Sword Art Online | |
---|---|
Created by | Reki Kawahara & abec |
Owners | Dengeki Bunko (via ASCII Media Works) Yen Press (English) |
Years | 2009–present |
Print publications | |
Novel(s) |
|
Sword Art Online is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara with accompanying illustrations drawn by abec. The series takes place in the near-future and focuses on various virtual reality MMORPG worlds. Originally self-published online under the pseudonym Fumio Kunori, [1] ASCII Media Works began publishing the novels on April 10, 2009 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. [2] The series has since grown to 28 volumes as of June 7, 2024. [3] Yen Press began publishing the novels in English in North America and the United Kingdom with the first volume on April 22, 2014. With more than 30 million copies in print worldwide, the novels are also published in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Brazil, Russia, Germany, Poland, Austria, France, Switzerland, and Italy. [4] [5] [6]
Kawahara also began writing a parallel series of light novels titled Sword Art Online: Progressive, a spin-off that focuses on the clearing of Aincrad, unlike the Aincrad stories of the main series. The first volume was released on October 10, 2012. [7] As of June 10, 2021, eight volumes have been published as part of the Progressive series. [8]
In addition to the original storyline of Sword Art Online and Sword Art Online: Progressive, Kawahara has also written and published Sword Art Online side stories. These side stories have been posted on his website, [9] in a collection of side stories in Accel World , have been sold at Comitia, Dengeki Bunko's Fair and have come along with the limited-edition Blu-ray/DVD Sword Art Online compilation volumes. Before Sword Art Online was published, Kawahara had posted Sword Art Online novels on his website and there are still a few side stories on Sword Art Online, although the original novels have been removed. In addition, Kawahara has published a side story of Sword Art Online in one of his other works, Accel World. In the tenth volume of Accel World, there is a chapter where it depicts a cross over between Sword Art Online and Accel World. Several of the side stories that he has released are in a collection called the Sword Art Online Material Edition, sold at the Comitia dōjinshi-selling event, which range from novels to manga. However, all of the art in the Material Edition is drawn by Kawahara himself.
Aside from the light novels written by Kawahara, there are also two spin-offs written by other authors with supervision by him. The first one is Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online series written by Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi, while the other is Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret, written by Watase Souichirou and illustrated by Ginta. While both of these series take place in the same world as the main series written by Kawahara, they each feature different characters as the focus compared to the main series.
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad | April 10, 2009 [2] 978-4-04-867760-8 | April 22, 2014 [10] [11] 978-0-316-37124-7 | |
| ||||
Being one of the world's luckiest gamers, Kirito gets the chance to play Sword Art Online, the world's first ever VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), only available to 10,000 people. Players immerse themselves into the game and are able to live a totally different life. However, all 10,000 players gets trapped in this game where game over in-game means death, both virtual and real. The only way to escape this game alive is to clear all 100 floors of Aincrad, but after having been trapped in this virtual world for two years, there are still 26 floors to clear with only 6,000 players left. | ||||
2 | Sword Art Online 2: Aincrad | August 10, 2009 [12] 978-4-04-867935-0 | August 26, 2014 [13] 978-0-316-37681-5 | |
| ||||
A collection of four short stories revolving around Asuna's boyfriend Kirito that take place when the players of Sword Art Online are trapped in the game. | ||||
3 | Sword Art Online 3: Fairy Dance | December 10, 2009 [14] 978-4-04-868193-3 | December 16, 2014 [15] 978-0-316-29642-7 | |
| ||||
Kirito has finished the game Sword Art Online and has returned to reality. However, he soon discovers that Asuna and 300 other people are still stuck in-game. Kirito soon finds out that they are trapped in a game called Alfheim Online and rushes back into virtual reality to save Asuna. | ||||
4 | Sword Art Online 4: Fairy Dance | April 10, 2010 [16] 978-4-04-868452-1 | April 21, 2015 [17] 978-0-316-29643-4 | |
| ||||
After foiling the ambush from the Salamanders, Kirito and Leafa continue to head towards the World Tree but end up in the underworld, Jötunheimr. After a series of experiences to both of the gamers, they soon arrive at the base of the World Tree, Arun. Kirito immediately tries to fly into the World Tree and save Asuna. However, before he saves her, he is faced with a few surprising findings. | ||||
5 | Sword Art Online 5: Phantom Bullet | August 10, 2010 [18] 978-4-04-868763-8 | August 18, 2015 [19] 978-0-316-29644-1 | |
| ||||
After saving his girlfriend, Kirito changes game: Following the request of Kikuoka, an officer from the Internal Defense Department he dives into a game filled with gunpowder and firearms. With the help of Sinon, a sniper, he investigates a series of murders committed by the mysterious Death Gun. | ||||
6 | Sword Art Online 6: Phantom Bullet | December 10, 2010 [20] 978-4-04-870132-7 | December 15, 2015 [21] 978-0-316-29645-8 | |
| ||||
Kirito enters in the middle of the action by participating in the Bullet Of Bullets PVP battle. In meantime he deduces that the opponent is a member of the old Sword Art Online game's red (killer) guild, Laughing Coffin. | ||||
7 | Sword Art Online 7: Mother's Rosary | April 8, 2011 [22] 978-4-04-870431-1 | April 19, 2016 [23] 978-0-316-39040-8 | |
| ||||
A spin-off focusing on Kirito's girlfriend Asuna and "Absolute Sword" Konno Yuuki. | ||||
8 | Sword Art Online 8: Early and Late | August 10, 2011 [24] 978-4-04-870733-6 | August 30, 2016 [25] 978-0-316-39041-5 | |
| ||||
Short stories from the world of Sword Art Online and Alfheim Online. | ||||
9 | Sword Art Online 9: Alicization Beginning | February 10, 2012 [26] 978-4-04-886271-4 | December 13, 2016 [27] 978-0-316-39042-2 | |
| ||||
Kirito wakes up in the middle of a forest with no memories of how he came here. He deduces that he might have dived into none other than Underworld, a virtual world he had dived as part of his part time job but with the memories of his diving blocked by his employer and is supposedly very realistic that matches even the real world. While exploring the forest, he stumbled upon a boy named Eugeo, who is carrying out his job of cutting down a giant tree. The chance meeting between the two marks the beginning of Kirito's adventure into this mysterious world. | ||||
10 | Sword Art Online 10: Alicization Running | July 10, 2012 [28] 978-4-04-886697-2 | April 18, 2017 [29] 978-0-316-39043-9 | |
| ||||
11 | Sword Art Online 11: Alicization Turning | December 10, 2012 [30] 978-4-04-891157-3 | August 22, 2017 [31] 978-0-316-39044-6 | |
| ||||
12 | Sword Art Online 12: Alicization Rising | April 10, 2013 [32] 978-4-04-891529-8 | December 12, 2017 [33] 978-0-316-39045-3 | |
| ||||
13 | Sword Art Online 13: Alicization Dividing | August 10, 2013 [34] 978-4-04-891757-5 | April 24, 2018 [35] 978-0-316-39046-0 | |
| ||||
14 | Sword Art Online 14: Alicization Uniting | April 10, 2014 [36] 978-4-04-866505-6 | August 21, 2018 [37] 978-0-316-56106-8 | |
| ||||
15 | Sword Art Online 15: Alicization Invading | August 9, 2014 [38] 978-4-04-866775-3 | December 18, 2018 [39] 978-0-316-39049-1 | |
| ||||
After the decisive battle against the Highest Minister Administrator the Human Empire's defences are shaken. However the Great East Gate is on the verge of crumbling. The Order of the Integrity Knights needs to prepare against the incoming army from the Dark Territory once the gate crumbles. | ||||
16 | Sword Art Online 16: Alicization Exploding | August 8, 2015 [40] 978-4-04-865307-7 | May 21, 2019 [41] 978-1-9753-0418-8 | |
| ||||
17 | Sword Art Online 17: Alicization Awakening | April 10, 2016 [42] 978-4-04-865883-6 | October 29, 2019 [43] 978-1-9753-5697-2 | |
| ||||
18 | Sword Art Online 18: Alicization Lasting | August 10, 2016 [44] 978-4-04-892250-0 | January 7, 2020 [45] [46] 978-1-9753-5699-6 | |
| ||||
19 | Sword Art Online 19: Moon Cradle | February 10, 2017 [47] 978-4-04-892668-3 | April 21, 2020 [48] 978-1-9753-5701-6 | |
| ||||
20 | Sword Art Online 20: Moon Cradle | September 8, 2017 [49] 978-4-04-893283-7 | August 18, 2020 [50] 978-1-9753-5703-0 | |
| ||||
21 | Sword Art Online 21: Unital Ring I | December 7, 2018 [51] 978-4-04-912211-4 | January 19, 2021 [52] 978-1-9753-1595-5 | |
| ||||
22 | Sword Art Online 22: Kiss and Fly | October 10, 2019 [53] 978-4-04-912675-4 | June 22, 2021 [54] 978-1-9753-2174-1 | |
| ||||
23 | Sword Art Online 23: Unital Ring II | December 10, 2019 [55] 978-4-04-912891-8 | November 9, 2021 [56] 978-1-9753-2176-5 | |
| ||||
24 | Sword Art Online 24: Unital Ring III | May 9, 2020 [57] 978-4-04-913155-0 | May 3, 2022 [58] 978-1-9753-2178-9 | |
| ||||
25 | Sword Art Online 25: Unital Ring IV | December 10, 2020 [59] 978-4-04-913531-2 | September 20, 2022 [60] 978-1-9753-4340-8 | |
| ||||
26 | Sword Art Online 26: Unital Ring V | October 8, 2021 [61] 978-4-04-914035-4 | March 21, 2023 [62] 978-1-9753-4896-0 | |
| ||||
27 | Sword Art Online 27: Unital Ring VI | October 7, 2022 [63] 978-4-04-914622-6 | August 22, 2023 [64] 978-1-9753-6977-4 | |
| ||||
28 | Sword Art Online 28: Unital Ring VII | June 7, 2024 [3] 978-4-04-915556-3 | – | |
|
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 1 | October 10, 2012 [7] 978-4-04-886977-5 | March 24, 2015 [65] 978-0-316-25936-1 | |
| ||||
2 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 2 | December 10, 2013 [66] 978-4-04-866163-8 | June 30, 2015 [67] 978-0-316-34217-9 | |
| ||||
3 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 3 | December 10, 2014 [68] 978-4-04-869096-6 | October 27, 2015 [69] 978-0-316-34883-6 | |
| ||||
4 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 4 | December 10, 2015 [70] 978-4-04-865566-8 | October 25, 2016 [71] 978-0-316-54542-6 | |
| ||||
5 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 5 | February 10, 2018 [72] 978-4-04-893613-2 | November 13, 2018 [73] 978-1-9753-2814-6 | |
| ||||
6 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 6 | May 10, 2018 [74] 978-4-04-893797-9 | July 9, 2019 [75] 978-1-9753-8333-6 | |
| ||||
7 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 7 | March 10, 2021 [76] 978-4-04-913677-7 | January 18, 2022 [77] 978-1-9753-3991-3 | |
| ||||
8 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 8 | June 10, 2021 [8] 978-4-04-913830-6 | June 7, 2022 [78] 978-1-9753-4338-5 | |
|
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online I: Squad Jam | December 10, 2014 [79] 978-4-04-869094-2 | June 26, 2018 [80] 978-1-9753-2752-1 |
2 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II: 2nd Squad Jam: Start | March 10, 2015 [81] 978-4-04-869095-9 | September 18, 2018 [82] 978-1-9753-5384-1 |
3 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online III: 2nd Squad Jam: Finish | June 10, 2015 [83] 978-4-04-865190-5 | February 19, 2019 [84] 978-1-9753-5385-8 |
4 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IV: 3rd Squad Jam: Betrayers' Choice | March 10, 2016 [85] 978-4-04-865818-8 | July 30, 2019 [86] 978-1-9753-5386-5 |
5 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online V: 3rd Squad Jam: Betrayers' Choice: Finish | July 9, 2016 [87] 978-4-04-892110-7 | December 12, 2019 [88] 978-1-9753-5387-2 |
6 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VI: One Summer Day | March 10, 2017 [89] 978-4-04-892745-1 | February 25, 2020 [90] 978-1-9753-5388-9 |
7 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VII: 4th Squad Jam: Start | June 9, 2018 [91] 978-4-04-893789-4 | November 24, 2020 [92] 978-1-9753-1532-0 |
8 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VIII: 4th Squad Jam: Continue | August 10, 2018 [93] 978-4-04-893878-5 | March 2, 2021 [94] 978-1-9753-1597-9 |
9 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IX: 4th Squad Jam: Finish | December 7, 2018 [95] 978-4-04-912093-6 | June 22, 2021 [96] 978-1-9753-1599-3 |
10 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online X: Five Ordeals | April 10, 2020 [97] 978-4-04-913132-1 | November 9, 2021 [98] 978-1-9753-2180-2 |
11 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online XI: 5th Squad Jam: Start | November 10, 2021 [99] 978-4-04-913940-2 | November 22, 2022 [100] 978-1-9753-4856-4 |
12 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online XII: 5th Squad Jam: Continue | February 10, 2022 [101] 978-4-04-914142-9 | June 20, 2023 [102] 978-1-9753-6786-2 |
13 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online XIII: 5th Squad Jam: Finish | March 10, 2023 [103] 978-4-04-914143-6 | November 21, 2023 [104] 978-1-9753-7523-2 |
14 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online XIV: Invitation from BB | October 10, 2024 [105] 978-4-04-915907-3 | — |
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret | November 10, 2016 [106] 978-4-04-892487-0 | August 20, 2024 [107] 978-1-9753-9068-6 |
2 | Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret 2 | January 10, 2018 [108] 978-4-04-893594-4 | December 10, 2024 [109] 978-1-9753-9070-9 |
3 | Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret 3 | August 10, 2018 [110] 978-4-04-893971-3 | April 15, 2025 [111] 978-1-9753-9072-3 |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online IF Official Novel Anthology | November 10, 2023 [112] | 978-4-04-915348-4 |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gourmet Seekers | November 17, 2023 [113] | 978-4-04-915210-4 |
2 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gourmet Seekers 2 | October 17, 2024 [114] | 978-4-04-915828-1 |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sword Art Online Alternative Mystery Labyrinth: Murder in the Labyrinth Manor | December 8, 2023 [115] | 978-4-04-915278-4 |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The Progressers | November 18, 2007 | — |
2 | Early Characters | February 10, 2008 | — |
3 | Ceramic Heart | May 5, 2008 | — |
4 | Cold Hand, Warm Heart | November 16, 2008 | — |
5 | Salvia | May 5, 2009 | — |
6 | Algade Showdown | November 15, 2009 | — |
7 | Continuation: Aria on a Starless Night [lower-alpha 1] | August 21, 2011 | — |
8 | Rondo for a Fragile Blade (First Chapter) [lower-alpha 2] | October 30, 2011 | — |
9 | Concerto of Black & White (First Chapter) [lower-alpha 3] | February 5, 2012 | — |
10 | 16.6 [lower-alpha 4] | October 20, 2013 | — |
11 | 16.7 [lower-alpha 5] | February 2, 2014 | — |
12 | 16.8 [lower-alpha 6] | May 5, 2014 | — |
13 | 16.9 [lower-alpha 7] | August 31, 2014 | — |
14 | Sugary Days 5 | November 23, 2014 | — |
15 | Sugary Days 6 | May 5, 2015 | — |
16 | Sugary Days 7 | August 30, 2015 | — |
17 | The Much-Talked-About Esteemed Sub-leader | November 15, 2015 | — |
18 | Sugary Days 8 | January 31, 2016 | — |
19 | Sugary Days 9 | May 5, 2016 | — |
20 | Monochromatic Colors | August 21, 2016 | — |
21 | SAOP4.2 | October 23, 2016 | — |
22 | Augmented Magic | February 12, 2017 | — |
23 | Sugary Days 10 | May 6, 2017 | — |
24 | Sugary Days 11 | August 20, 2017 | — |
25 | Sugary Days 12 | November 23, 2017 | — |
26 | Sugary Days 13 | February 11, 2018 | — |
27 | Sugary Days 14 | May 5, 2018 | — |
28 | Gaiden X3 [32/33] | February 17, 2019 | — |
29 | Gaiden X3 [32/33] (2) | May 12, 2019 | — |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
– | Sword Art Online Material Edition: Assemblage | February 13, 2011 | — |
Includes the first six Material Editions and non-canon There is But One Ultimate Way side story. | |||
– | Sword Art Online Material Edition: Remix | September 6, 2019 | — |
Originally released at the Ex-Chronicle event, held on August 4-18, 2019. The manga Material Editions were redrawn by the Phantom Bullet and Project Alicization manga artist Kōtarō Yamada. Includes Material Editions 1-6, 17 and 20; also includes "Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer", "The Fourteenth Autumn" and "A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter". |
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | |
---|---|---|---|---|
– | Salvia Sarubia(サルビア) | May 5, 2009 | — | |
Released via Comitia. Re-released under the title "Salvia and the MTB" on June 9, 2018 as part of Dengeki Bunko Magazine volume 62. | ||||
– | There is But One Ultimate Way | February 13, 2011 | — | |
Released via Sword Art Online Material Edition: Assemblage under the title "Sword Art Online Gaiden X2: There is But One Ultimate Way". | ||||
– | Calibur SS Kyaribā Sukoshi Shippai han(キャリバー SS版) | June 10, 2011 | — | |
Released via Dengeki Bunko Magazine. | ||||
– | Versus Bāsasu(バーサス) | December 10, 2011 | — | |
Released as part of the «All-in-1-Book: Accel World & Sword Art Online» attachment to volume 13 of Dengeki Bunko Magazine. Crossover with Accel World . | ||||
– | Lisbeth Edition | May 5, 2012 | — | |
| ||||
Released via Comitia. | ||||
– | Breaking the Damage Limit Damēji no Genkai Toppa(ダメージの限界突破) | October 2012 | — | |
Released as a Dengeki Bunko Festival special. | ||||
– | The Day Before Za Dei Bifoa(ザ・デイ・ビフォア) | October 24, 2012 [116] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online anime Blu-ray Disc volume 1 limited edition. | ||||
– | Silica Edition | November 18, 2012 | — | |
| ||||
Released via Comitia. | ||||
– | Open-Air Bath Rotenburo(露天風呂) | February 9, 2013 | — | |
Released in a "pencil board" attachment to volume 30 of Dengeki Bunko Magazine. On September 28, 2020, the story was re-released via the Kawahara Reki Channel on Niconico as the first entry of the channel's subscribers-only vintage side story lineup. | ||||
– | Celeste Fairy Cheresute no Yōsei(チェレステの妖精) | April 10, 2013 | — | |
Released as part of the «All-in-1-Book: Accel World & Sword Art Online» attachment to volume 31 of Dengeki Bunko Magazine. | ||||
– | Pina Edition | May 5, 2013 | — | |
| ||||
Released via Comitia. | ||||
– | The Day After Za Dei Afutā(ザ・デイ・アフター) | June 26, 2013 [117] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online anime Blu-ray Disc volume 9 limited edition. | ||||
– | Rainbow Bridge Niji no Hashi(虹の橋) | April 23, 2014 [118] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Extra Edition anime Blu-ray Disc limited edition. | ||||
– | Dream Game -Crossover- Dorīmu Gēmu ― Kurosuoba―(ドリーム・ゲーム ―くろすおーばー―) | August 9, 2014 | — | |
Released via Dengeki Bunko Magazine. First part of the crossover witch The Irregular at Magic High School . Written by Tsutomu Satō. | ||||
– | 16.8.5 | August 10, 2014 | — | |
Released as part of a file that was given to buyers of volume 15 from select retailers. | ||||
– | Versus II Bāsasu II(バーサス II) | October 10, 2014 | — | |
Released via Dengeki Bunko Magazine. Second part of the crossover witch The Irregular at Magic High School. | ||||
– | Objectors! ~VRMMO Development Tragedy~ Obujekutāzu! ~VRMMO Kaihatsu Hiwa~(Objectors! ~VRMMO開発悲話~) | December 10, 2014 | — | |
Initially released on the author's personal website under the title "VRMMO Development Tragedy". Re-released in the volume 41 of Dengeki Bunko Magazine with an added epilogue. | ||||
– | Sugary Days Shugāryi Deizu(シュガーリィ・デイズ) | May 25, 2015 [119] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online II anime Blu-ray Disc volume 5 limited edition. A compilation with additions and fixes of Material Editions released in 2013 and 2014 (Sugary Days 1-5). [119] | ||||
– | Sisters' Prayer | June 24, 2015 [120] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online II anime Blu-ray Disc volume 9 limited edition. | ||||
– | chromatic colors Kuromatikku Karāzu(クロマティック・カラーズ) | January 20, 2016 | — | |
Released as part of abec Art Works, the first art book by abec. An English translation of abec Art Works by Yen Press was released on November 28, 2017. | ||||
– | SAOP4.1 | August 2016 | — | |
Released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair. | ||||
– | Hopeful Chant Hōpufuru Chanto(ホープフル・チャント) | March 4, 2017 [121] | — | |
Released as a free bonus to those who came to see Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale in Japan in the third week of the official cinema release between March 4 and March 10, 2017. | ||||
– | Agil and Klein's Exciting Meal Egiru to Kurain no Wakuwaku Gohan(エギルとクラインのわくわくご飯) | August 1, 2017 | — | |
Released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair. | ||||
– | Cordial Chords Kōdiaru Kōdo(コーディアル・コード) | September 27, 2017 [122] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale anime Blu-ray Disc limited edition. | ||||
– | The End of the Summer and the Straw Hat Natsunoowari to Mugiwara Bōshi(夏の終わりと麦藁帽子) | August 2018 | — | |
Released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair. | ||||
– | Distant Journey Disutanto Jānī(ディスタント・ジャーニー) | January 30, 2019 [123] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Alicization anime Blu-ray Disc volume 1 limited edition. | ||||
– | Summer Memories Natsunoomoide(夏の思い出) | August 2019 | — | |
First part released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair, the second on Kawahara's website. | ||||
– | "If You Were Here" | August 28, 2019 [124] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Alicization anime Blu-ray Disc volume 8 limited edition. A compilation with additions and fixes of Material Editions released in 2019. (Gaiden X3 [32/33]). | ||||
– | "If You Wish It" | January 29, 2020 [125] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld anime Blu-ray Disc volume 2 limited edition. A sequel to "If You Were Here". | ||||
– | prismatic colors Purizumatikku Karāzu(プリズマティック・カラーズ) | March 27, 2020 | — | |
Released as part of abec Art Works Wanderers, the second art book by abec. An English translation of abec Art Works Wanderers by Yen Press was released on June 21, 2022. | ||||
– | "If We Could Walk Together" | December 9, 2020 [126] | — | |
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld anime Blu-ray Disc volume 8 limited edition. A sequel to "If You Wish It". | ||||
– | Bluish Memories Burūisshu Memorī(ブルーイッシュ・メモリー) | August 6, 2021 | — | |
Released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair. | ||||
– | Sword Art Online Progressive: The Second Day Sōdo Āto Onrain Puroguresshibu Sono Tsugunohi(ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ その次の日) | November 13, 2021 | — | |
Distributed with the Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night movie as a third week screening bonus. Sequel to "The First Day". |
The Dengeki Novel Prize is a literary award handed out annually by the Japanese publisher ASCII Media Works for their Dengeki Bunko light novel imprint. The contest has discovered many popular and successful light novelists, like Kouhei Kadono and Yashichiro Takahashi. Originally called the Dengeki Game Novel Prize, the name was changed in 2003. The main Dengeki Novel Prize awards consist of the Grand Prize, Gold Prize and Silver Prize (¥500,000). In addition to the money received, the winning novelists get their work published under Dengeki Bunko with the addition of an artist for the illustrated aspects of the light novels. However, if an entry is awarded the Media Works Bunko Prize, the winning novel will be published under ASCII Media Works' Media Works Bunko imprint, along with the author winning ¥1 million. Often, the name of the novel series is changed from what it was originally titled when it won the prize. There are over 5,000 submissions annually since 2011, and it is considered the largest prize for light novels.
Souichirou Watase, is a Japanese author from Yokohama city, Kanagawa prefecture. He made his debut with the fantasy novel Onmyo no Miyako in 2001, after winning Gold at the 7th Dengeki Game Novel Prize in 2000. He is also the creator of Parasite Moon and Rinkan no Madōshi.
ASCII Media Works, formerly ASCII Media Works, Inc., is a Japanese publisher and brand company of Kadokawa Future Publishing headquartered in Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. It originally formed on April 1, 2008, as a result of a merger between ASCII Corporation and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president and CEO of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the first president and CEO of ASCII Media Works. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013.
MediaWorks, Inc. was a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group known for their Dengeki brand magazines and book labels. These included such well-known magazines as Dengeki Daioh, and Dengeki G's Magazine, along with MediaWorks' main light novel publishing imprint Dengeki Bunko. The company was merged with ASCII on April 1, 2008, and became ASCII Media Works. They mainly catered to the Japanese male otaku crowd, covering such topics as anime, light novels, manga, plastic modelling, and visual novels. However, MediaWorks had published three magazines targeted towards females—Comic Sylph, Dengeki Girl's Style, and Character Parfait—but each one was a special edition version of another magazine. MediaWorks ran yearly contests for original novel and manga submissions, such as the light novel Dengeki Novel Prize contest.
Kazuma Kamachi is the pen name of a Japanese author who has published over 100 light novel volumes. He is best known for the creation of the A Certain Magical Index franchise which, as of 2019, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and has been licensed in North America by Yen Press with the first novel being released in Q4 2014.
Media Works Bunko is a publishing imprint affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works. It was established on December 16, 2009 with the publication of eight novels, and is a mainstream novel imprint aimed at a general audience. The imprint is an extension of ASCII Media Works's Dengeki Bunko imprint which publishes light novels. Authors who have moved on from light novels, even ones previously published under Dengeki Bunko, also are published under Media Works Bunko. Winners of the Media Works Bunko Prize in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Novel Prize annual contest are published on this imprint, along with winning 500,000 yen. The first two winners of the prize in the sixteenth Dengeki Novel Prize held in 2009 were Mado Nozaki, for (Ei) Amrita, and Kaoru Arima, for Taiyō no Akubi.
Sword Art Online is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The series takes place in the 2020s and focuses on protagonists Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they play through various virtual reality MMORPG worlds, and later their involvement in the matters of a simulated civilization. Kawahara originally wrote the series as a web novel on his website from 2002 to 2008. The light novels began publication on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint from April 10, 2009, with a spin-off series launching in October 2012. The series has spawned twelve manga adaptations published by ASCII Media Works and Kadokawa. The novels and the manga adaptations have been licensed for release in North America by Yen Press.
Sword Art Online is a Japanese science fiction anime television series based on the light novel series of the same title written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. It was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tomohiko Itō. It is divided into the "Aincrad" and "Fairy Dance" arcs, adapted from volumes 1–4 from the light novels. The story of the first season follows the adventures of Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki, two players who are trapped in the virtual world of "Sword Art Online" (SAO). They are tasked to clear all 100 Floors and defeat the final boss in order to be freed from the game. Three months after the death game, Kazuto discovers that Asuna is being held captive in "Alfheim Online" (ALO), a spiritual successor to SAO, where the players assume the roles of fairies. Kazuto enters the game and allies himself with his sister Suguha "Leafa" Kirigaya to rescue Asuna from captivity.
Reki Kawahara is a Japanese novelist. He is best known as the creator of Sword Art Online and Accel World, both of which have been adapted into anime series.
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a 2D arcade fighting game developed by Ecole Software and French Bread and published by Sega. The game celebrates the 20th anniversary of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint, featuring various characters from light novels published under the imprint. The game was first released in Japanese arcades in March 2014, and later released on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on November 13, 2014. The console version was released in North America and Europe in October 2015. The game's theme song is "Belief" by Mami Kawada.
The second season of the Sword Art Online anime television series, titled Sword Art Online II, is based on the light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec. It was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tomohiko Itō. It is divided into the story arc "Phantom Bullet" which adapts volumes 5–6 and the side stories "Calibur" and "Mother's Rosario" which are respectively adapted from volume 7 and 8 of the light novel. The episodes are each 23 minutes in length and adapts Kawahara's light novels from the fifth through the seventh volumes as well as parts of the eighth volume. The story of the second season follows Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya as he plays the new virtual reality game called "Gun Gale Online" (GGO), where he allies himself with a girl named Shino "Sinon" Asada and enters a tournament to investigate a player known only as "Death Gun", who has the ability to kill a person in the real world by killing their virtual avatar. Kirito and his friends return to "Alfheim Online" (ALO), Which was revived when Kirito was given the world seed, to retrieve the Holy Sword Excalibur from Thrym, the King of the Frost Giants, in order to restore the city of Jötunheimr back to its former glory. Asuna befriends a girl named Yuuki Konno, leader of the Sleeping Knights, who asks Asuna to join them in one last quest together. However, Asuna later discovers that Yuuki is suffering from a terminal illness and does not have very long to live.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is a Japanese light novel series written by Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi. The series is a spin-off of Reki Kawahara's Sword Art Online series. A manga adaptation by Tadadi Tamori launched in 2015, and an anime television series adaptation produced by studio 3Hz aired between April and June 2018. A second season produced by A-1 Pictures premiered in October 2024. Both the light novel and the manga adaptation are published in North America by Yen Press, while the anime is licensed by Aniplex of America.
Sword Art Online: Alicization is the third season of the Sword Art Online anime television series based on the light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. It was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Manabu Ono. It covers the first part of the "Alicization" arc and adapts from the novel's ninth volume, Alicization Beginning, to the fourteenth volume, Alicization Uniting. The second part of the anime, titled Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld, adapts from the novel's fifteenth volume, Alicization Invading, to the eighteenth volume, Alicization Lasting. While not covered in the light novels, Alicization takes place after Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale, as it incorporates elements from the film not found in the novels.
Tsutomu Satō is a Japanese novelist known for his light novel series The Irregular at Magic High School.
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night is a 2021 Japanese animated science fiction action adventure film based on the Sword Art Online: Progressive light novels written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec, which serve as an expanded retelling of Sword Art Online's Aincrad storyline. The film is produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Ayako Kōno, while featuring character designs by Kento Toya and music by Yuki Kajiura. This is the second film, after Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale, of the Sword Art Online anime series. The film depicts the story of Asuna's initial struggle to cope with being trapped in Sword Art Online along with her friend Mito, the first encounter between her and Kirito, and general in-depth coverage of events that occurred on Aincrad's first floor that were either skimmed over or skipped entirely in the original series. The film premiered in Japan on October 30, 2021.
Kazuma Miki is a Japanese light novel editor. He is CEO of Straight Edge Inc, editor-in-chief of LINE novel, and outside director of Egg Firm. He is from the Tokushima prefecture. He graduated from Sophia University as a physics major.