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Sword Art Online (Novel)  
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Description
The year is 2022. Mankind has finally perfected virtual reality. And within the VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) Sword Art Online, there was a player called Kirito. While he was enjoying the world of SAO, he and the other 10,000 logged-in players all received a frightening message from the Game Master—that the only way to escape from that world was to clear the game, and that a game over within the game would mean their death in the real world.

That was the frightening true story behind this game.

Kirito was one of the first players to accept this “truth”, and began his solo play, refusing to form a party, as he threw himself into the never ending battles that lay before him…

Type
Novel

Related Series
Sword Art Online - Aincrad (Spin-Off)
Sword Art Online - Fairy Dance (Spin-Off)
Sword Art Online. (Spin-Off)
Sword Art Online: Progressive (Novel) (Spin-Off)

Associated Names
Искусство меча онлайн (ранобэ)
ソードアート・オンライン
刀剑神域 (小说)
S.A.O.

Groups Scanlating
Baka-Tsuki
Unlimited Novel Failures

Latest Release(s)
v.11 c.Author's Notes by Baka-Tsuki (70d ago)
v.11 c.6 by Baka-Tsuki (73d ago)
v.11 c.Interlude III by Baka-Tsuki (91d ago)
Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin
12 Volumes (Ongoing)

Completely Scanlated?
No

Anime Start/End Chapter
Starts at Vol 1, Chap 2
Ends at Vol 4, Chap 9

User Reviews
N/A

Forum
4 topics, 32 posts
Click here to view the forum

User Rating
Average: 8.9 / 10.0 (380 votes)
Bayesian Average: 8.74 / 10.0
10
 61% (230 votes)
9+
 18% (69 votes)
8+
 7% (25 votes)
7+
 4% (16 votes)
6+
 3% (12 votes)
5+
 1% (2 votes)
4+
 1% (4 votes)
3+
 1% (5 votes)
2+
 0% (1 votes)
1+
 4% (16 votes)

Last Updated
May 25th 2013, 7:03am PST

Sponsored Links
Game advertisements by <a href="http://www.game-advertising-online.com" target="_blank">Game Advertising Online</a> require iframes.

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Genre
Action  Adventure  Drama  Fantasy  Mystery  Romance  Sci-fi  Shounen 
Search for series of same genre(s)

Categories

Category Recommendations (beta!)
Sword Art Online - Fairy Dance (weight: 230.43)
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor (Novel) (weight: 218.28)
Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko (Novel) (weight: 207.12)
Sword Art Online - Aincrad (weight: 206.43)
1/2 Prince (weight: 204.05)

Recommendations

Author(s)
KAWAHARA Reki

Artist(s)
abec

Year
2009

Original Publisher
ASCII Media Works

Serialized In (magazine)
N/A

Licensed (in English)
No

English Publisher
N/A

Activity Stats (vs. other series)
Weekly Pos #559 increased(+131)
Monthly Pos #799 decreased(-5)
3 Month Pos #480 decreased(-190)
6 Month Pos #352 decreased(-236)

List Stats
On 1555 reading lists
On 767 wish lists
On 25 unfinished lists
On 282 custom lists

Note: You must be logged in to update information on this page.

Forum Posts
want to start the novel, need answers to a few questions 81 days, 20 hours, 10 minutes ago
Question about Volume 3 209 days, 12 hours, 19 minutes ago
Do you think it's actually possible? 262 days, 4 hours, 8 minutes ago
The main story from volume 1 754 days, 13 hours, 38 minutes ago

Click to view the forum

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User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]
 

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avatar
 DO NOT stop after volume 1, it just gets better as the series goes on   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by darn2k
May 7th, 2011, 3:53pm
I really love this series, I'm even helping edit. But I've just got to know how much of volume 3 claudiofd actually read, because no matter how much it was, it wouldn't be enough. Volume 3/4 are all one big story so if you only read a couple chapters or even the full volume 3 you wouldn't be able to get the same feeling, but once you read all of volume 4 with it you won't be disappointed.

That is not even mentioning volumes 5/6 where you get more of what is going on outside the game and Kirito is using a light saber in a shooting-based game.
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 The first volume was amazing but the story should have ended there   
Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
by claudiofd
May 2nd, 2011, 10:51am
I read through the first volume pretty quickly and was amazed by how good everything was. The pace was good. Even when the main story was sort of "on hold" while going through the romantic scenes it was so good. Those scenes end up being very important because only by reading through them do you manage to understand and value their relationship.

Another thing I loved was the philosophic questions behind their situation. I clearly remember a scene where asuna and kirito are talking and she says something like: If we are here and our hearts are here and if we are living and feeling these emotions, isn't this reality in itself? Now that was beautiful and I totally agree. They were in the game for 2 years. They laughed, cried and suffered in game. Looking at that as just an imitation of reality based in lie is wrong. That was reality.

Then the amazing unpredictable end of the 1st volume left me with my heart beating faster than normal and all I could think was "What the hell? How will this endconfused". Then I skipped the 2nd volume right to volume 3 because I honestly couldn't wait to get some closure to that cliffhanger.

And volume 3 has been a big disappointment so far. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. It's just that after that amazing 1st volume I was expecting something equally amazing. Spoilers ahead so be careful. The new world isn't working for me and so aren't the new characters. Also the fact that it seems like it's gonna take a while to see the girl again is pissing me off. Then the whole conspiracy in the real world sounds dumb. He is going to marry a girl who is in a coma? You can do that in Japan? And her dad is all for it. Damn...

Concluding. Read it. Read the first volume and continue only if you really love it. Especially if you like MMOs or even fantasy as a whole you'll have a blast.
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avatar
 Read Volume 1 - Loved It   
Rating: N/A
by Freecss
March 18th, 2011, 10:37pm
It started out real well. Protagonist is like your typical MMO grind player. Socially inept/withdrawn. Great Main Character in my book. He's neither weak or a loser. He's independent initially and able to stand by himself but later will soon have someone to depend on.

Plot was great IMO. Everything blended real well. Volume one tells the beginning and end of the whole story but the later volume will delve into Kirito and Asuna's life as well as every character they encountered in game in more detail(I've only read v01 don't quote me on this). His journey within the 2 years before the current floor 74. Where Volume had a time-skip.


Spoiler (highlight to view)
Gah! I need to know Asuna and Kazuto's relationship after clearing the game!
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avatar
 Amazing   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by FrostLord
December 29th, 2010, 12:21am
I have always been a fan of VRMMORPG type manga/games/novels/etc, and when I read this I immediately enjoyed the plot and the main character. I'm especially liking the world it takes place in and the characters that surround him. More recently I'm loving volume 2 with the Scilica and Lizbeth chapters and hold high expectations for more releases. I also began looking into the manga that has been released recently and I think highly of how it will progress. Baka-Tsuki I thank your group for releasing this along with all your other projects. Keep up the good work and please continue to release more chapters of SAO.

... Last updated on December 29th, 2010, 12:23am
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 [Holodeck Malfunction + Win To Exit] done right.   
Rating: 8.0 / 10.0
by Yousuke
June 14th, 2010, 8:00pm
VOLUME 1 "(8/10)":
I'm serious. I was quite surprised with the first volume.
The concept itself isn't new (see .hack//, Detective Conan Movie, Yu Gi Oh, Digimon just to name a few). But compared to those I'm very pleased with the scientific approach behind S.A.O.. It's way more probable than the likes of .hack and co. It's one of the best and more importantly BELIEVABLE 'stuck in a virtual reality' kind of stories I've read or seen so far. That alone is reason enough to give this a try.
Add a very interesting Virtual Reality MMORPG, a not so transparent plot, and a quite balanced cast. The result is known as Sword Art Online.

[Characters]
I have to disagree with Astral100 on this one.
IMHO Kirito is a great fit. He has alot of insecurities, etc etc. TRUE. But that also has a reason. While I'm usually not a fan of this type of protagonist in this case the plot depicted a very withdrawn and unsociable kind of teenager who finds refuge in gaming. That's what makes him a hardcore gamer, it's also ironically the source of his strength (being a hardcore gamer/betatester has allowed him to reach a very high level).
Another thing that makes him interesting is that he's one step ahead of the reader at all times. Mainly by withholding information from the reader, but also because the plot is driven by conclusions he draws. Making the plot less predictable.

[Plot]
I won't go into detail. A great read.
If there's one thing I didn't like it's the intermission. You'll know when you get there.
All the suspense was gone, and while you might argue this was a good break - literally 'the calm before the storm' - I would've preferred another approach.


VOLUME 2-4:
I haven't finished Volume 2 yet, but so far it was a bittersweet disapointment. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it plenty. But it's basically fanservice. Sidestories of Kirito meeting girls who end up falling for him. The characters were lovely, and I do realize that the events of volume 2 are important for the following arcs. However all things considered the events are superfluous and don't advance the story. It's merely there to satisfy the readers with fanservice and it lives out the glory created by the prequel. It's certainly nice in a way, but I have mixed feelings about it. "(5/10)"

ALfheimOnline (ALO) the successor of VMMORPG SAO and the second arc of the story (Vol 3-4). I'll give it to you straight. It's nowhere near as good or interesting as the first volume. At times it was somewhat irritating even. Damsel in Distress is bad enough as it is (I hate those..) now add a very unpleasant and boring villain and a protagonist who apparently turned into a moron. The previous calmness and intelligence he showed at times that made the plot less predictable is now replaced by impulsiveness. The story is no longer unpredictable. In the end this arc turned into a mediocre .hack// clone. "(5/10)"

VOLUME 5-6:
So far GunGaleOnline (GGO) has been the best arc since volume 1. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's the thrill of anticipation you get from reading the beginning of a potentially interesting story. I can't wait to read more. (Currently @ v.5 ch.5) "(7/10)"

... Last updated on October 19th, 2011, 9:40am
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 Disgusting   
Rating: N/A
by Astral100
May 24th, 2010, 2:32am
Having seen a bunch of good reviews I started reading it, but now I regret it

I am so tired of those stories in anime and manga.
The main character is once again a weak loser (character-wise), has no confidence, has tons of insecurities, makes stupid mistakes that a 3 year old would not do, always is led by others and agrees with whatever decisions other people make and is a total and complete looser.
In other words, your typical harem hero. Thankfully there is only one girl so far, but she also feels attracted to the wimpy main character for no reason at all.

By the way, the real world girls would be be turned off by such behaviour faster than you can say snap.

It started off well, but the further I got, the worse it became. I had to stop reading halfway through the first volume, because it has become simply disgusting to me.

I mean you would expect a person who has been fighting every single day with his life at stake for 2 years would be more mature than this... this... looser.

If you are still a male virgin teen that has no experience with girls you might like it, but me, I afraid I am too old for this kind of bullshit anymore.

What are the japanese authors that make such novels are thinking?
Ugh...I now have a very bad aftertaste in my mouth after reading this.

... Last updated on May 24th, 2010, 2:44am
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 @.@ wow   
Rating: N/A
by Elairz
May 17th, 2010, 5:50am
totally unexpected.
id seen this novel link in baka-tsuki page long time ago, but stayed away from reading it thinking it a novel based on available online game right now. most of manga based on online game doesnt really interest me since it feel flat.

im glad i read this novel today though..very good story. u could read the vol 1 for stand alone story.
vol 2 is more like sidestory which fill the gap between the two years that the 1st vol skim by.
which i dont really care.

Vol 3 is the real sequel. which pick up after vol 1 ended. quite a twist to the story though. im looking forward to kirito's new adventure.
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 GODLIKE !   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by iamin7ove
May 5th, 2010, 2:12pm
9.9/10 (read below)

Since others have already said i wanted to say i will only say on little thing
Had the waking-up scene been Asuna's then its 10/10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... Last updated on May 5th, 2010, 2:14pm
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 @_@ epic win!!! then meh. .   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by shmigelpuf
April 27th, 2010, 4:37am
This is really a good novel. . it surprised me when i first started reading it. . the way the author made it seem more realistic in a sense that they were really living in a different world that one can only see in one's dreams. . in just the first few chapters i was drawn in. no... i was captivated by it. . the story has a perfect balance of action, adventure, and romance. . though it was a bit ahm. . alarming when i read chapter 16.5.. of volume 1. all in all its a good novel even if I've only read the 1st volume i think the next volumes would still be as great!

(edit) um. . just read vol 1 and 2. . it should have just ended there. . other volumes are meh. . why meh you ask? its like it shifted from epic seinen to shounen. . and the fact when you die in sao you die in real life disappears in the later volumes for me makes it feel that its lost its unique feel and magic. . so yeah the other volumes are meh. . @_@

(Edit) It seems i misjudge the latter volumes. . The fact is i just didn't like the fairy dance arc. . it was just boring and very cliche shounenish. . the following arcs improved a bit and now. . i am loving the alicization arc. . hope it maintains this level of polish. .

... Last updated on March 20th, 2013, 3:56am
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 ANIME!!!!   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by callmebaboon
February 19th, 2010, 11:55am
OMG!!!! this is wat im looking for!!!! whole in one package!!!!. action, romance,and of course great plot.highly recommended .Hope this will turn into anime or manga..

... Last updated on February 19th, 2010, 11:56am
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