List of Sword Art Online light novels
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 reality MMORPG worlds. Originally self-published online under the pseudonym Fumio Kunori, ASCII Media Works began publishing the novels on April 10, 2009 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The series has since grown to 28 volumes as of June 7, 2024. 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.
Kawahara also began writing another light novel series alongside the main story titled Sword Art Online: Progressive, which tells the story of Kirito and Asuna as they progressed through clearing Aincrad from the beginning. The first volume was released on October 10, 2012. As of March 7, 2025, nine volumes have been published as part of the Progressive series.
In addition to the main storyline, Kawahara has also written side stories, also called "extra stories", some of which have been included alongside the main story on his website, in the main light novel series, and as parts of the Progressive light novel series. Many of them have been published as short stories, including the Material Edition series and others at COMITIA doujinshi conventions, in Dengeki Bunko Magazine, as part of Dengeki Fair and bookstore promotional events and exhibitions, included as limited edition bonuses in the anime Blu-rays/DVDs and a music album, in art books, at cinema showings of the anime films, and with themed airsoft guns. The doujinshi releases have included manga and other artwork by Kawahara himself. Some of the stories have been crossovers with the Accel World and The Irregular at Magic High School light novel series.
Aside from the light novels written by Kawahara, multiple spin-off light novel series have been published, written by other authors with Kawahara's supervision. These include the Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online series written by Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi, the Sword Art Online Alternative Clover's Regret series written by Soichiro Watase and illustrated by, the Sword Art Online Alternative Gourmet Seekers series written by and illustrated by Megumi Nagahama, and Sword Art Online Alternative Mystery Labyrinth written by and illustrated by. While these series take place in the same world as the main series written by Kawahara, they each feature different characters and stories then the main series.