Sword Art Online Light Novels in Order
While some of you might not know that, Sword Art Online actually debuted in 2002 as a light novel series. A light novel is a style of Japanese young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students. Light novels are commonly illustrated in a manga art style, and are often adapted into manga and anime.
In this article, we are going to be dealing with the Sword Art Online light novel series itself. Reki Kawahara started publishing these novels in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2009 that he found a publisher and started publishing his work in a more proper format. The publication is ongoing as of November 2021.
How Many Volumes of Sword Art Online Are There?
If we exclude the collected editions and all of the side stories but include everything else, there is a total of five volumes of Sword Art Online. Three of these volumes are still being published, as you will see in the section below, while two have been completed since 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The Sword Art Online Material Edition collection was released in two volumes, in 2011 and 2019 respectively, while the numerous side stories have been released since 2011, with the most recent one releasing in 2020.
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What Is the Reading Order of the Sword Art Online Light Novels?
The reading order for the Sword Art Online light novels is not overly complicated. Although you can approach the material as you wish, it is advised to simply follow the publication order of the volumes and read them as they came out.
This means that you should start with Sword Art Online, continue with Sword Art Online: Progressive, then Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online, and finally Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regent.
As for Sword Art Online Material Edition, that is a rather specific set of individual stories, some of which have also been republished in some of the above-mentioned volumes. You can read them in any order and whenever you like.
The next section is going to contain a more detailed guide on the four relevant series, providing more information about their content and publication.
Sword Art Online Light Novels in Order (Explained)
Sword Art Online (2009 – present)
This whole series, sans volumes 25 and 26, has been translated and released in English.
| No. | Title | Original release date | Chapters |
| 1 | Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad | April 10, 2009 | Prologue Chapters 1-25 |
| 2 | Sword Art Online 2: Aincrad | August 10, 2009 | Prologue “The Black Swordsman” (黒の剣士, Kuro No Kenshi) “Warmth of the Heart” (心の温度, Kokoro No Ondo) “The Girl in the Morning Dew” (朝露の少女, Asatsuyu No Shoujo) “Red-Nosed Reindeer” (赤鼻のトナカイ, Akahana No Tonakai) |
| 3 | Sword Art Online 3: Fairy Dance | December 10, 2009 | Prologue Chapters 1-3 |
| 4 | Sword Art Online 4: Fairy Dance | April 10, 2010 | Prologue Chapters 5-9 |
| 5 | Sword Art Online 5: Phantom Bullet | August 10, 2010 | Prologue Chapters 1-7 |
| 6 | Sword Art Online 6: Phantom Bullet | December 10, 2010 | Chapters 7-16 |
| 7 | Sword Art Online 7: Mother’s Rosary | April 8, 2011 | Prologue Chapters 1-12 |
| 8 | Sword Art Online 8: Early and Late | August 10, 2011 | “A Crime Within the Walls” (圏内事件, Kennai Jiken) “Calibur” (キャリバー, Kyariba) “The First Day” (はじまりの日, Hajimari No Hi) |
| 9 | Sword Art Online 9: Alicization Beginning | February 10, 2012 | “Prologue I” (プロローグ I, Purorōgu I) “Prologue II” (プロローグ II, Purorōgu II) “Interlude I” (転章I, Ten Shyou I) Chapter 1. “Underworld” (アンダーワールド, Andawarudo) |
| 10 | Sword Art Online 10: Alicization Running | July 10, 2012 | Chapter 2. “Project Alicization” (アリシゼーション計画, Arishizeshon Keikaku) Chapter 3. “Zakkaria Sword Arts Tournament” (ザッカリア剣術大会, Zakkaria Kenjutsu Taikai) Chapter 4. “Sword Mastery Academy” (帝立修剣学院, Teiritsu Syuuken Gakuin) “Interlude II” (転章II, Ten Shyou II) |
| 11 | Sword Art Online 11: Alicization Turning | December 10, 2012 | Chapter 5. “Seal of the Right Eye” (右眼の封印, Migime No Huuin) “Interlude III” (転章III, Ten Shyou III) Chapter 6. “The Prisoners and Knight” (囚人と騎士, Meshiudo To Kishi) |
| 12 | Sword Art Online 12: Alicization Rising | April 10, 2013 | Chapter 7. “The Two Supervisors” (二人の管理者, Futari No Kanrisha) Chapter 8. “Central Cathedral” (セントラル・カセドラル, Sentoraru Kasedoraru) |
| 13 | Sword Art Online 13: Alicization Dividing | August 10, 2013 | “Interlude IV” (転章IV, Ten Shyou IV) Chapter 9. “Integrity Knight Alice” (整合騎士アリス, Seigou Kishi Arisu) Chapter 10. “Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli” (整合騎士長ベルクーリ, Seigou Kishicho Berukuri) Chapter 11. “The Secret of the Chamber of Elders” (元老院の秘密, Genrouin No Himitsu) |
| 14 | Sword Art Online 14: Alicization Uniting | April 10, 2014 | Chapter 12. “Highest Minister Administrator” (最高司祭アドミニストレータ, Saikou Shisai Adominisutorēta) Chapter 13. “The Decisive Battle” (決戦, Kessen) |
| 15 | Sword Art Online 15: Alicization Invading | August 9, 2014 | Chapter 14. “Subtilizer” (魂を盗む者, Satoraizā) Chapter 15. “In the Northern Territory” (北の地にて, Kita No Chi Nite) Chapter 16. “Attack on Ocean Turtle” (オーシャン・タートル襲撃, Ōshan Tātoru Shūgeki) Chapter 17. “Dark Territory” (ダークテリトリー, Dāku Teritorī) |
| 16 | Sword Art Online 16: Alicization Exploding | August 8, 2015 | Chapter 18. “War of the Underworld” (アンダーワールド大戦, Andāwārudo Taisen) Chapter 19. “The Radiant Medium” (光の巫女, Hikari No Miko) |
| 17 | Sword Art Online 17: Alicization Awakening | April 10, 2016 | Chapter 20. “Each Own Battle” (それぞれの戦い, Sore Zore no Tatakai) Chapter 21. “Awakening” (覚醒, Kakusei) |
| 18 | Sword Art Online 18: Alicization Lasting | August 10, 2016 | Chapter 21. “Awakening (Cont.)” (覚醒(承前), Kakusei (Shouzen)) Chapter 22. “The Decisive Battle” (決戦, Kessen) Chapter 23. “Return” (帰還, Kikan)”Epilogue” (エピローグ, Epirōgu) “Prologue III” (プロローグ III, Purorōgu III) |
| 19 | Sword Art Online 19: Moon Cradle | February 10, 2017 | Chapters 1-10 |
| 20 | Sword Art Online 20: Moon Cradle | September 8, 2017 | Chapters 1-10 |
| 21 | Sword Art Online 21: Unital Ring I | December 7, 2018 | Prologue Chapters 1-9 |
| 22 | Sword Art Online 22: Kiss and Fly | October 10, 2019 | “The Day Before” (ザ・デイ・ビフォア, Za Dei Bifoa) “The Day After” (ザ・デイ・アフター, Za Dei Afutā) “Rainbow Bridge” (虹の橋, Niji no Hashi) “Sisters’ Prayer” |
| 23 | Sword Art Online 23: Unital Ring II | December 10, 2019 | Chapters 1-10 |
| 24 | Sword Art Online 24: Unital Ring III | May 9, 2020 | Chapters 1-10 |
| 25 | Sword Art Online 25: Unital Ring IV | December 10, 2020 | Chapters 1-11 |
| 26 | Sword Art Online 26: Unital Ring V | October 8, 2021 | Chapters 1-23 |
Sword Art Online: Progressive (2012 – present)
This whole series, sans volume 8, has been translated and released in English.
| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 1 | October 10, 2012 |
| 2 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 2 | December 10, 2013 |
| 3 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 3 | December 10, 2014 |
| 4 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 4 | December 10, 2015 |
| 5 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 5 | February 10, 2018 |
| 6 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 6 | May 10, 2018 |
| 7 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 7 | March 10, 2021 |
| 8 | Sword Art Online: Progressive 8 | June 10, 2021 |
Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online (2014 – present)
This whole series, sans volume 11, has been translated and released in English.
| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online I: Squad Jam | December 10, 2014 |
| 2 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II: 2nd Squad Jam: Start | March 10, 2015 |
| 3 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online III: 2nd Squad Jam: Finish | June 10, 201 |
| 4 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IV: 3rd Squad Jam: Betrayers’ Choice: Start | March 10, 2016 |
| 5 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online V: 3rd Squad Jam: Betrayers’ Choice: Finish | July 9, 2016 |
| 6 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VI: One Summer Day | March 10, 2017 |
| 7 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VII: 4th Squad Jam: Start | June 9, 2018 |
| 8 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online VIII: 4th Squad Jam: Continue | August 10, 2018 |
| 9 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online IX: 4th Squad Jam: Finish | December 7, 2018 |
| 10 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online X: Five Ordeals | April 10, 2020 |
| 11 | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online XI: 5th Squad Jam: Start | November 10, 2021 |
Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret (2016 – 2018)
This series has, as of yet, not been released in English.
| No. | Title | Japanese release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret | November 10, 2016 |
| 2 | Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret 2 | January 10, 2018 |
| 3 | Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret 3 | August 10, 2018 |
Sword Art Online Material Edition (2007 – 2019)
This is just an informative overview, so you know which stories comprise this series. A bolded title signifies that the story has been republished in one of the four other series (see above).
No. | Title | Japanese release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Progressers | November 18, 2007 |
| 2 | Early Characters | February 10, 2008 |
| 3 | Ceramic Heart | May 5, 2008 |
| 4 | Cold Hand, Warm Heart | November 16, 2008 |
| 5 | Salvia | May 5, 2009 |
| 6 | Algade Showdown | November 15, 2009 |
| 7 | Continuation: Aria in the Starless Night | August 21, 2011 |
| 8 | Rondo of the Transient Sword (First Chapter) | October 30, 2011 |
| 9 | Monochrome Concerto/Concerto of Black & White (First Chapter) | February 5, 2012 |
| 10 | 16.6 (also Sugar Days 1) | October 20, 2013 |
| 11 | 16.7 (also Sugar Days 2) | February 2, 2014 |
| 12 | 16.8 (also Sugar Days 3) | May 5, 2014 |
| 13 | 16.9 (also Sugar Days 4) | August 31, 2014 |
| 14 | Sugary Days 5 | November 23, 2014 |
| 15 | Sugary Days 6 | May 5, 2015 |
| 16 | Sugary Days 7 | August 30, 2015 |
| 17 | The Much-Talked-About Esteemed Sub-leader | November 15, 2015 |
| 18 | Sugary Days 8 | January 31, 2016 |
| 19 | Sugary Days 9 | May 5, 2016 |
| 20 | Monochromatic Colors | August 21, 2016 |
| 21 | SAOP4.2 | October 23, 2016 |
| 22 | Augmented Magic | February 12, 2017 |
| 23 | Sugary Days 10 | May 6, 2017 |
| 24 | Sugary Days 11 | August 20, 2017 |
| 25 | Sugary Days 12 | November 23, 2017 |
| 26 | Sugary Days 13 | February 11, 2018 |
| 27 | Sugary Days 14 | May 5, 2018 |
| 28 | Gaiden X3 [32/33] | February 17, 2019 |
| 29 | Gaiden X3 [32/33] (2) | May 12, 2019 |
Are the Sword Art Online Novels Finished?
Sword Art Online novels are not finished. The original self-published series was finished back in 2008, but as far as the other three series are concerned, neither of them is finished, as they are in the process of publication.
