Sword Art Online is a Japanese light novel series, first written as a web novel series, by Kawahara Reki and illustrated by abec. The light novels began publication on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint from April 10, 2009. The series has also spawned several light novel spin-offs, multiple manga adaptations, an anime adaptation and multiple game adaptations.
A spin-off series, titled Sword Art Online: Progressive, was launched in October 2012. The series expands the story of the Aincrad Arc by focusing on the adventures of Kirito and Asuna throughout each floor of Aincrad.
Another spin-off series, titled Sword Art Online Alternative "Gun Gale Online", written by Sigsawa Keiichi, illustrated by Kuroboshi Kouhaku, and supervised by Kawahara Reki, began publication in December 2014. The series focuses on an original cast of characters and their adventures in Gun Gale Online.
A third spin-off series, titled Sword Art Online Alternative "Clover's Regret", written by Watase Sōichirō and supervised by Kawahara Reki, began publication in June 2016. The series focuses on an original cast of characters and their adventures in Asuka Empire.
The original novel series, the Progressive series, and Alternative "Gun Gale Online" have been licensed for an English release by Yen Press in North America. The original novel series was also licensed in France by Ofelbe Editions, in Germany by Tokyopop, in Poland by Kotori, in Russia by Istari Comics, in Spain by Planeta Comic, in Italy by J-Pop, in Brazil by Panini Comics, in China by Tianwen Kadokawa Animation and Comics, in Taiwan by Kadokawa Taiwan, in South Korea by J-Novel, in Vietnam by Innovative Publishing and Media, and in Thailand by Zenshu Publishing.
History[edit | edit source]
The first volume of the series was first written in 2002 as a competition entry for ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Game Novel Prize (now Dengeki Novel Prize), but the author refrained from submitting it as he had exceeded the page limit and did not want to shrink the size of the story. The unsubmitted work was instead published as a web novel under the author’s pseudonym, Kunori Fumio. The author continued writing new arcs and stories for his series until he finished writing the 4th main arc, Alicization in 2008. After Kawahara Reki’s second series, Accel World, was successfully entered in another Dengeki competition and won the grand prize, Kawahara Reki was requested to get his previous series, Sword Art Online, published by ASCII Media Works as well.
Light Novel Publications[edit | edit source]
Cover | Title | Japan Release | America Release | |
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Main light novel series | ||||
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Sword Art Online Volume 1 - Aincrad
ソードアート・オンライン001 |
ISBN 978-4-04-867760-8 2009-04-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-37124-7 2014-04-22[1] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 2 - Aincrad
ソードアート・オンライン002 |
ISBN 978-4-04-867935-0 2009-08-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-37681-5 2014-08-26[2] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 3 - Fairy Dance
ソードアート・オンライン003 |
ISBN 978-4-04-868193-3 2009-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-29642-7 2014-12-16[3] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 4 - Fairy Dance
ソードアート・オンライン004 |
ISBN 978-4-04-868452-1 2010-04-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-29643-4 2015-04-21[4] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 5 - Phantom Bullet
ソードアート・オンライン005 |
ISBN 978-4-04-868763-8 2010-08-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-29644-1 2015-08-18[5] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 6 - Phantom Bullet
ソードアート・オンライン006 |
ISBN 978-4-04-870132-7 2010-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-29645-8 2015-12-15[6] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario
ソードアート・オンライン007 |
ISBN 978-4-04-870431-1 2011-04-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39040-8 2016-04-19[7] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 8 - Early And Late
ソードアート・オンライン008 |
ISBN 978-4-04-870733-6 2011-08-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39041-5 2016-08-30[8] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 9 - Alicization Beginning
ソードアート・オンライン009 アリシゼーション・ビギニング |
ISBN 978-4-04-886271-4 2012-02-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39042-2 2016-12-20[9] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 10 - Alicization Running
ソードアート・オンライン010 |
ISBN 978-4-04-886697-2 2012-07-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39043-9 2017-04-18[10] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 11 - Alicization Turning
ソードアート・オンライン011 |
ISBN 978-4-04-891157-3 2012-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39044-6 2017-08-22[11] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 12 - Alicization Rising
ソードアート・オンライン012 |
ISBN 978-4-04-891529-8 2013-04-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39045-3 2017-12-19[12] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 13 - Alicization Dividing
ソードアート・オンライン013 |
ISBN 978-4-04-891757-5 2013-08-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39046-0 2018-04-24[13] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 14 - Alicization Uniting
ソードアート・オンライン014 |
ISBN 978-4-04-866505-6 2014-04-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39048-4 2018-08-21[14] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 15 - Alicization Invading
ソードアート・オンライン015 |
ISBN 978-4-04-866775-3 2014-08-09 |
ISBN 978-0-316-39049-1 2018-12-18[15] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 16 - Alicization Exploding
ソードアート・オンライン016 |
ISBN 978-4-04-865307-7 2015-08-08 |
ISBN 978-1-9753-0418-8 2019-05-21[16] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 17 - Alicization Awakening
ソードアート・オンライン017 |
ISBN 978-4-04-865883-6 2016-04-10[17] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5697-2 2019-10-29[18] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 18 - Alicization Lasting
ソードアート・オンライン018 |
ISBN 978-4-04-892250-0 2016-08-10[19] |
ISBN 978-1-975-35699-6 2020-01-07[20] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 19 - Moon Cradle
ソードアート・オンライン019 |
ISBN 978-4-04-892668-3 2017-02-10[21] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5701-6 2020-04-21[22] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 20 - Moon Cradle
ソードアート・オンライン020 |
ISBN 978-4-04-893283-7 2017-09-8[23] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5703-0 2020-08-18[24] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 21 - Unital Ring I
ソードアート・オンライン021 |
ISBN 978-4-04-912211-4 2018-12-7[25] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-1596-2 2021-01-19[26] | |
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Sword Art Online Volume 22 - Kiss and Fly
ソードアート・オンライン022 |
ISBN 978-4-04-912675-4 2019-10-10[27] |
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Sword Art Online Volume 23 - Unital Ring II
ソードアート・オンライン023 |
ISBN 978-4-04-912891-8 2019-12-10[28] |
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Sword Art Online Volume 24 - Unital Ring III
ソードアート・オンライン024 |
ISBN 978-4-04-913155-0 2020-05-09[29] |
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Sword Art Online Volume 25 - Unital Ring IV
ソードアート・オンライン025 |
ISBN 978-4-04-913531-2 2020-12-10[30] |
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Progressive series | ||||
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 01
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ001 |
ISBN 978-4-04-886977-5 2012-10-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-25936-1 2015-03-24[31] | |
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 02
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ002 |
ISBN 978-4-04-866163-8 2013-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-34217-9 2015-06-30[32] | |
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 03
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ003 |
ISBN 978-4-04-869096-6 2014-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-34883-6 2015-10-27[33] | |
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 04
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ004 |
ISBN 978-4-04-865566-8 2015-12-10 |
ISBN 978-0-316-54542-6 2016-10-25[34] | |
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 05
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ005 |
ISBN 978-4-04-893613-2 2018-02-10[35] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-2814-6 2018-11-13[36] | |
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Sword Art Online Progressive Volume 06
ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ006 |
ISBN 978-4-04-893797-9 2018-05-10[37] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-8333-6 2019-07-09[38] | |
Gun Gale Online series | ||||
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online I - Squad Jam
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-869094-2 2014-12-10[39] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-2752-1 2018-06-26[40] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II - 2nd Squad Jam (I)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-869095-9 2015-03-10[41] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5384-1 2018-09-18[42] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online III - 2nd Squad Jam (II)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-865190-5 2015-06-10[43] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5385-8 2019-02-19[44] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IV - 3rd Squad Jam Betrayer's Choice (I)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-865818-8 2016-03-10[45] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5386-5 2019-07-30[46] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online V - 3rd Squad Jam Betrayer's Choice (II)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-892110-7 2016-07-09[47] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5387-2 2019-11-26[48] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VI - One Summer Day
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-892745-1 2017-03-10[49] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-5388-9 2020-02-25[50] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VII - 4th Squad Jam (I)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-893789-4 2018-06-10[51] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-1532-0 2020-11-24[52] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VIII - 4th Squad Jam (II)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-893878-5 2018-08-10[53] |
ISBN 978-1-9753-1597-9 2021-02-23[54] | |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IX - 4th Squad Jam (III)
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-912093-6 2018-12-07[55] |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online X - Five Ordeals
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 9784049131321 2020-04-10[56] |
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Clover's Regret series | ||||
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Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret Volume 01
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-892487-0 2016-11-10[57] |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret Volume 02
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-893594-4 2018-01-10[58] |
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Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret Volume 03
ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ |
ISBN 978-4-04-893971-3 2018-08-10[59] |
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Numerous changes occurred when the original web novel was adapted into paperback format. The changes can be read in the Adaption Notes section on the respective article for every novel volume and side story.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ http://dengekibunko.jp/newreleases/978-4-04-865883-6/
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Kadokawa store page
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko page for SAO Volume 24
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko page for SAO Volume 25
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko official site
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site, last accessed on December 25, 2019
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press' official site, updated on November 5, 2020
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Yen Press's official site
- ↑ Rakuten Books
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko's page for AGGO volume 10.
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko website