Sword Art Online

is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec, which has been published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint since April 2009.

The series has been licensed for an English release by Yen Press under their Yen On imprint.

Synopsis
In the year 2022, virtual reality has progressed by leaps and bounds, and a massive online role-playing game called Sword Art Online (SAO) is launched. With the aid of "NerveGear" technology, players can control their avatars within the game using nothing but their own thoughts.

Kazuto Kirigaya, nicknamed "Kirito," is among the lucky few enthusiasts who get their hands on the first shipment of the game. He logs in to find himself, with ten-thousand others, in the scenic and elaborate world of Aincrad, one full of fantastic medieval weapons and gruesome monsters. However, in a cruel turn of events, the players soon realize they cannot log out; the game's creator has trapped them in his new world until they complete all one hundred levels of the game.

In order to escape Aincrad, Kirito will now have to interact and cooperate with his fellow players. Some are allies, while others are foes, like Asuna Yuuki, who commands the leading group attempting to escape from the ruthless game. To make matters worse, Sword Art Online is not all fun and games: if they die in Aincrad, they die in real life. Kirito must adapt to his new reality, fight for his survival, and hopefully break free from his virtual hell.

Characters

 * Kirigaya Kazuto / Kirito
 * Yuuki Asuna / Asuna
 * Alice Zuberg
 * Kirigaya Suguha / Leafa
 * Asada Shino / Sinon
 * Eugeo
 * Yui
 * Rika Shinozaki / Lisbeth
 * Ayano Keiko / Silica
 * Tsuboi Ryoutarou / Klein
 * Andrew Gilbert Mills / Agil
 * Konno Yuuki / Yuuki
 * Hosaka Tomo / Argo

Sword Art Online
An anime adaptation of volumes 1-4 of the light novel. Aired for 24 episodes between July 8, 2012 and December 23, 2012

Sword Art Online II
An anime adaptation of volumes 5-8 of the light novel. Aired for 24 episodes between July 5, 2014 and December 20, 2014

Sword Art Online: Alicization
An anime adaptation of volumes 9-14 of the light novel. Aired for 24 episodes between October 7, 2018 and March 31, 2019

Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld
An anime adaptation of volumes 15-18 of the light novel. Aired for 23 episodes. The first 12 aired between October 13, 2019 and December 29, 2019. The remaining 11 episodes aired between July 12, 2020 and September 20, 2020

Volume 1
List of Episodes that adapted the first volume of the light novel.

Volume 2
List of Episodes that adapted the second volume of the light novel.

Volume 3
List of Episodes that adapted the third volume of the light novel.

Volume 4
List of Episodes that adapted the fourth volume of the light novel.

Volume 5
List of Episodes that adapted the fifth volume of the light novel.

Volume 6
List of Episodes that adapted the sixth volume of the light novel.

Volume 7
List of Episodes that adapted the seventh volume of the light novel.

Volume 8
List of Episodes that adapted the eighth volume of the light novel.


 * Episodes 5 and 6 adapt the short story: A Murder Case in the Area from Vol. 8
 * Season II Episodes 15 - 17 adapt the story story: Calibur from Vol. 8

Volume 9
List of Episodes that adapted the ninth volume of the light novel.

Volume 10
List of Episodes that adapted the tenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 11
List of Episodes that adapted the eleventh volume of the light novel.

Volume 12
List of Episodes that adapted the twelvth volume of the light novel.

Volume 13
List of Episodes that adapted the thirteenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 14
List of Episodes that adapted the fourteenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 15
List of Episodes that adapted the fifteenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 16
List of Episodes that adapted the sixteenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 17
List of Episodes that adapted the seventeenth volume of the light novel.

Volume 18
List of Episodes that adapted the eighteenth volume of the light novel.

Progressive Volume 1
List of Episodes that adapted the first volume of the Sword Art Online: Progressive light novel.

Related Series

 * Sword Art Online: Progressive (Retelling of Aincrad Arc)
 * Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (Spin-Off)
 * Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover's Regret (Spin-Off)