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 realityMMORPG 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 Bunkoimprint.[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.
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.
"The Girl in the Morning Dew" (朝露の少女, Asatsuyu No Shoujo)
"Red-Nosed Reindeer" (赤鼻のトナカイ, Akahana No Tonakai)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Includes the first six Material Editions and non-canon There is But One Ultimate Way side story.
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Sword Art Online Material Edition: Remix
September 6, 2019
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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".
Sword Art Online side stories
No.
Title
Japanese release date
Japanese ISBN
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Salvia Sarubia (サルビア)
May 5, 2009
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Released via Comitia. Re-released under the title "Salvia and the MTB" on June 9, 2018 as part of Dengeki Bunko Magazine volume 62.
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There is But One Ultimate Way
February 13, 2011
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Released via Sword Art Online Material Edition: Assemblage under the title "Sword Art Online Gaiden X2: There is But One Ultimate Way".
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Calibur SS Kyaribā Sukoshi Shippai han (キャリバー SS版)
June 10, 2011
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Released via Dengeki Bunko Magazine.
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Versus Bāsasu (バーサス)
December 10, 2011
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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.
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Lisbeth Edition
May 5, 2012
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"Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer" (水音、槌音, Mizuoto, tsuchioto)
"Extraordinary Ordinary Days" (非日常という日常, Hi nichijō to iu nichijō)
Released via Comitia.
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Breaking the Damage Limit Damēji no Genkai Toppa (ダメージの限界突破)
Released as a special to Japanese Sword Art Online anime Blu-ray Disc volume 1 limited edition.
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Silica Edition
November 18, 2012
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"A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter" (冬の陽だまり, Fuyu no Hidamari)
"The Final Promise" (最後の約束, Saigo no Yakusoku)
Released via Comitia.
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Open-Air Bath Rotenburo (露天風呂)
February 9, 2013
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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.
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Celeste Fairy Cheresute no Yōsei (チェレステの妖精)
April 10, 2013
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Released as part of the «All-in-1-Book: Accel World & Sword Art Online» attachment to volume 31 of Dengeki Bunko Magazine.
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Pina Edition
May 5, 2013
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"The Fourteenth Autumn" (十四回目の秋, Jū Yon Kai Me no Aki)
"Pina Edition Bonus Manga Theatre" (ピナ・エディ・おまけ・まんが劇場, Pina Edi Omake Manga Gekijō)
Released as part of a file that was given to buyers of volume 15 from select retailers.
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Versus II Bāsasu II (バーサス II)
October 10, 2014
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Released via Dengeki Bunko Magazine. Second part of the crossover witch The Irregular at Magic High School.
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Objectors! ~VRMMO Development Tragedy~ Obujekutāzu! ~VRMMO Kaihatsu Hiwa~ (Objectors! ~VRMMO開発悲話~)
December 10, 2014
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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.
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]
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.
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.
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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)
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]).
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".
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.
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".
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Bluish Memories Burūisshu Memorī (ブルーイッシュ・メモリー)
August 6, 2021
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Released for the Dengeki Bunko Choukansha Fair.
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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)