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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 (95d ago)
v.11 c.6 by Baka-Tsuki (98d ago)
v.11 c.Interlude III by Baka-Tsuki (116d 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 (385 votes)
Bayesian Average: 8.74 / 10.0
10
 60% (230 votes)
9+
 18% (70 votes)
8+
 7% (28 votes)
7+
 4% (16 votes)
6+
 3% (12 votes)
5+
 1% (2 votes)
4+
 1% (5 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
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor (Novel)
Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko (Novel)
Sword Art Online - Aincrad
1/2 Prince

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 #580 increased(+88)
Monthly Pos #718 decreased(-1)
3 Month Pos #736 decreased(-256)
6 Month Pos #365 decreased(-249)

List Stats
On 1573 reading lists
On 771 wish lists
On 26 unfinished lists
On 287 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 106 days, 4 hours, 34 minutes ago
Question about Volume 3 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes ago
Do you think it's actually possible? 286 days, 12 hours, 33 minutes ago
The main story from volume 1 778 days, 22 hours, 3 minutes ago

Click to view the forum

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User Comments [ Order by time added ]
 

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avatar
 Really absorbing... until...   
Rating: N/A
by sandyatthebeach1
December 10th, 2012, 4:48am
The first arc ended. Well, not precisely- the second arc and on we're still enjoyable and fun the read, but they weren't anything spectacular, whereas the first arc was addicting and generally awesome. The first arc in Aincrad is basically standalone, so of you wanted to just read that, I would recommend it- the story is amazing and exciting; Kirito is amazing and brave, but torn, and the whole premise of being trapped in virtual reality is just cool- I've seen it done, but it rarely disappoints. But after the first arc... It becomes a harem, and Kirito is still awesome, but in a more typical way... And the character development, instead of being good, tends to go in the reverse, haha. Still, it's a fun, exciting read, and I really liked it- just a little disappointed in the following arcs.
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 While people may hate, may love   
Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
by dim1
April 24th, 2012, 9:35pm
While many people have stated they love this series me being one of them, the people who hate or dislike they also have a point. Me I have reread the series into its grave and then some. I don't know what about this series appeals to me, cause when I analyze it it doesn't add up. I mean the character development is mid-range, the setting is minorly overused, with some uniqueness, and the plot is very good, yet that doesn't justify my fanaticism, if you look at it in summation it is average series. This series has the unusual quality like Harry Potter, that you will love it even if you don't understand why.
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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
 Addicting   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by Slaanesh14509
February 4th, 2013, 9:03am
So, I've read all of SAO up until and including Mother's rosario. I agree with many that volume one (with it's side stories) made up most of the initial appeal. Personally I liked the side stories, just because it showed some more sides to the world. While many dislike the ALO arc, it still makes for a good story, like the adaptation back into reality. I admit that it pales in comparison to the Aincrad or GGO arc, but it's still good. Now GGO turned the whole story into a deathgame again, maybe not as severe, but that is what made up most of the appeal of the first arc. In my opinion (which is biased since I'm a med student) the mothers rosario arc is the best. First of all there is finally some character development (and background info) on Asuna, which until then was plain (not that I dislike plain characters). Out of personal experience girls with such a background have a high probability of turning out plain in RL too. The thing that annoys me most is the degeneration of the relationship. If the neuro linker works the way I think it works, then essentially everything that happened was real. I really dislike the harem tendencies. For me the series is one of the best out there, even with it's drawbacks.

Anyway, I gotta go figure out where my medical physics prof went and pester about theoretical possibilities. With that I have a good subject for obtaing my mD-deg xD

For all the Aincrad fanatics: I think Kawahara thinks like you guys and because of that rebooted the aincrad series with SAO progressive
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avatar
 Just Amazing...   
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
by PinkShippuden
December 23rd, 2012, 7:41am
In my opinion it is great~~~! I've already seen the anime and i have read up to Volume 10, and i dont find it boring in the least bit!
I'm absolutely hoping that the anime gets a second season but until then i shall keep reading the novel. ^.^
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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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avatar
 Not bad but...   
Rating: N/A
by harrysoung
May 20th, 2012, 11:48am
Okay, a lot of people here are saying that Volume 1 was one of, if not THE, best volume in the entire series. A damn good pilot volume, kudos to the author. But I read SAO from volumes 1 ~ 3, and I believe that the story deteriorated from volume 2. Volume 2 was a medley of side stories that occur between time frames from volume 1, but they did not appeal to me because they did nothing to progress the story. Simply put, VOLUME 2 WAS BORING.

Then here comes Volume 3. The good news? The story progresses into a rescue mission, and Kirito has found new resolve to go back to the gaming world hell to entertain us readers. The bad news? You have to read volume 2 to understand the subtleties of volume 3. It's basically saying "Don't skip this one just because its a side story volume. It has its uses later on." Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but in my opinion it was just BORING.

Volume 1 was certainly not a bad volume, but I don't think it deserves the hype that it gets.

May change my opinion later on.
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 Boring heroine but good story   
Rating: N/A
by Darknemo2000
June 1st, 2012, 10:08am
The worst thing in this story is its supposed main heroine Asuna who lacks personality and the supposed romance is shallow as hell. bUt other than the Asuna the story and other characters are good.

Recommended but be aware that you will need to suffer through one of the most shallow heroines lately. Luckily she rarely is around and when she is she lacks personality s much that you will barely notice her anyway.
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 Deluded   
Rating: 3.0 / 10.0
by arkS
August 25th, 2011, 11:38am
This novel deals really well with the premise of a game that forces people from real to virtual absolutely and the imagination aspect is good but I don't think this is anywhere near a novel that can incite curiosity or emotions.I picked it up given its high ratings but i was disappointed. I am not a game addict so i cannot tell if it was unique but it was pretty unrealistic. And yes the protagonist is cliched, boring and deluded and hardly develops in that aspect.
I am not spewing nonsense. I read this to the end even against my will and i do appreciate the battle and action scenes but the character and emotions seem like a total fraud and the romance is illogical. The story could have fared a lot better if it had focused on the precarious scenarios with a bit more insight and treated the players more realistically. I mean even if being trapped for two years erases the distinction between virtual and real you would still retain a human mind. The conversations are superficial but intended to be deep and emotional, that really disappoints.

Could have been a lot better.
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avatar
 ...   
Rating: N/A
by kiari7!!!
September 28th, 2011, 3:13pm
The premise was good, but the story was poorly executed. I stopped reading around chapter 13 of the first volume 'cause it just got too boring.

I am VERY confused as of the reasons Kirito should feel guilty about being a Beta Tester and a Solo player (especially when said player has been helping clearing floors). I don't even get why Beta Testers are considered cheaters. They might have had 2 months of extra -and safe- gaming time, but they barely got to floor 6, and everyone's been in the game for 2 whole years now.

I play mmorpgs, and this is stupid, but WHY is the health bar blue?! :/ That's the mana bar.

The girl is a pain. Yes. She's the most shallow and boring female heroine I've read about in a while. She's there, but it's like she's not. Her personality is nonexistent. Their romance is just as shallow, just as vague, sudden and tepid. Even cheesy. It made me want to hit her.

It's not a BAD story, but it's just so grey and plain. Truly a delusion for me. But I've been reading Half Prince, Legend of the Sun Knight and The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. Those are so good, they might be the reason I can't enjoy Sword Art Online.

... Last updated on September 28th, 2011, 3:14pm
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