The Sword Art Online light novel series released its 18th volume on August 10, 2016 in Japan. This volume was titled “Alicization Lasting” and it ended the Alicization arc which ran from volumes 9-18.
The 18th volume of the series revealed that the light novels would continue in 2017 with a new arc. The last pages of the light novel ended with the words, “Kirito will return.”
The Alicization arc was the longest arc in the series. It was longer than the Aincrad, Fairy Dance and Phantom Bullet arcs put together which ran from volumes 1-6.
The Sword Art Online light novels are written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. They are published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. There are currently 18 volumes released.
The light novels are licensed by Yen Press for release in North America. 7 volumes have been published in North America with volume 8 set to release on August 30, 2016.
Yen Press describes the first volume as follows:
In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online – a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other – debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in 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…
The Sword Art Online light novels have been adapted into numerous media including two anime series, multiple manga and spin-off light novels, and multiple video games. An anime film with an original story by Reki Kawahara is set to release in 2017.
Are you ready for the next arc in the Sword Art Online series?
