Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad (light novel)

Reki Kawahara

Aug 2021 · Sword Art Online Book 1 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by Bryce Papenbrook

About this audiobook

Read the novel that ignited the phenomenon!
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...

Ratings and reviews

I've been a fan of the SAO anime since late 2017 and considered in checking out the light novel series that the show's based off of. So, when I heard Yen Press announcing that they were releasing audiobooks of the light novels with Kirito's English voice actor as the narrator, it got me really intrigued. I listened to the first six chapters the night before I had ear surgery and as someone who hardly read books, I was amazed by how good it is. It felt as if I was re-watching the first arc of the anime, but Kirito was describing everything in more detail than the show did. My only nitpick that vol. 1 has or lacks is that Cherami Leigh (Asuna's VA) wasn't involved, but Bryce does a good job impersonating her character and the rest of the cast. Even if you dislike the SAO anime, I'd still recommend checking this out to any anime fan in general. It made me excited to hear later volumes and Bryce is an entertaining narrator.

I'm very well satisfied with Reki Kawahara's work he's one of my favourite author and if possible i want an audiobook for accel world as well And the audiobook made me speechless and it's voicing is done by none other than Kirito's voice actor himself you guys are really awesome. I'm looking forward to the next part

Absolutely fantastic!! listened to the whole ring on a 8hr road trip. Would have loved Asuna done by a women but it doesn't dimish it by any means, can't wait for the next!

About the author

Reki Kawahara is an award winning author best known for his light novel series, Sword Art Online and Accel World.