diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
index 57ee1a6788..f0e5104987 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
@@ -108,7 +108,10 @@ class EditAuthorsDialog(QDialog, Ui_EditAuthorsDialog):
         self.buttonBox.button(QDialogButtonBox.StandardButton.Cancel).setText(_('&Cancel'))
         self.buttonBox.accepted.connect(self.accepted)
         self.buttonBox.rejected.connect(self.rejected)
-        self.apply_vl_checkbox.stateChanged.connect(self.use_vl_changed)
+        self.apply_vl_checkbox.setAutoExclusive(False)
+        self.apply_vl_checkbox.toggled.connect(self.use_vl_changed)
+        self.apply_selection_checkbox.setAutoExclusive(False)
+        self.apply_selection_checkbox.toggled.connect(self.apply_selection_box_changed)
 
         self.table.setAlternatingRowColors(True)
         self.table.setSelectionMode(QAbstractItemView.SelectionMode.SingleSelection)
@@ -211,8 +214,22 @@ class EditAuthorsDialog(QDialog, Ui_EditAuthorsDialog):
             self.ignore_cell_changed = orig
 
     def use_vl_changed(self, x):
+        if self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked():
+            self.apply_selection_checkbox.setChecked(False)
         self.show_table(None, None, None, False)
 
+    def apply_selection_box_changed(self, x):
+        if self.apply_selection_checkbox.isChecked():
+            self.apply_vl_checkbox.setChecked(False)
+        self.show_table(None, None, None, False)
+
+    def selection_to_apply(self):
+        if self.apply_selection_checkbox.isChecked():
+            return 'selection'
+        if self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked():
+            return 'virtual_library'
+        return None
+
     def clear_filter(self):
         self.filter_box.setText('')
         self.show_table(None, None, None, False)
@@ -221,8 +238,7 @@ class EditAuthorsDialog(QDialog, Ui_EditAuthorsDialog):
         self.show_table(None, None, None, False)
 
     def show_table(self, id_to_select, select_sort, select_link, is_first_letter):
-        auts_to_show = {t[0] for t in
-                   self.find_aut_func(use_virtual_library=self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked())}
+        auts_to_show = {t[0] for t in self.find_aut_func(self.selection_to_apply())}
         filter_text = icu_lower(str(self.filter_box.text()))
         if filter_text:
             auts_to_show = {id_ for id_ in auts_to_show
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.ui
index ec5c17fd88..6427e171ef 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.ui
@@ -66,17 +66,37 @@
       </spacer>
      </item>
      <item row="0" column="4">
-      <widget class="QCheckBox" name="apply_vl_checkbox">
+      <widget class="QRadioButton" name="apply_vl_checkbox">
        <property name="toolTip">
-        <string>&lt;p&gt;Only show authors in the
+        <string>&lt;p&gt;Show authors only if they appear in the
           current Virtual library. Edits already done may be hidden but will
-          not be forgotten.&lt;/p&gt;</string>
+          not be forgotten.
+          &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;
+          Note that this box affects only what is displayed. Changes
+          will affect all books in your library even if this box
+          is checked.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;</string>
        </property>
        <property name="text">
         <string>Only show authors in the current &amp;Virtual library</string>
        </property>
       </widget>
      </item>
+     <item row="1" column="4">
+      <widget class="QRadioButton" name="apply_selection_checkbox">
+       <property name="toolTip">
+        <string>&lt;p&gt;Show items only if they appear in the
+          currently selected books. Edits already done may be hidden but will
+          not be forgotten.
+          &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;
+          Note that this box affects only what is displayed. Changes
+          will affect all books in your library even if this box
+          is checked.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;</string>
+       </property>
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>O&amp;nly show authors in the currently selected books</string>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
      <item row="1" column="0">
       <widget class="QLabel">
        <property name="text">
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
index 19a0379e5f..983d05ce61 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
@@ -372,7 +372,10 @@ class TagListEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagListEditor):
             ac.triggered.connect(self.clear_filter)
         le.returnPressed.connect(self.do_filter)
         self.filter_button.clicked.connect(self.do_filter)
-        self.apply_vl_checkbox.clicked.connect(self.vl_box_changed)
+        self.apply_vl_checkbox.setAutoExclusive(False)
+        self.apply_vl_checkbox.toggled.connect(self.vl_box_changed)
+        self.apply_selection_checkbox.setAutoExclusive(False)
+        self.apply_selection_checkbox.toggled.connect(self.apply_selection_box_changed)
 
         self.is_enumerated = False
         if fm:
@@ -537,9 +540,24 @@ class TagListEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagListEditor):
         return txt.swapcase()
 
     def vl_box_changed(self):
+        if self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked():
+            self.apply_selection_checkbox.setChecked(False)
         self.search_item_row = -1
         self.fill_in_table(None, None, False)
 
+    def apply_selection_box_changed(self):
+        if self.apply_selection_checkbox.isChecked():
+            self.apply_vl_checkbox.setChecked(False)
+        self.search_item_row = -1
+        self.fill_in_table(None, None, False)
+
+    def selection_to_apply(self):
+        if self.apply_selection_checkbox.isChecked():
+            return 'selection'
+        if self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked():
+            return 'virtual_library'
+        return None
+
     def do_search(self):
         self.not_found_label.setVisible(False)
         find_text = str(self.search_box.currentText())
@@ -653,7 +671,7 @@ class TagListEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagListEditor):
     def fill_in_table(self, tags, tag_to_match, ttm_is_first_letter):
         self.create_table()
 
-        data = self.get_book_ids(self.apply_vl_checkbox.isChecked())
+        data = self.get_book_ids(self.selection_to_apply())
         self.all_tags = {}
         filter_text = icu_lower(str(self.filter_box.text()))
         for k,v,count in data:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.ui
index 789940df40..5589613ef2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.ui
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
     </spacer>
    </item>
    <item row="0" column="4">
-    <widget class="QCheckBox" name="apply_vl_checkbox">
+    <widget class="QRadioButton" name="apply_vl_checkbox">
      <property name="toolTip">
       <string>&lt;p&gt;Show items only if they appear in the
           current Virtual library. Edits already done may be hidden but will
@@ -87,6 +87,22 @@
      </property>
     </widget>
    </item>
+   <item row="1" column="4">
+    <widget class="QRadioButton" name="apply_selection_checkbox">
+     <property name="toolTip">
+      <string>&lt;p&gt;Show items only if they appear in the
+          currently selected books. Edits already done may be hidden but will
+          not be forgotten.
+          &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;
+          Note that this box affects only what is displayed. Changes
+          will affect all books in your library even if this box
+          is checked.&lt;/p&gt;</string>
+     </property>
+     <property name="text">
+      <string>O&amp;nly show items in the currently selected books</string>
+     </property>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
    <item row="1" column="0">
     <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
      <property name="text">
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
index 7f2e5d5cf8..f99204f912 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from qt.core import (
 )
 
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import title_sort
-from calibre.gui2 import config, error_dialog, gprefs, question_dialog
+from calibre.gui2 import config, error_dialog, gprefs, question_dialog, warning_dialog
 from calibre.gui2.dialogs.edit_authors_dialog import EditAuthorsDialog
 from calibre.gui2.dialogs.tag_categories import TagCategories
 from calibre.gui2.dialogs.tag_list_editor import TagListEditor
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ class TagBrowserMixin:  # {{{
         self.library_view.model().research(reset=False)
         self.library_view.current_id = current_row_id # the setter checks for None
 
-
     def do_restriction_error(self, e):
         error_dialog(self.tags_view, _('Invalid search restriction'),
                          _('The current search restriction is invalid'),
@@ -312,8 +311,22 @@ class TagBrowserMixin:  # {{{
         db.new_api.clear_search_caches()
         self.user_categories_edited()
 
+    # Keep this for compatibility. It isn't used here but could be used in a plugin
     def get_book_ids(self, use_virtual_library, db, category):
-        book_ids = None if not use_virtual_library else self.tags_view.model().get_book_ids_to_use()
+        return self.get_book_ids_in_vl_or_selection(
+            ('virtual_library' if use_virtual_library else None), db, category)
+
+    def get_book_ids_in_vl_or_selection(self, use_what, db, category):
+        if use_what is None:
+            book_ids = None
+        elif use_what == 'virtual_library':
+            book_ids = self.tags_view.model().get_book_ids_to_use()
+        else:
+            book_ids = self.library_view.get_selected_ids()
+            if not book_ids:
+                warning_dialog(self.tags_view, _('No books selected'),
+                               _('No books are selected. Showing all items.'), show=True)
+                book_ids = None
         data = db.new_api.get_categories(book_ids=book_ids)
         if category in data:
             result = [(t.id, t.original_name, t.count) for t in data[category] if t.count > 0]
@@ -337,7 +350,7 @@ class TagBrowserMixin:  # {{{
         d = TagListEditor(self, category=category,
                           cat_name=db.field_metadata[category]['name'],
                           tag_to_match=tag,
-                          get_book_ids=partial(self.get_book_ids, db=db, category=category),
+                          get_book_ids=partial(self.get_book_ids_in_vl_or_selection, db=db, category=category),
                           sorter=key, ttm_is_first_letter=is_first_letter,
                           fm=db.field_metadata[category],
                           link_map=db.new_api.get_link_map(category))
@@ -514,7 +527,7 @@ class TagBrowserMixin:  # {{{
         Open the manage authors dialog
         '''
         db = self.library_view.model().db
-        get_authors_func = partial(self.get_book_ids, db=db, category='authors')
+        get_authors_func = partial(self.get_book_ids_in_vl_or_selection, db=db, category='authors')
         if lookup_author:
             for t in get_authors_func(use_virtual_library=False):
                 if t[1] == id_: