Light Novels

[Shiiro]

Do you know what's a Light Novel? It's a novel directed for usually teens and adults, have minimal literary and is very dialogue-heavy. Most Light Novels in Japan are made into VNs, then into a manga, then into anime.

There are some animes that originate from Light Novels. Kirepapa, To Heart, Code Geass, Devil May Cry, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, Inukami, Zero no Tsukaima, and many more!

Click here to know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_novels

I've never read one before, but I'd love to do so! It'll be a great reference on how to write VNs, since most of them are usually made into one.

[Vatina]

Code Geass and Higurashi didn't originate from light novels as far as I know I'm not that familiar with all the rest of the titles. The light novels came later, though.

That said I really like light novels. Unfortunately they haven't been very successful in english so far.

[KimiYoriBaka]

higurashi was a series of 16+ rated vn's. There were 9 I think originally, then the console versions combined them into single or pair games. While it has a manga, anime, and normal novel version, I don't think the original story has been turned into light novels (though there are side stories that have). Also, isn't Devil May Cry originally an RPG series?

more on the topic, I don't know how many countries they've been released in, but at least in america the Full Metal Panic series and Haruhi Suzumiya series are being released. Also, there are online translations to read of many of the more popular ones. Here's a pretty good one:
http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index ... =Main_Page

[IceD]

I'm waiting for the official american release of Wolf and Spice series

[V2Blast]

Yeah, Code Geass didn't start as a light novel. Shakugan no Shana, however, did.

I don't read manga or light novels or anything else of the sort. I stick to anime.

[LVUER]

Yup, I also believe Code Geass didn't come from light novel but straight to anime. Shakugan comes from novel. Zero no Tsukaima and The World of Suzumiya Haruhi also comes from light novel. Higurashi shows up for the first time as a Sound Novel (let's just say another kind of VN).

[Shiiro]

And I thought Code Geass started as a Light Novel... My bad!

[Der Tor]

Shinigami no Ballad - originated from a Light Novel and has later been made into a Manga, Anime and Live Action Series (allthough i don't know about Visual Novel) - i mention it because i am watching the Live Action series right now, and it's totally awesome

I am working on making the magical girl Novels my wife made into Light Novels - maybe i can even find a publisher - would propably make it the first german light novels ever

[Vatina]

I am envious of the german since you have Gosick Only one volume ever released in english.... *sigh* (And with a crappy cover too)

[Nayru]

It's the first time I hear about this but it sounds worth checking.

[JinzouTamashii]

Thanks for reminding me that Tanigawa Nagaru still hasn't written Volume 10... damn...

[qq]

I think the only light novel I have read is The Melancholy of Suzumiya and I'm still not finish reading it . I don't know if it's a light novel, but I wish there was an English translation of Nobuta wo Produce, because I love the Jdrama.

[Aleema]

I don't know if it's a light novel, but I wish there was an English translation of Nobuta wo Produce, because I love the Jdrama.

<3
I fandubbed the first episode, if that's any consolation. ^^;

[Alessio]

Also "12 Kingdoms" is/was a light novel series. I've read the first one (good, if a bit short) and watched the anime (very good).

[AllegroDiRossi]

*Edit - Shortened Links, cause that was crazy, XD

The Twelve Kingdoms is being released by TokyoPOP in English, one a year every March. They release the 4th one in 2010.

Book 01 - http://bit.ly/7N7fPX
Book 02 - http://bit.ly/504mIn
Book 03 - http://bit.ly/7grWv6

TokyoPOP also was publishing the Missing series by Gakuto Coda, which I LOVED, but they only released the first two of thirteen before they put the rest on 'hiatus'... Meaning they killed it! DX *Sad me*

Book 01 - http://bit.ly/6mJKt7
Book 02 - http://bit.ly/6GZ39I

Del Rey published two issues of FAUST: a Japanese writing Anthology from Japan that selected short stories from indie writers (including light novel writers) and published these nice little books.

Book 01 - http://bit.ly/89C6DJ
Book 02 - http://bit.ly/77ynDJ

Also published by Del Rey were a few works by Nisioisin, who I adore the writing style of

Zaregoto Book 01 - http://bit.ly/7JC0C8
xxxHOLiC AnotherHOLiC - http://bit.ly/7HaMTQ
DeathNote AnotherNote - http://bit.ly/4vehIE

Overall, my best recommendations from these would be the Missing Series and the xxxHOLiC and DeathNote books.

As for most Light Novels being turned into anime, in my observations it works a little more like this...

Many Light Novels >> Some are selected to adapt to VN or Manga >> Few of these are adapted to Anime.

And at the same time, Light Novels have to compete with Visual Novels and Manga for adaption into these other forms as well, and they all compete for the adaption to anime, which is the hardest to achieve.