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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I've watched the Sword Art Online anime and really enjoyed the series, so when I saw an English translation of the original novel, I decided to take a gamble. The translation is about what I expected, not the worst I've ever read but pretty far from the best. "Frail?" You describe Asuna as "frail?" Lots of better synonyms, methinks. I think I might enjoy it more if I tried the Japanese where simple sentences make me very happy instead of frustrated. I wish that translators could use some Japanese words with a few footnotes. Ittadakimasu and Otsukaresama deshita just sound weird in English.
To the actual story, though, I was surprised at how much the anime added. I picked up the book wondering what the anime left out, but the opposite turned out to be true. This book is much more Kirito/Asuna-centric and most of the other storylines are completely absent. Asuna's part too starts out much less interesting than her anime counterpart maybe because her story isn't told chronologically. It takes forever to get to the point where she has any reason to be interested in Kirito, even though she pretty much is focused on him from the second we see them. Still, eventually the author starts showing what she can do instead of giving her a nickname and expecting the audience to believe she's a badass.
The thing I love about the anime and the best thing about the novel is Kirito and Asuna's relationship. So many stories go the will they/won't they route, dragging a romance around, throwing implausible misunderstandings and various rivals at the couple. It's boring. There is never any question that Kirito and Asuna won't, we just watch them develop and kick major ass as a team. They are a power couple who never lose faith in each other, even when the world is literally crumbling around them. I'm also a sucker for the "stuck in a game" story. I think it dates back to an Are You Afraid of the Dark episode I watched as a kid... it has always been a terrifying and fascinating concept for me.
The writing is very simple, but for a light read, it was better than expected. There's some typical Japanese misogyny and stereotyping, but I still treat Asuna as a step forward. My only real gripe is the edition. We start out with full color splashes of the major characters and each one gets a quote emblazoned by them. Most are central character ideas or at least full sentences. Asuna's is just "Kirito." That's doesn't count as a quote, guys. That is lame. She has some really good lines. Why didn't we use those?
Oh wait, she gets another full splash page... in her underwear. And her quote is "Just ... don't stare... okay?" Grr! I don't know what the Japanese edition is but come on, America! SAO is a great series to appeal to everyone, but they gotta go the otaku fanservice route. Frustrating.
In the end, it isn't a bad YA read especially for anime fans, but you have to go into it with an internal translator... and maybe an x-acto knife.
To the actual story, though, I was surprised at how much the anime added. I picked up the book wondering what the anime left out, but the opposite turned out to be true. This book is much more Kirito/Asuna-centric and most of the other storylines are completely absent. Asuna's part too starts out much less interesting than her anime counterpart maybe because her story isn't told chronologically. It takes forever to get to the point where she has any reason to be interested in Kirito, even though she pretty much is focused on him from the second we see them. Still, eventually the author starts showing what she can do instead of giving her a nickname and expecting the audience to believe she's a badass.
The thing I love about the anime and the best thing about the novel is Kirito and Asuna's relationship. So many stories go the will they/won't they route, dragging a romance around, throwing implausible misunderstandings and various rivals at the couple. It's boring. There is never any question that Kirito and Asuna won't, we just watch them develop and kick major ass as a team. They are a power couple who never lose faith in each other, even when the world is literally crumbling around them. I'm also a sucker for the "stuck in a game" story. I think it dates back to an Are You Afraid of the Dark episode I watched as a kid... it has always been a terrifying and fascinating concept for me.
The writing is very simple, but for a light read, it was better than expected. There's some typical Japanese misogyny and stereotyping, but I still treat Asuna as a step forward. My only real gripe is the edition. We start out with full color splashes of the major characters and each one gets a quote emblazoned by them. Most are central character ideas or at least full sentences. Asuna's is just "Kirito." That's doesn't count as a quote, guys. That is lame. She has some really good lines. Why didn't we use those?
Oh wait, she gets another full splash page... in her underwear. And her quote is "Just ... don't stare... okay?" Grr! I don't know what the Japanese edition is but come on, America! SAO is a great series to appeal to everyone, but they gotta go the otaku fanservice route. Frustrating.
In the end, it isn't a bad YA read especially for anime fans, but you have to go into it with an internal translator... and maybe an x-acto knife.
Watched the Anime, the book was just as great
After watching the anime series I was dying to read the series. When I bought the books I was so excited to start reading. It only took me three days, yes but I loved every thing about it and I related it a lot to the show
After watching the anime series I was dying to read the series. When I bought the books I was so excited to start reading. It only took me three days, yes but I loved every thing about it and I related it a lot to the show
I kindof liked this one, it's nowhere on the map of good proper literature but it was a wonderful read regardless.
Knížku jsem si pořídila jen kvůli hezkému hřbetu a taky pro podpoření dalších překladů původních light novel. Před přečtením jsem si myslela, že to je sexistická hloupost, ale překvapilo mě to a byla to trochu sexistická, ale zajímavá knížečka.
Souboje byly docela napínavé, mmorpg terminologie byla použita správně... spousta scén byla velmi rozkošných, jako z Polibku pro Annu, ale občas je následoval odstaveček o sexuálním obtěžování, což si mohl autor odpustit, ale zase je zajímavé, že se na to myslelo...?
Asuna jako ženská postava nebyla úplně špatně napsaná, ale zdálo se mi, že se chovala jako normální kamarádka v prvním výstupu a při druhém se ji zmáčkl knoflík (což možná bylo i v rámci příběhu barvitě popsáno) a stala se z ní velmi roztomilá přítelkyně. Trochu náhlé, trochu divné, ale k žánru to asi trochu patří. I přesto se o sebe dokázala postarat sama jako schopná bojovnice, což ji ctí.
A k light novelám taky patří ilustrace. Barevné na začátku byly moc pěkné, černobílé ilustrace byly občas až velmi tmavé, takže jsem si je bez přímého osvětlení nemohla vychutnat. Je pravda, že některé z nich vyobrazovali dění ve tmě, takže by logicky měly být temné, ale pokud na obrázku nic není vidět, tak nemusí být…
Překlad by dobrý, knížka se rychle četla, na několika stránkách byly typografické chybky, ale nic zásadního, co by čtenáře mohlo zmást (možná jen čárka upros,třed slova). Zápatí knihy mi přišlo docela přeplněné (název knihy byl sázen docela velkým písmem a zrcadlilo se mu číslo kapitoly i s mečíkem).
Souboje byly docela napínavé, mmorpg terminologie byla použita správně... spousta scén byla velmi rozkošných, jako z Polibku pro Annu, ale občas je následoval odstaveček o sexuálním obtěžování, což si mohl autor odpustit, ale zase je zajímavé, že se na to myslelo...?
Asuna jako ženská postava nebyla úplně špatně napsaná, ale zdálo se mi, že se chovala jako normální kamarádka v prvním výstupu a při druhém se ji zmáčkl knoflík (což možná bylo i v rámci příběhu barvitě popsáno) a stala se z ní velmi roztomilá přítelkyně. Trochu náhlé, trochu divné, ale k žánru to asi trochu patří. I přesto se o sebe dokázala postarat sama jako schopná bojovnice, což ji ctí.
A k light novelám taky patří ilustrace. Barevné na začátku byly moc pěkné, černobílé ilustrace byly občas až velmi tmavé, takže jsem si je bez přímého osvětlení nemohla vychutnat. Je pravda, že některé z nich vyobrazovali dění ve tmě, takže by logicky měly být temné, ale pokud na obrázku nic není vidět, tak nemusí být…
Překlad by dobrý, knížka se rychle četla, na několika stránkách byly typografické chybky, ale nic zásadního, co by čtenáře mohlo zmást (možná jen čárka upros,třed slova). Zápatí knihy mi přišlo docela přeplněné (název knihy byl sázen docela velkým písmem a zrcadlilo se mu číslo kapitoly i s mečíkem).
SAO volume 1 is the best way to experience this series. I highly recommend you read this book, and then stop. All of the best writing, ideas, characters, and worldbuilding in the series can be found here, and it is actually quite good. An exciting action story on the surface gets you engrossed before you even realize that you are actually reading a romance novel and are extremely invested in the main characters' relationship, and all that is still secondary to the intriguing thought experiment that the story presents. It's a story with nearly as many layers an Aincrad itself, and aside from its occasional off notes it delivers well on each one of them. Just do yourself a favor and don't pick up volume 2.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Suicide
Went into this expecting very little - I was only reading it because of Cole’s love of the anime. But oh my God, I actually really liked it! Cole’s bought me the second book for Christmas!
Really enjoyed this book, was like reading the anime which is why I took off one start for the fact that I knew all the material beforehand. Excited to get onto the content that I don't already know from the Anime. This covers first half of Sword Art online I for anyone wondering.