyBook), desktop software (Calibre, FBReader), and many generic e-readers sold in Eastern Europe. While less universal than EPUB, FB2 has strong support in its target markets.

Q: Can I convert FB2 back to EPUB?

A: Yes! Calibre, Pandoc, and online converters can convert FB2 to EPUB. This enables a round-trip workflow for targeting different markets: edit in one format, convert to the other for distribution. The semantic structure of FB2 maps well to EPUB's structure, so conversion preserves content effectively.

Q: What's the difference between .fb2 and .fb2.zip?

A: .fb2 is a plain XML file, while .fb2.zip is the same file compressed with ZIP to reduce size. Most FB2 readers support both formats automatically. Because FB2 embeds images as Base64 (which increases size), compression is often used for distribution. The content is identical; .fb2.zip is just smaller for storage and download.

Q: Is FB2 suitable for non-fiction and technical books?

A: FB2 is primarily designed for fiction. While it can handle non-fiction, it lacks features common in technical documentation like tables, code syntax highlighting, and complex layouts. For technical books, EPUB or other formats are better choices. FB2 excels at novels, short stories, poetry, and literary works where simple structure suffices.

Q: How do I edit FB2 files?

A: Specialized editors include Fiction Book Designer and FB Editor. However, since FB2 is plain XML, you can edit it in any text editor (with XML syntax highlighting recommended). For metadata and structure changes, XML knowledge is helpful. Calibre also has a built-in e-book editor that supports FB2 format.

Q: What is FB3 and should I use it?

A: FB3 is the planned successor to FB2, designed to address its limitations while maintaining simplicity. However, as of 2024, FB3 has limited adoption and tool support. FB2 (version 2.2) remains the standard and is widely supported. For new projects targeting the Russian market, FB2 is still the recommended format until FB3 gains broader adoption.