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Sword Art Online #8
ソードアート?オンライン8: アーリー?アンド?レイト
黒の剣士、キリトが体験した様々なエピソードを収録！ 今までの物語を補完する短編集が登場！
『圏内事件』 ──《SAO》中階層で、一人のプレイヤーが殺された。その殺害現場はHPが減るはずのない《安全圏内》だった。これはプレイヤー?キルだと仮定するも、その殺害方法に全く見当がつかず……。奇怪な事件を、キリトとアスナが追う。
『キャリバー』 ──《ALO》伝説の聖剣《エクスキャリバー》。その獲得クエストがついに始まった。守護するモンスターたちの強さから一度は獲得を諦めていたキリトだったが、これを機に再び争奪戦に本格参戦する。しかし、このクエストには壮大な裏イベントがあり……。
『はじまりの日』 ──《SAO》正式稼働初日。茅場晶彦によるデスゲーム開始の声明を受けた直後。キリトが決断した、このゲームを生き抜くための最初の一手。それは、ベータテスト時に攻略経験があるクエストを真っ先にクリアし、初期装備よりも強力な剣を獲得することだった──。
『圏内事件』 ──《SAO》中階層で、一人のプレイヤーが殺された。その殺害現場はHPが減るはずのない《安全圏内》だった。これはプレイヤー?キルだと仮定するも、その殺害方法に全く見当がつかず……。奇怪な事件を、キリトとアスナが追う。
『キャリバー』 ──《ALO》伝説の聖剣《エクスキャリバー》。その獲得クエストがついに始まった。守護するモンスターたちの強さから一度は獲得を諦めていたキリトだったが、これを機に再び争奪戦に本格参戦する。しかし、このクエストには壮大な裏イベントがあり……。
『はじまりの日』 ──《SAO》正式稼働初日。茅場晶彦によるデスゲーム開始の声明を受けた直後。キリトが決断した、このゲームを生き抜くための最初の一手。それは、ベータテスト時に攻略経験があるクエストを真っ先にクリアし、初期装備よりも強力な剣を獲得することだった──。
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2011
98 people are currently reading
1,785 people want to read
About the author
Reki Kawahara
264?books894?followersKawahara Reki (川原 礫) is the writer of Sword Art Online and Accel World. He also uses the pen name Kunori Fumio. His hobby is cycling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 15, 2015
Volume 8, titled "Early and Late", is a collection of three short stories, similar to Volume 2.
The individual stories are so different to each other that it's kind of hard to rate the volume as a whole. I've given it four stars because I wasn't a huge fan of Caliber - but that may be because I've already seen the essentially unchanged adaptation of it in the anime, while the other two stories were either not covered in the anime or significantly different enough that it didn't feel like I was reading the same story twice.
"A murder case in the area" is covered in the anime, but there are a lot of scenes that are different or not present in the adaptation, so it was fun to read even though I already knew what the plot twist would be. There are also quite a few funny scenes involving Asuna and Kirito, and a couple of hilarious ones involving Heathcliff (which were clearly written with the assumption that the reader knows who Heathcliff actually is, which is why I assume they were left out in the anime).
"First Day", despite being the shortest story in the volume, is probably the best one in it. I'm surprised it was skipped over in the anime unlike Volume 2 and a couple of other stories, because it shows an incredibly important part of Kirito's character development - the part where he becomes consciously aware of the fact that SAO is more of an alternate reality than a game, the part where he experiences what people are capable of doing to other players when death is on the line, and the part where he realizes what he truly left behind in the real world.
The individual stories are so different to each other that it's kind of hard to rate the volume as a whole. I've given it four stars because I wasn't a huge fan of Caliber - but that may be because I've already seen the essentially unchanged adaptation of it in the anime, while the other two stories were either not covered in the anime or significantly different enough that it didn't feel like I was reading the same story twice.
"A murder case in the area" is covered in the anime, but there are a lot of scenes that are different or not present in the adaptation, so it was fun to read even though I already knew what the plot twist would be. There are also quite a few funny scenes involving Asuna and Kirito, and a couple of hilarious ones involving Heathcliff (which were clearly written with the assumption that the reader knows who Heathcliff actually is, which is why I assume they were left out in the anime).
"First Day", despite being the shortest story in the volume, is probably the best one in it. I'm surprised it was skipped over in the anime unlike Volume 2 and a couple of other stories, because it shows an incredibly important part of Kirito's character development - the part where he becomes consciously aware of the fact that SAO is more of an alternate reality than a game, the part where he experiences what people are capable of doing to other players when death is on the line, and the part where he realizes what he truly left behind in the real world.
February 6, 2018
There's three short stories set in different times through SAO. Two are in the anime, so if you've seen them, and you remember them, the book will be boring. However, if you have a bad memory like I do, this is actually enjoyable. The first story is a mystery, and it's very good once you have all the pieces of the puzzle. And one thing I discovered is that Kirito is a really bad detective. But the story of the players involved is one packed with suspense and intrigue, and emotions running wild. It really gets to you.
The second story takes place in Alfheim, and it's a quest to get the sword Excalibur. I personally didn't like the story much. I only saw displays of how Kirito is the number one player, with his amazing sword abilities that defeat the system, and how cool he is, and how great he is, and I only want to punch the guy in the face. Because only he could defeat the monster with his system impossible sword skills and I don't buy it. Other than that, the whole story with the frost Giants and Freya was rather fun.
And the last story is just a very short recount of Kirito's first adventure alone after they've been trapped in the game. Nothing out of the ordinary, but we can clearly see that he was already 'an amazing swordsman' since then, which I also don't like. That guy is indestructible, and it annoys me to no end.
The second story takes place in Alfheim, and it's a quest to get the sword Excalibur. I personally didn't like the story much. I only saw displays of how Kirito is the number one player, with his amazing sword abilities that defeat the system, and how cool he is, and how great he is, and I only want to punch the guy in the face. Because only he could defeat the monster with his system impossible sword skills and I don't buy it. Other than that, the whole story with the frost Giants and Freya was rather fun.
And the last story is just a very short recount of Kirito's first adventure alone after they've been trapped in the game. Nothing out of the ordinary, but we can clearly see that he was already 'an amazing swordsman' since then, which I also don't like. That guy is indestructible, and it annoys me to no end.
December 21, 2022
This is not the greatest piece of literature in the world…but I still liked it!
Unlike the other ones I’ve read of this series so far, there were more translation issues in this one. My favorite was when Kirito came out with “I am restlessness.” Of course my brain went straight to the overblown and dramatic, the tone deepened, the scene darkened as I imagined him as the embodiment of restlessness, its avatar in the digital world…unfortunately my imagination broke down right after that because the next sentence simply didn’t match the Otrantoesque scene in my head. It would have been pretty epic if he had meant to say that and had some sort of whole subplot built around it but Alas, it was just a mistranslation…sigh.
The female characters in this one are just as laughable and two dimensional as the others. While being full of tropes, they are still not as bad as Elric of Melnibone, so I give him some props in that area. I would probably have bashed this a lot more of I didn’t have intimate experience with how much worse it can get.
The one tiresome aspect of this particularly novel is the tropeness of Klein. He actually had some characterization in the anime, and in the other books so it was sad to see him reduced to awkward hormonal socially inept gamer guy. Well that and Kirito’s pointless wandering into calculating the internal dimensions of a dungeon. I mean seriously? The character even comes out and says it was pointless? If you know it is so, you should delete it! Leaving it in as a joke just makes it even more lame, cut such nonsense out.
But…I still liked it. I enjoyed it. It made me laugh, even as it made me cringe. I’m going to read the next one…and the next…and probably the next as well, because they are fun and I actually like Kirito, even if he is have awkward and half annoying. He’s cute. Like the baby brother I never had. I wish I could dive in and explain females to him, he needs it.
On the other hand, there is one good thing in this book. Kirito leaves the safety of the city to go and adventure on his own because he understands a fundamental truth, you can not cower in the safe zone. You will never grow, and when that safety dissolves, as it inevitably will, you will be so weak that you die on the first negative encounter. You have to go out. You have to explore and you have to become stronger, so that when the safety fails, you are not left mewling to die. When you go out and explore you become incrementally stronger with each trial that you face, but if you stay in the safe zone, you stay the same without any chance to grow, and that’s tragic.
Unlike the other ones I’ve read of this series so far, there were more translation issues in this one. My favorite was when Kirito came out with “I am restlessness.” Of course my brain went straight to the overblown and dramatic, the tone deepened, the scene darkened as I imagined him as the embodiment of restlessness, its avatar in the digital world…unfortunately my imagination broke down right after that because the next sentence simply didn’t match the Otrantoesque scene in my head. It would have been pretty epic if he had meant to say that and had some sort of whole subplot built around it but Alas, it was just a mistranslation…sigh.
The female characters in this one are just as laughable and two dimensional as the others. While being full of tropes, they are still not as bad as Elric of Melnibone, so I give him some props in that area. I would probably have bashed this a lot more of I didn’t have intimate experience with how much worse it can get.
The one tiresome aspect of this particularly novel is the tropeness of Klein. He actually had some characterization in the anime, and in the other books so it was sad to see him reduced to awkward hormonal socially inept gamer guy. Well that and Kirito’s pointless wandering into calculating the internal dimensions of a dungeon. I mean seriously? The character even comes out and says it was pointless? If you know it is so, you should delete it! Leaving it in as a joke just makes it even more lame, cut such nonsense out.
But…I still liked it. I enjoyed it. It made me laugh, even as it made me cringe. I’m going to read the next one…and the next…and probably the next as well, because they are fun and I actually like Kirito, even if he is have awkward and half annoying. He’s cute. Like the baby brother I never had. I wish I could dive in and explain females to him, he needs it.
On the other hand, there is one good thing in this book. Kirito leaves the safety of the city to go and adventure on his own because he understands a fundamental truth, you can not cower in the safe zone. You will never grow, and when that safety dissolves, as it inevitably will, you will be so weak that you die on the first negative encounter. You have to go out. You have to explore and you have to become stronger, so that when the safety fails, you are not left mewling to die. When you go out and explore you become incrementally stronger with each trial that you face, but if you stay in the safe zone, you stay the same without any chance to grow, and that’s tragic.
May 19, 2017
To be honest the anime sort of spoiled the first story and most of the second one, with that in mind I couldn’t really appreciate the first one, the second one is also in the anime (second season) but it goes so fast there that I could read and appreciate this second one I loved the Norse Mythology there and for the third story we remember the True nature of SAO and the brutality of that reality.
June 7, 2017
I really wish more people would read the light novels. In this volume it's a collection of short stories, featuring the incident from Kirito and Asuna's time in the game of death; SAO and the Excalibur episodes after Kirito saves Asuna in Alfhiem Online. The final story features a story taken back to when Kirito left Klein back at the Town of Beginnings, this story is by far the most interesting if the two and this makes me again wish that more people who watched the series and liked the series would read the light novel series. **Maybe not the Progressive series, as it's being published after the SAO series but gives insight to what trials Kirito and Asuna faced before being estranged friends, to lovers.** Volume 8 is essentially a recap of sorts, it introduces the Laughing Coffin guild, which if readers read the GGO part and where Kirito almost dies by the hand of deranged KoB member they'll be introduced to the evil PK guild. (Also if reading the Progressive novels, volume 4) The last story, Kirito has a near death experience, more so than being in a game that will kill you in different ways. You get to understand the weight that Kirito is shouldering throughout the game and maybe feel relieved once he meets Asuna and begins his life with her. (eventually of course...)
Please read the light novels! You won't regret it!!
Please read the light novels! You won't regret it!!
December 18, 2019
Unfortunately this volume didn't gel with me how I wanted it to. I was really excited to read the first short story, but I couldn't connect with it. I kept thinking I needed to sit down and commit to at least an hour of reading, but I could never push past 15 minutes of reading. I was bored.
I think the first story would be interesting, had I not watched the anime. The second was also boring, I skipped most if it, but it had no immediacy or stakes. They were playing in a regular MMORPG, not the kind you can die, so I didn't give a hoot if their quest succeeded or not.
However, I did enjoy the last, smallest story. It waSn't in the anime and brought me back to the death threat of the entire series.
I hope the next volume is better.
I think the first story would be interesting, had I not watched the anime. The second was also boring, I skipped most if it, but it had no immediacy or stakes. They were playing in a regular MMORPG, not the kind you can die, so I didn't give a hoot if their quest succeeded or not.
However, I did enjoy the last, smallest story. It waSn't in the anime and brought me back to the death threat of the entire series.
I hope the next volume is better.
November 26, 2020
3.75?
‘It wasn't about dying or living. There was no way for me to "earn" a real understanding of death here to begin with. Because in the real world, a place where death was just as permanent as here, I'd never been close enough to death to know.
No, it was the fact that this was an alternate world. That I couldn't see the people I wanted to see. That was the one truth. The reality of this world.
I buried my face in the sheets, gritted my teeth, and trembled violently. There were no tears. Perhaps there were tears falling on my real cheeks, as I lay on my bed back home in the real world. Perhaps they were in view of Suguha, watching over me in person.
"Wut's wong. Big Bwudda?”
A soft hand caressed my head.’
That did make my eyes prick. Kirito finally understands what it actually meant to be imprisoned in a virtual world. This is from the third short story ‘The Days of Beginning’ which starts instantly after Kirito left Klein on the first floor to become a solo player.
This book contains three short stories:
-The Safe Haven Incident.
-Calibur
-The days of Beginning.
‘The Safe Haven Incident’ is the story in which a player is killed in the safe zone which is considered impossible as no one can be hurt while they are in safe zones. Asuna and Kirito, who watched the incident, take upon themselves to solve the case. This story delves into the mystery genre and did a competent job at it.
‘Calibur’ is your regular quest type story in which Kirito and the gang(Asuna, Silica, Liz, Klein, Sinon, Leafa) decide to take the legendary sword Excalibur for themselves. This simple quest then turns into a huge quest to save Alfheim. If they fail then all the Alfheim will be invaded by the Frost giants. It is based upon the myth of Thor disguising himself to reclaim his stolen hammer. It was a fun little story with Kirito again showing a new and powerful skill.
‘The days of Beginning’ was my favourite story in this book. Maybe because it wasn't adapted into the anime and was totally new for me. I already knew the story of the first two short stories as I have watched the anime so it was basically a re-watch/re-read. ‘The days of beginning’ start when Kirito being selfish(which isn't really a bad thing) leaves Klein reluctantly to go to the next village so he can have all the goodies for him and level up faster than the others by killing the weak monsters. It is the story of how he got his sword and understood what it meant to be a solo player.
Overall it was an enjoyable read.
‘It wasn't about dying or living. There was no way for me to "earn" a real understanding of death here to begin with. Because in the real world, a place where death was just as permanent as here, I'd never been close enough to death to know.
No, it was the fact that this was an alternate world. That I couldn't see the people I wanted to see. That was the one truth. The reality of this world.
I buried my face in the sheets, gritted my teeth, and trembled violently. There were no tears. Perhaps there were tears falling on my real cheeks, as I lay on my bed back home in the real world. Perhaps they were in view of Suguha, watching over me in person.
"Wut's wong. Big Bwudda?”
A soft hand caressed my head.’
That did make my eyes prick. Kirito finally understands what it actually meant to be imprisoned in a virtual world. This is from the third short story ‘The Days of Beginning’ which starts instantly after Kirito left Klein on the first floor to become a solo player.
This book contains three short stories:
-The Safe Haven Incident.
-Calibur
-The days of Beginning.
‘The Safe Haven Incident’ is the story in which a player is killed in the safe zone which is considered impossible as no one can be hurt while they are in safe zones. Asuna and Kirito, who watched the incident, take upon themselves to solve the case. This story delves into the mystery genre and did a competent job at it.
‘Calibur’ is your regular quest type story in which Kirito and the gang(Asuna, Silica, Liz, Klein, Sinon, Leafa) decide to take the legendary sword Excalibur for themselves. This simple quest then turns into a huge quest to save Alfheim. If they fail then all the Alfheim will be invaded by the Frost giants. It is based upon the myth of Thor disguising himself to reclaim his stolen hammer. It was a fun little story with Kirito again showing a new and powerful skill.
‘The days of Beginning’ was my favourite story in this book. Maybe because it wasn't adapted into the anime and was totally new for me. I already knew the story of the first two short stories as I have watched the anime so it was basically a re-watch/re-read. ‘The days of beginning’ start when Kirito being selfish(which isn't really a bad thing) leaves Klein reluctantly to go to the next village so he can have all the goodies for him and level up faster than the others by killing the weak monsters. It is the story of how he got his sword and understood what it meant to be a solo player.
Overall it was an enjoyable read.
November 4, 2020
v.8 of the Sword Art Online light novel series is a collection of three stories—two lengthier shorts (which will be recognizable for readers who've already seen the anime) and one short (which is new). All three are "flashback" stories, so it may take some reorientation to come to terms with the lack of timeline continuity, which threw me for a loop initially but, ultimately, works out fine.
The first story features a murder in a safe area, investigated by Kirito and Asuna. While it appeared in the anime, it was in a much more truncated form there. I enjoyed the differing details and how Kawahara twists the story.
The second story is how Kirito and crew quest for the Excalibur sword. Like with the first story, the light novel version is much more indepth and detailed than its rendition in the anime series. Where it's appearance in the anime felt kind of tedious and like a boring side quest (which, technically, it is, lol), there's a much larger scope in the light novel version. There's actually some pretty big stakes at play. I doubt if this will ever be a favorite SAO story, but at least here the impact is stronger and the journey more interesting.
The final story takes us all the way back to the beginning, right after the announcement that the only way to escape the game is to beat the game. This is about what Kirito does right after he leaves—the mad-dash to level up that would later turn "beaters" and "solo players" into slurs by the larger player base. It's short, but actually delivers some decent emotion and shows Kirito's early stages in a way the anime doesn't.
While nothing will beat the core SAO story, it's hard to be a fan of the series and not enjoy the three stories author Reki Kawahara gives us here.
The first story features a murder in a safe area, investigated by Kirito and Asuna. While it appeared in the anime, it was in a much more truncated form there. I enjoyed the differing details and how Kawahara twists the story.
The second story is how Kirito and crew quest for the Excalibur sword. Like with the first story, the light novel version is much more indepth and detailed than its rendition in the anime series. Where it's appearance in the anime felt kind of tedious and like a boring side quest (which, technically, it is, lol), there's a much larger scope in the light novel version. There's actually some pretty big stakes at play. I doubt if this will ever be a favorite SAO story, but at least here the impact is stronger and the journey more interesting.
The final story takes us all the way back to the beginning, right after the announcement that the only way to escape the game is to beat the game. This is about what Kirito does right after he leaves—the mad-dash to level up that would later turn "beaters" and "solo players" into slurs by the larger player base. It's short, but actually delivers some decent emotion and shows Kirito's early stages in a way the anime doesn't.
While nothing will beat the core SAO story, it's hard to be a fan of the series and not enjoy the three stories author Reki Kawahara gives us here.
May 13, 2022
Excellent side stories to fill in the gaps.
The Excalibur (caliber) are was extremely fun. Brining Sinon along to meet with Klein, Asuna, Leafa, Lisbest, and Silica was pretty fun, additionally Tonky was always fun to have around and the mix of mythology with traditional fantasy and videogame mechanics was also fun. I really enjoyed this immensely.
The other side stories set more or less in Aincard was eye opening. Enjoyed the small story that took place literally 30 minutes to an hour after Kayaba announced they were in a death game. It enhanced Kirito's character and also the sensibilities of players in the game. Kobel deserved to at least have gotten another art.
Oh well, fantastic volume.
The Excalibur (caliber) are was extremely fun. Brining Sinon along to meet with Klein, Asuna, Leafa, Lisbest, and Silica was pretty fun, additionally Tonky was always fun to have around and the mix of mythology with traditional fantasy and videogame mechanics was also fun. I really enjoyed this immensely.
The other side stories set more or less in Aincard was eye opening. Enjoyed the small story that took place literally 30 minutes to an hour after Kayaba announced they were in a death game. It enhanced Kirito's character and also the sensibilities of players in the game. Kobel deserved to at least have gotten another art.
Oh well, fantastic volume.
October 30, 2019
I'll start off by saying that I'm a big fan of the sword Art books and Anime.
Despite some of the inconsistencies in the books, the overall story is very enjoyable.
As for this book, I enjoyed it. It contains three stories which take place at different periods in the overall story. The first and longest is a mystery story, and while a little dragged out, is still a fun read. The second, an action story with Norse mythology littered throughout. The third and my favorite one, expands on the main character and the world he occupies. Overall another great set of stories from this author.
Despite some of the inconsistencies in the books, the overall story is very enjoyable.
As for this book, I enjoyed it. It contains three stories which take place at different periods in the overall story. The first and longest is a mystery story, and while a little dragged out, is still a fun read. The second, an action story with Norse mythology littered throughout. The third and my favorite one, expands on the main character and the world he occupies. Overall another great set of stories from this author.
August 23, 2021
Este livro contém alguns contos que podem ser visto em alguns episódios do anime(exceto o último conto ), mas por ser no livro , você tem a oportunidade de enteder melhor o que se passa na mente do protagonista . Agora sobre o último conto, é algo totalmente novo pois ele retrata o que aconteceu com o protagonista logo após a apresenta??o das regras do criador do jogo, e este conto é crucial para entendermos os motivos do personagem pra ele se tornar o que ele se tornou dentro deste jogo (creio eu ). Gostei bastante.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2017
As all books of sidestories I've read, didn't feel particularly engaged. As with book 2, the best story imho is the shortest and last (about Kirito's first hours after being forced into the game of death). The mistery novel is ok, the Excalibur story is not that interesting (although Kirito does show off a new way to exploit the system that only he can do :) )
So not bad, but not great.
So not bad, but not great.
August 2, 2020
It was 3 short stories from the first s d second arcs of the series. I wasn't too interested in these, but they were alright. I mostly read it in case there was something mentioned in Vol 9 that was mentioned in an earlier story. I did like the one about what happened to Kirito after the end of the first episode of the anime. That hit me in the feels. Anyway, onward to Vol 9 and the new arc.
April 19, 2022
Mega koks light novelka. W tym tomie drugi raz z kolei by?y zbiory opowiadań tak samo jak w drugim tomie. Dwie pierwsze historie by?y ZAR?BISTE, ostatnia troch? nudniejsza. Troch? jestem jednak zawiedziony, bo kreska jest troch? inna. Bardziej kreskówkowa. Mam nadziej?, ?e ponownie zobacz? t? zwyk??, dobr? kresk? w nast?pnym, dziewi?tym tomie. Mega polecam!
May 20, 2023
three stories in one book and two episodes I'd temporarily forgotten.
I do hope there's more exploration into the game having a mind of it's own and possibly fucking up the whole world as well as other myths and legends incorporated into quests.
The third story was, i think, one of the most revealing of how Kirito comes to deeply understand the death game. Very cool.
I do hope there's more exploration into the game having a mind of it's own and possibly fucking up the whole world as well as other myths and legends incorporated into quests.
The third story was, i think, one of the most revealing of how Kirito comes to deeply understand the death game. Very cool.
January 25, 2024
The first short story in this collection dragged a little for me, probably because I'd only recently watched the anime episode. The second story was OK, but I'm not a huge fan of the ALO arcs.
At least two of the stars in my rating are for the third, shortest story. It's brilliant, and I want more of the early-floors Kirito!
At least two of the stars in my rating are for the third, shortest story. It's brilliant, and I want more of the early-floors Kirito!
January 3, 2025
This one took a while for me to get through.
Just like volume 2 this one puts a hold on the main story and instead tells some short stories.
The first short story is "A Murder Case in the Area" which is the novel version of episodes 5-6 of the first season of the SAO anime. I did like this one since it had moments that were cut out of the anime version like an interesting conversation between Kirito, Asuna and Heathcliff and more details to make the mystery more engaging than the anime counterpart.
The second short story is "Calibur" which is the novel version of episodes 15-17 of the second season of the SAO anime. This was where I got major burnout, not only from having read many SAO books in general but also because I'm not the biggest fan of this story, I like it fine but almost nothing was changed from the novel to the anime which made it very repetitive to sit through.
The third and last story is "First Day" this is the only story of vol. 8 to not have gotten an anime adaptation which made it my favorite to read through. It tells the story of Kirito's first day in the official launch of SAO, after having just said goodbye to Klein in the Town of Beginnings. There are some really good character moments from Kirito in this story and I can honestly recommend vol. 8 just for this story alone, the ending was especially really emotional.
Just like volume 2 this one puts a hold on the main story and instead tells some short stories.
The first short story is "A Murder Case in the Area" which is the novel version of episodes 5-6 of the first season of the SAO anime. I did like this one since it had moments that were cut out of the anime version like an interesting conversation between Kirito, Asuna and Heathcliff and more details to make the mystery more engaging than the anime counterpart.
The second short story is "Calibur" which is the novel version of episodes 15-17 of the second season of the SAO anime. This was where I got major burnout, not only from having read many SAO books in general but also because I'm not the biggest fan of this story, I like it fine but almost nothing was changed from the novel to the anime which made it very repetitive to sit through.
The third and last story is "First Day" this is the only story of vol. 8 to not have gotten an anime adaptation which made it my favorite to read through. It tells the story of Kirito's first day in the official launch of SAO, after having just said goodbye to Klein in the Town of Beginnings. There are some really good character moments from Kirito in this story and I can honestly recommend vol. 8 just for this story alone, the ending was especially really emotional.
May 27, 2020
Another book that lived up to all of my expectations based on my love of the anime. This jumps around in time across three short stories so be prepared for three very different portrayals of Kirito. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far I would recommend continuing with this volume.
October 11, 2023
Ciesz? si?, ?e wróci?am do czytania SAO. Fikcyjny ?wiat, ale dylematy ca?kiem realne. Na prawd? jeste?my szcz??ciarzami, ?e pojawi?a si? polska wersja. Ambicja? Do końca roku uczyta? na bie??co t? seri?.
September 2, 2017
Liked the revisit with Sinon and the background of Kirito's first hour after the horrible realization about SAO
January 1, 2018
Nice side stories.
May 19, 2018
I saw the anime series first, so this was a fun look into what Kirito was thinking during those adventures.
June 4, 2018
neither good nor bad, but make me uninterested in the stories
March 26, 2021
A good entry to complete some story points here and there.
June 29, 2021
The Safe Haven Incident: 5 ??
Calibur: 3 ??
The Town Of Beginnings: 4 ??
Calibur: 3 ??
The Town Of Beginnings: 4 ??
October 27, 2021
For me this is my end of Sao... its for the better
February 22, 2022
No es mal libro, pero es simplemente una aventurilla entre los protas.
Aunque sean dos estrellas tiene mi aprobado
Aunque sean dos estrellas tiene mi aprobado
April 21, 2023
5 stars for the audiobook performance. 3.5 stars for the stories.
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