Light Novels

A light novel is a novel composed entirely of beams of light.

No, not really, although that would be awesome. While related to Manga and Anime, light novels are actually prose, written in short paragraphs for fast reading. (An example of the light novel style, in Japanese and English.) Light novels are very popular in Japan, chiefly among teenagers and young adults, but due to the amount of translation involved, very few of them make their way to English-language markets. This may start to change, however, as Haruhi Suzumiya sold better than expected, and Yen Press has created the successful strategy of marketing them to the people who read novels and not just anime/manga fans. There are also a relatively large number of translated Yaoi light novels.

The term light novel is a misnomer. While many people believe that the word "light" in the name means the novel is short (and they usually don't last much longer than 200 pages) or that it uses manga-style illustrations, the truth is that this actually refers to the text inside. Modern light novels use simpler, easier to read everyday kanji as opposed to "hard" novels, which generally contain much older words which, even for Japanese readers, may necessitate keeping a dictionary on hand to understand.

Light Novels commonly get adapted to Manga and Anime, and more often than not are promptly displaced by said adaptations outside Japan for the reasons stated above.

There are Fan Translation sites all around the internet for novels which don't get exported outside of Japan, such as Baka-Tsuki. The rest are usually individual projects.

Chinese-language literature has a somewhat similar phenomenon, particularly in Taiwan. Although the term "light novel" is not typically used in China for such works, for convenience they will be listed here.

Notable light novel series:
(Series marked with a * have an North American release at least in part.)


 * Accel World
 * .hack//AI Buster *
 * .hack//Another Birth *
 * Ai no Kusabi *
 * Akikan
 * Allison
 * Angel Beats
 * Another Note *
 * Asobi Ni Iku Yo
 * Asura Cryin
 * Baby Princess
 * Baccano!
 * Baka to Test To Shoukanjuu
 * Bakemonogatari
 * Ballad of a Shinigami *
 * Bara no Maria
 * Ben To
 * Bibliotheca Mystica De Dantalian
 * Black Lagoon
 * Bludgeoning Angel Dokurochan
 * Bodacious Space Pirates
 * Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
 * Boogiepop Series *
 * Book of Bantorra
 * Bungaku Shoujo *
 * Chrome Shelled Regios
 * Coffin Princess Chaika
 * Cold Series *
 * Corsair
 * Crest of the Stars *
 * Crusher Joe
 * Cubex Cursedx Curious
 * Demonbane (three prequel novels)
 * Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
 * Denpa Teki Na Kanojo
 * Devil May Cry * (two out of a total of four)
 * DDD (aka Decoration Disorder Disconnection).
 * Dirty Pair *
 * Disgaea Novels
 * Dokkoida
 * Don't Worry Mama
 * Dragon Crisis
 * Durarara
 * Eien no Filena
 * Esu, AKA S *
 * Fate Apocrypha
 * Fate Zero -- the prequel to Fate/stay night
 * Full Metal Panic *
 * Fullmetal Alchemist *
 * Gad Guard
 * Gakuen Kino
 * Gargoyle of the Yoshinagas
 * Gate - Thus the JSDF Fought There
 * Gekkou
 * Ginban Kaleidoscope
 * Gokudo
 * The Good Witch of the West *
 * Goshuushou Sama Ninomiya Kun
 * Gosick *
 * Guin Saga
 * Haruhi Suzumiya *
 * Hidan no Aria
 * High School DXD
 * Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (originally a visual novel)
 * Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls
 * Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Maou
 * Ichigo One Hundred Percent
 * Idol Defense Force Hummingbird
 * Immoral Darkness *
 * Infinite Stratos
 * Inukami
 * Iriya no Sora UFO no Natsu
 * Irresponsible Captain Tylor
 * Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi
 * Kage Kara Mamoru
 * Kamikaze Girls *
 * Kamisama no Memochou
 * Kämpfer
 * Kanokon
 * Karano Kyoukai
 * Karin *
 * Katanagatari
 * Kaze no Stigma
 * Kino's Journey *
 * Kieli *
 * Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka
 * Kurenai
 * Kyo Kara Maoh
 * Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon
 * Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
 * Ladies Versus Butlers
 * L Change the World
 * The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
 * The Legend of the Legendary Heroes
 * Lillia & Treize
 * Lodgeworld
 * Lost Universe
 * Maburaho
 * Magician's Academy
 * Magic Users Club (Mahou Tsukai Tai!)
 * Mai-HiME Destiny (Alternate Continuity to the anime series)
 * Mamoru Kun Ni Megami no Shukufuku O
 * The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes *
 * Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
 * Mariasama ga Miteru
 * Mayo Chiki
 * Mayoi Neko Overrun
 * Mirage of Blaze
 * MM
 * Mnemosyne
 * Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
 * Mushi Uta
 * Muv Luv (including side stories)
 * Nanatsuiro Drops
 * Neko no Fuguri
 * Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA
 * No 6
 * Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
 * Nyarko San
 * Onegai Teacher
 * Only the Ring Finger Knows
 * Ookami-san
 * Ore no Imouto ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai
 * Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai
 * Pita Ten *
 * Puella Magi Madoka Magica (upcoming adaptation)
 * R-15
 * Read or Die
 * Record of Lodoss War
 * Rental Magica
 * Ro Kyu Bu
 * Rune Soldier Louie
 * The Sacred Blacksmith
 * Saiunkoku Monogatari
 * Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai
 * Scrapped Princess *
 * Seirei no Moribito *
 * Seitokai no Ichizon
 * Shakugan no Shana *
 * Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica Crimson
 * Shonen Onmyouji
 * Sister Princess
 * Slayers *
 * Sleeping With Money *
 * Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke Wo
 * Sorcerer Stabber Orphen (Two series; the original "Haguretabi" and the comedic "Mubouhen")
 * Spice and Wolf *
 * Starship Operators
 * Strawberry Panic *
 * Sukisho
 * Sword Art Online
 * Taishou Yakyuu Musume
 * Telepathy Shoujo Ran
 * The Third the Girl With The Blue Eye
 * To Aru Majutsu no Index
 * To Aru Hikushi E no Tsuioku (variously--known as Remembrances for a Certain Pilot and The Princess and the Pilot)
 * Toradora
 * Toshokan Sensou
 * Trinity Blood *
 * The Twelve Kingdoms *
 * Unbreakable Machine Doll
 * Vamp
 * Vampire Hunter D *
 * Wagaya no Oinari Sama
 * Welcome to The NHK
 * Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou
 * Zaregoto *
 * Zero no Tsukaima

Chinese works equivalent to "light novels":

 * Half Prince
 * Eclipse Hunter
 * The Legend of Sun Knight