Sword Art Online

ソードアート・オンライン
S.A.O
Sword Art Online: The Day Before
Sword Art Online: The Day After
Sword Art Online 0015
Sword Art Online 0045

Light Novel8.025509 votesPublishing

ActionAdventureFantasyRomanceVideo Game

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About this title

Synopsis

In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online-a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other-opens its virtual doors, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in the game world by manipulating their brain waves to create a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG-a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "game over" means certain death-both virtual and real... (Source: Yen Press)

Publication notes

Author Reki Kawahara wrote the first volume of Sword Art Online in 2002 and intended to submit it for the Dengeki Game Novel Prize, but refrained as he exceeded the page limit. He instead published the series as a web novel. Shortly after his other series Accel World won the Dengeki Novel Grand Prize in 2008, Sword Art Online was published in print. The light novel ranked first in the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! for the Best Light Novel category in 2012 and 2013. The series has been published in English by Yen Press under its Yen On imprint since April 22, 2014. It has also been published in Italian by J-POP since October 11, 2014; in Polish by Kotori since November 24, 2014; in Russian by Istari Comics since December 2015; in Spanish by Planeta Cómic since March 1, 2016; and in Brazilian Portuguese by Panini Comics since December 2018. Includes two that were initially released as part of the limited edition version of the first season's first Blu-Ray/DVD volume on October 24, 2012. For the Sword Art Online light novel series' 10th anniversary, they were re-released as part of a side story collection titled "Kiss and Fly" (Volume 22) on October 10, 2019.

Published

Apr 10, 2009 to ?

Authors

External links

MyAnimeList page Official Site Wikipedia Wikipedia

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Main characters

Kazuto Kirigaya40699 fan favorites
External profile
Birthday: October 7, 2008 Age: 14 (Beginning of Aincrad arc), 16 (End of Aincrad arc, Fairy Dance arc), 17 (Phantom Bullet arc) 18 (Mother's Rosario) 18 (Alicilization) Height: 172 cm Weight: 59 kg Blood type: AB Weapon(s) of choice: Anneal Blade (1st Level), Queen's Knightblade (9th Level), Elucidator (50th level), Dark Repulser (forged by Lisbeth), and Holy Sword Excalibur (obtained from the "Calibur Quest"). Kirito is the protagonist of Sword Art Online. He is a "solo" player, a player who hasn't joined a guild and usually works alone. He is also one of the very few people to have had the privilege to play in the beta testing period of Sword Art Online. His game alias, Kirito, is created by taking the syllables of the first and last Kanji of his real last and first names respectively: (Kirigaya Kazuto). In the real world, he lives with his aunt and younger cousin in a family of 3. When Kayaba announced the start of the death game, he is surprised, but unlike everyone else, he quickly gets over it and accepts it to an extent. He invited his friend Klein to go with him but Klein had to find his friends in the game. He was invited to join them but he declined as he couldn't take the pressure of protecting them even with his beta testing knowledge of the game. Kirito tends to use a single handed straight sword. The blade that he uses most often is the Elucidator. Later on, he acquires a second blade called Dark Repulser that was made by his blacksmith friend, Lisbeth.
Asuna Yuuki29821 fan favorites
External profile
Birthdate: September 30, 2007 Age: 15 (Beginning of Aincrad arc); 17 (End of Aincrad arc, Fairy Dance arc); 18 (Phantom Bullet arc); 19 (Alicization Arc) Height: 168 cm Weight: 55 kg Three Sizes (BWH): 82-60-83 Weapons of choice: Wind Fleuret (1st Floor), Lambent Light (Forged by Lisbeth) Asuna is a friend of Kirito and is a sub-leader of the guild Knights of the Blood (KoB), a medium-sized guild of about thirty players, also called the strongest guild in Aincrad. Being one of the few girls that are in SAO, and even more so that she's extremely pretty, she receives many invitations and proposals. She is a skilled player earning the title "Flash" for her extraordinary sword skill that is lightning fast. Her game alias is the same as her real world name.
Shino Asada9393 fan favorites
External profile
Gender: Female Age: 16 (Phantom Bullet arc) Birthdate: August 21, 2009 Height: 161 cm Three sizes: 80-61-81 Shino is a skilled VRMMO player. She goes by the name Sinon in Gun Gale Online and ALfheim Online. She is nicknamed Hecate, after her gun «PGM Ultima Ratio Hecate II», a .50 caliber anti-materiel and rare sniper rifle. She is one of the main characters of volumes five and six and first female player that Kirito meets in GGO. She plays GGO to overcome her trauma concerning guns. Calm and cool are two words that best describe Sinon's personality. In battle and most of the time in the game, she keeps a cool head that actually makes other female players admire her; however, Sinon has a violent temper once angered—something that is best seen with her interactions with Kirito. It is actually said that Kirito is the first one to make her extremely angry. Despite all this, Sinon, while may be hard to approach, is generally a friendly person and doesn't mind helping others. (Source: Sword Art Online Wikia)
Alice Zuberg3653 fan favorites
External profile
Birthdate: 9th Day of the 4th Month, 361 Human Empire Calendar Age: 11 (7th Month of the Human Empire Calendar, 372), 17 (3rd Month of the Human Empire Calendar, 378), 19 (3rd Month of the Human Empire Calendar, 380) Weapons of choice: Fragrant Olive Sword The heroine of the fourth arc, "Project Alicization." Alice is a childhood friend of Kirito and Eugeo, and is also from Rulid Village.
Eugeo2812 fan favorites
External profile
Birthdate: 10th Day of the 4th Month, 361 Human Empire Calendar Age: 11 (7th Month of the HEC, 372); 17 (3rd Month of the HEC, 378); 19 (3rd Month of the HEC, 380) Weapons of choice: Dragon Bone Axe (In Rulid), Blue Rose Sword Eugeo is a protagonist in Alicization Beginning. Eugeo is a wood cutter of Rulid Village and Kirito's best friend in the beginning. Kirito was then unheard of when their friend Alice was taken away; however, upon Kirito's return to Underworld, in which he has no memory, Eugeo is the first person Kirito (as Kazuto), encountered upon awakening. He was given the Sacred Task of cutting down Gigas Cedar. (Source: Sword Art Online Wikia)
Suguha Kirigaya1466 fan favorites
External profile
Suguha is Kazuto's adoptive sister in the real world, although later revealed to be his cousin. She is an accomplished kendo practitioner, having practiced for 8 years, following her grandfather's wishes. In ALO her avatar name is Leafa.