AFTERWORD

Hello, this is Reki Kawahara. Thank you for reading Sword Art Online 11: Alicization Turning. I chose this subtitle in the sense of it being a turning point, but as for whether this is materially the midpoint of the Alicization arc…sorry, I can’t be sure of that yet! In terms of content, however, it brings an end to Kirito’s and Eugeo’s school life and shifts the story to a new phase. And then, from a character with a name familiar to Kirito, we learn the secrets of the Underworld’s creation…and then, splat—run headlong into the end of the book. I have no good excuses for this abrupt finish and will endeavor to bring you the twelfth volume as soon as possible, so please join me there.

This book is the sixth I’ve had published this year, which means I’ve somehow managed to maintain my pace of six books a year since my professional debut in 2009. This year of 2012 was a huge one for me, as both Accel World and Sword Art Online received anime series, and my encounters with people from various walks of life have given me a lot to think about when it comes to my own writing. I don’t have the space to explain all that here, but if put in a nutshell, it would be “to take my story creation seriously but enjoy it as well.”

Writing books is a personal task, and when you’re in your private thoughts, there are times when you get depressed. But enjoying yourself and your process is the basis of creative motivation, so I want to get back to basics and just enjoy each book as I write next year. I hope to continue my six-books-a-year pace as long as I can! I’m not doing this just to rack up streaks, of course, but I know from personal experience that once I fall off a certain pace, I never get back there. So I want to keep alternating SAO and AW every other month until I finish them…he said, thus putting more pressure on himself.

I started the Progressive series this year as well, which meant four volumes of SAO. I must express my utter thanks to abec, who provided so many wonderful interior illustrations, despite being busy already with the incredible amount of anime work to do. To my editors Mr. Miki and Mr. Tsuchiya, I’m sorry for being late at various stages. Even this afterword is thirty minutes overdue!

And of course, to all of you still following along, my deepest thanks. Hope to see you again next year!

Reki Kawahara—October 2012