Sword Art Online

Volume 1 Cover

Sword Art Online (ソードアート・オンライン) is a light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec.
The series has currently 9 volumes.

The Sword Art Online series is also available in the following languages:

• Deutsch (German)
• Polski (Polish)
• Русский (Russian)
• Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
• Italiano (Italian)
• Português Brasileiro (Brazilian Portuguese)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Story Synopsis

Escape was impossible until it was cleared; a game over would mean an actual «death»―.
Without knowing the «truth» of the mysterious next generation MMO, «Sword Art Online» (SAO), approximately ten thousand users logged in together, opening the curtains to this cruel death battle.
Participating alone in SAO, protagonist Kirito had promptly accepted the «truth» of this MMO.
And in the game world, a gigantic floating castle named «Aincrad», he distinguished himself as a solo player.
Aiming to clear the game by reaching the highest floor, Kirito riskily continued alone.
Because of a pushy invitation from a female warrior and rapier expert, Asuna, he teamed up with her.
That encounter brought about an opportunity to call out to the fated Kirito―.

The legendary novel made an appearance with browsing numbers exceeding 6.5 million page views recorded at the personal website.

Tentative Timeline

Spoiler warning

Translation

Registration

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

Translators are asked to register which chapters they're working on

Format Standards

Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.

• General Format/Style Guideline
• Project specific Guidelines: Names and Terminology (might contain spoilers)

Updates

• December 31, 2011 - Volume 2 - Chapter 4 Part 4 completed
• December 31, 2011 - Volume 2 - Chapter 4 Part 3 completed
• December 31, 2011 - Volume 2 - Chapter 4 Part 2 completed
• December 30, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 16 completed
• December 28, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 15 completed
• December 27, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 14 completed
• December 24, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 13 completed
• December 24, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 12 completed
• December 20, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 11 completed
• December 19, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 10 completed
• December 12, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 9 completed
• December 10, 2011 - Aria in the Starless Night Part 6-10 completed
• December 3, 2011 - Volume 6 - Chapter 8 completed
• December 2, 2011 - Aria in the Starless Night Part 1-5 completed

Older updates can be found on the Sword Art Online Updates page.

The Sword Art Online series by Reki Kawahara

You can find the PDF, EPUB and MOBI version of the Volumes in the forums here. If you are interested in sharing your version in any format please post in that topic or contact Carj.

Volume 1 - Aincrad (Full Text)

Novel Illustrations Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 16.5 Chapter 17 Chapter 18

Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25

• Author's Notes

Aria in the Starless Night (SAO SS)

(Aincrad 1st Floor, December 2022. Author's web summer special. About Kirito and Asuna's first meeting.)

• Part 1 to 5
• Part 6 to 10
• Part 11 to 15 (~85% of Part 11)
• Part 16 to 20
• Continuation (A bit of afterward dealing with Argo, still on author web site)

Volume 2 - Aincrad (SAO Side Stories)(Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• The Black Swordsman (Aincrad 35th Floor, February 2024)
• Warmth of the Heart (Aincrad 48th Floor, June 2024)
• Morning Dew Girl (Aincrad 22nd Floor, October 2024)
• Red-nosed Reindeer (Aincrad 46th Floor, December 2023)
• Author's Notes

Volume 3 - Fairy Dance (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Author's Notes

Volume 4 - Fairy Dance (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Author's Notes

Volume 5 - Phantom Bullet

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6 (33.333% complete)
• Chapter 7
• Author's Notes

Volume 6 - Phantom Bullet (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Author's Notes

Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5 (41.8% complete)
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Author's Notes

Volume 8 - Early and Late

• Novel Illustrations
• A Murder Case in the Area (Aincrad 57th floor, April 2024) (SAO SS)
  • Part 1 (5%)
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
  • Part 5
  • Part 6
  • Part 7
  • Part 8
  • Part 9
  • Part 10
  • Part 11
  • Part 12
• Caliber (ALfheim, December 2025) (ALO SS)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
  • Part 5
  • Part 6
• First Day (Aincrad 1st floor, November 2022) (SAO SS)
• Author's Notes

Volume 9 - Alicization Beginning

• [[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations
• Prologue I (Human World Calendar (HWC) July 372)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
• Prologue II (AD June 2026)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
• Interlude I
• Chapter 1 Underworld (HWC March 378)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
  • Part 5
  • Part 6
• Author's Notes

Alicization Arc (Web Version)

• Chapter 1

Side Stories

• Algade Showdown (October 2024)
• Salvia (January 2025)
• Versus (Accel World crossover)

Project Staff

• Project Administrator: Vaelis
• Project Supervisor: Sharramon

Translators

ACTIVE

• KuroiHikari
• Black Cats of the Full Moon
• Tap
• Thinklife
• Aiko
• Thunder
• Teh Ping

RETIRED

• Sharramon

M.I.A.

• BakaSama

Editors

• Aorii
• Black Cats of the Full Moon
• Saorian
• Thinklife
• DrFaust
• Chancs
• Zero2001

Series Overview

• Volume 1 - Aincrad (April 2009) - ISBN 978-4-04-867760-8
• Volume 2 - Aincrad (August 2009) - ISBN 978-4-04-867935-0
• Volume 3 - Fairy Dance (December 2009) - ISBN 978-4-04-868193-3
• Volume 4 - Fairy Dance (April 2010) - ISBN 978-4-04-868452-1
• Volume 5 - Phantom Bullet (August 2010) - ISBN 978-4-04-868763-8
• Volume 6 - Phantom Bullet (December 2010) - ISBN 978-4-04-870132-7
• Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario (April 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870431-1
• Volume 8 - Early and Late (August 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870733-6
• Volume 9 - Alicization Beginning (February 2012) - ISBN 978-4-04-886271-4