Introducing Vox9 — My New Audiobook Platform Is Live!
Hey everyone!
Some of you may have seen me mention this in passing, but today I'm excited to properly introduce you to a project I've been building behind the scenes: Vox9: an audiobook platform for independent sci-fi and fantasy authors.
What is Vox9?
Vox9 takes written stories from independent authors and turns them into full audiobooks using either Human or AI narration. Think of it as a home for all the stories you love from Reddit, Royal Road, and beyond, but in audio form, ready to listen to on your commute, at the gym, or while you're falling asleep. The Authors themselves upload their own stories, and it's very similar to my old YT channel in how to can catch up with the stories you love on a regular basis.
You can check it out right now at https://vox9.io
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Authors On Day One
We've launched with some brilliant authors, many of whom you might already recognize:
Ekhidnawritez — The Black Ship
Viper — What's The Job
David Orf — Barony of Screaming Forests
Robert Butler — How Misunderstandings Made a Demon Lord (and lots of other Sci-Fi stories)
ItsDirector — The Human From a Dungeon
VexTrooper / Fable the Fox — Terran Contact
MWMN19 — Short Sci-Fi, Fantasy & HFY stories
CJ Krueger / TheCJK — Short Sci-Fi & HFY stories
scifistories1977 (Me) — Tales from the GC (and other sci-fi stories)
There's already hours of content to explore, and more authors are joining soon.
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It Works Like an App
Vox9 is a Progressive Web App, which means you can install it on your phone just like a regular app, no app store needed. Once installed, you can download episodes and listen offline. To enable offline download, you do need to subscribe to the author you want to download. I've put together video walkthroughs for both Android and Apple on the updates page:
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Help Bring More Authors to the Platform
Here's where I could really use your help. If there's an author you've listened to on the Sci-Fi Stories YouTube channel, or a writer you follow on Reddit or Royal Road that you'd love to hear on Vox9, send them a message! Drop a comment on one of their posts, DM them on Reddit, or tag them on Royal Road and point them to https://vox9.io. The more authors we have, the better the platform gets for everyone.
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Got Feedback?
The platform is live but I'm still actively building and improving it. If you spot any bugs, have ideas, or just want to share your thoughts,
I'd love to hear from you:
https://forms.gle/x2Mv8ximXNbeQsmb7
You can also keep up with what's changing on the updates page: https://vox9.io/updates.html
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Thanks for being part of this community. Go have a look, explore some stories, and let me know what you think!
— scifistories1977
Comments (29)
Looking forward to the new story's
Will the What's The Job and Barony of Screaming Forests continue to be uploaded on patreon or ?
Patron is their home and will stay their home. Patreon will continue and stories will be available first on Patreon. Vox9 is an audio platform for any and every independent author. So they can upload the story their if they choose, but it will be on a delay as patreon members get early access.
So am I correct in assuming that your posting on Patreon is not going away?
No, patreon is very much staying and the home to TBS and its side stories.
I thought Black Ship episodes came out on Monday, a day earlier then Youtube?
We changed it before christmas. TBS on Tuesday, WTJ on Wednesday and now BoSF is on Friday.
On new website subscription fee is 2.5$ for every author If I understand correctly, it's more expensive than here on Patreon.
I think there's some confusion here! The Black Ship isn't leaving Patreon, if you're happy here, nothing changes. Vox9 is a separate audiobook platform for all indie authors, not just TBS. It's what my old YouTube channel was, a home for hundreds of authors who don't have an audio presence elsewhere. Most content on Vox9 is actually free. Subscriptions are optional if you want to support an author directly or get early access to new episodes. And $2.50/month is set by each author individually, it's roughly half a coffee to directly support a creator you enjoy. You're currently a free member here on Patreon, so this doesn't really affect you either way. But if you discover other authors on Vox9 whose work you love, the option is there to support them.
Can you only download episodes or does the app allow streaming? I love this btw, don't listen to the grumbles about YT and Rumble. That was a transitional option, it obviously wasn't ideal. I hope this platform takes off and you're able to create a space where both consumers and writers are happy. And maybe make sure that the core values of this project are set in stone so that you (I doubt it) or anyone else who gets a hold of your app can't decide to turn it into another money grab. You never know so better to err on the side of caution. 🖤
The app is pretty much only streaming.. did you visit already? You will see that by pressing play on a free episode (most of the content is free), it will start plylayijg/streaming. There is a download option to listen offline, but you need to subscribe to an author and install the pwa app for that. You can check the updates page on vox9 to see a video walkthrough to setup android and apple mobiles.
I just subscribed to you on Patreon. Will this still be active and used in the long run, or will you leave it as well, like YouTube? I do like this better than YouTube overall, but it's a bit clunky on the layout. I'm getting used to it.
Is there a tone to this message or is it just me missreading? I'm not sure if you know, but the YT channel was demonitised. So we moved fully to patreon for TBS. And I think its been successful. The main aim is to pay the authors for their work and that was no longer possible on YT. So you could call it abandoned but it was for a very real reason. No one should work for free. Patreon will most definitely not be abandoned. TBS and the side stories will continue right here for the foreseeable future.
So rumble is dead? Like your second YouTube channel.
I will still be posting to Rumble, but Vox9 more than fills the gap, in terms for TBS stories, and it gives you free access to many other popular stories.
If I actually wrote fiction (I don't), I would want to know how you plan to attract more readers to a new platform. The biggest potential advantage that YT had was that it shows up by default in most search engines. How do you plan to find new readers that have not even heard of HFY in general, let alone your specific new platform?
Great question! Vox9 grows through authors bringing their existing fanbases — when an author joins and shares the platform with their supporters, those fans discover other authors on the site. Those fans then ask their favorite authors to join, creating a snowball effect. It's a niche platform by design, focused on the indie fiction community rather than competing with mainstream search engines. Word of mouth within the HFY, Royal Road, and Reddit writing communities is the growth strategy for now.
Are we done with YouTube? Like I understand there was some difficulties and I’d like to be more involved I just don’t have the time to read through everything. I just want a place where it’s all at in order so I can listen uninterrupted. Does that place exist yet?
That platform will probably be vox9. I will continue to upload to YT (although its very far behind patreon) so if you want to listen to TBS stories and others, vox9 will be the place round go.
Can I still support the back ship on the new platform, I mean can I transfer my subscription from Patreon to the new platform on iPhone. Thanks
Hi Joy, you are free to move to the new platform. One thing to bear in mind is Patreon gets early access to all the black ship stories before any other platform.
Is there any filtering mechanism to ensure that no AI or other low effort content is uploaded?
I dont think that filter exists! Otherwise i'm sure YT would use it! But in reality, if you don't like something you have the choice to avoid it. You can leave comments below each video as well if you need clarification. Right now, I have some good authors on the platform. If you need to let me know about any stories or issues, there is a feedback button at the bottom of the landing page, or you can report the video as well. Or, feel free to send me a message their and I'll take a look.
Hi everyone, some of you may be wondering but, to confirm, there will be no change to what you currently watch on Patreon. TBS and side stories will still appear on vox9, but only after a 7-10 day delay forbthe latest part. Its up to each author when they post, but Patreon will remain the primary early access platform. Vox9 is mainly a home for all the other stories I used to have on the YouTube channel since they no longer have a home.
With the artwork? Please say yes! It really enhances the experience.
I hope my Patreon subscription still gives me access to the stories around The Black Ship.
Hi. To confirm, there will be no change to what you currently watch on Patreon (TBS and side stories). TBS and side stories will still appear on vox9, but only after a 7-10 day delay. Its up to each author when they post, but Patreon will remain the primary early access platform. Vox9 is mainly a home for all the other stories I used to have on the YouTube channel since they no longer have a home.
done
Going to check it out now!