2014/03/14

I'm totally gushing.
I loved it so SO much.
Yes. I too was guided here by the anime.
I love both mediums! *beams proudly*
BTW I've read first through fourth novels - and I'm now a slave to this thing. And I don't even mind it!

Ah dear me, we need to spread the LOVE!
I totally vouch for it! ( )

I loved the anime when I first watched it and along with Ready Player One gave me a strong interest in LitRPG. So for me this was the starting path of that new genre, other much older books deal with similar subject matter but for me this is the best. 4 1/2 stars.

I'm fortunate in that I have a copy of the audio book Peter Lucky, a professional voice actor released on Youtube before he forced to take it down. DreamstoryTheatre

If you are a fan of the anime or just looking for a good solid adventure story you can't go wrong with this book. ( )

Overall
The prologue was good in centering the reader in this YA/shonen world, but the explanations of in-game mechanics--which were for the most part basic for anyone who's played RPGs--could've been left out or shunted to an appendix. Lots of lackluster, static description of the game world.

Great poetic description of Kirito's game death, but overall there is not much characterization nor character background. Kawahara could've put Kirito's motivation for not joining a guild earlier in the story--that was a really moving and important character motivation. Furthermore, the narrative is too dense w/minor emotions and mannerisms that interfere with the flow.

Personal Notes
This book was probably spoiled by the fact that I already watched the anime. On the other hand, maybe the characters are too young and the characterization is too shallow. I haven't yet found a light novel that I like out of the around 4 or so that I've read. [b:Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime|7648728|Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime|Mizuki Nomura|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344265980s/7648728.jpg|10201956] is next.

Apparently, Kawahara's [b:アクセル・ワールド 1 -黒雪姫の帰還- Akuseru Wārudo 1: Kuroyukihime no Kikan |6528984|アクセル・ワールド 1 -黒雪姫の帰還- Akuseru Wārudo 1 Kuroyukihime no Kikan (Accel World Light Novel, #1 The Return of Princess Snow Black)|Reki Kawahara|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437270701s/6528984.jpg|6720985] won the Dengeki Novel Prize grand prize for $1M ¥ in 2008, but I'm a little reluctant since to read it because I watched that anime too. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission. Title: Aincrad Series: Sword Art Online Author: Reki Kawahara Rating: of 5 Battle Axes Genre: SFF Pages: 256 Synopsis: The Light Novel that spawned the popular anime. 10,000 people get trapped inside a new virtual reality game by the insane creator of said game. The players must clear a one hundred level tower to get free. My Thoughts: First off, I think SAO in nothing but a ripoff off the vastly superior Hack//Slash. So I'm not exactly unbiased. Second, even for a Light Novel, this was singularly blase. I didn't like it but I suspect hardcore fans of the anime would like it. " ( )

My first light novel. To my understanding, a light novel in Japan is a book that is fast-paced and easy to read, and fleshed out with illustrations in an anime style. The subjects are those that frequent the anime world, such as fantasy, mecha, or shojo. This book is a fantasy story set in a virtual reality game. The premise is that the new Sword Art Online has just launched to a limited number of 10,000 gamers, the lucky ones who bought a copy before it was sold out. Or not so lucky - after several hours exploring the virtual reality world, the maker of SAO reveals that they are not able to log out until someone has beat the game. SAO is the first virtual reality MMORPG, and the game is based on sword style fighting. Players battle their way through Aincrad, a floating fortress island with 100 levels, and a dungeon-type level that connects each land to the new one above. In the beta test, the players could easily log in and out, but once the official version launches, the log out function is removed. Furthermore, players are informed that to die in the game means actual death in the real world.

The story follows one player, Kirito, a teenage boy who was a beta tester for the game. Besides being an avid and adept gamer, he has experience with this specific game. However, Kirito is not good at befriending others, and he branches off on his own to build up his levels and keep himself alive. He becomes one of the top level players in the game. When he meets Asuna, a beautiful player with skills almost equal to his own, he forms a serious relationship with someone for the first time. Together, the duo have the skills to take on Kayaba, the game maker, and end this virtual imprisonment for every one.

I enjoyed reading the book, which made me feel like I was reading an anime show. Even when I read manga, I don't feel like I did while reading this. The writing was scripted to evoke an anime experience, with action sequences and typical anime tropes. It had far less art than I expected, but that didn't detract from the story. The pictures added just enough for me to visualize the book as an anime show. I liked Kirito and Asuna, and the premise was fun. The book is certainly a shallow read, built for entertainment and not depth, but it succeeds in entertaining. It remains, however, a book for fans of fantasy anime. ( )