The first volume of the fan-favorite light novel series Sword Art Online debuted in Japan on April 10, 2009. Today marks the light novel series' 10th anniversary and publisher Dengeki Bunko opened a special site with art by illustrator abec to commemorate the anniversary.

Author Reki Kawahara offered his own thoughts upon reaching this major milestone.

I said again and again that "it's my goal to survive for 10 years!" but now that I've reached that goal I have both a sense of great accomplishment and a slight sense of loss. The path from when I first started serializing Sword Art Online on my website to now was never straight. When I felt that I couldn't overcome the pain and pressure, there were several times that I thought, "I can't keep writing anymore." But somehow I've been an author for 10 years with the help of those who supported me. Thanks to the readers, viewers, and players who have supported me this far. I haven't set my next goal yet, but I will continue to write novels steadily for 15 or even 20 years. Thank you in advance!

The special site also hosts an in-series timeline and character profiles. Another section, "Special Novel," is on the site but not yet functional.

The final episode of the Sword Art Online: Alicization anime aired last month. The anime's next installment, Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld , will premiere this October.

The light novel series is a top-seller with 22 million copies in print worldwide. Besides the anime series, Kawahara's novels have inspired a manga adaptation, the Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online spin-off light novel series, anime, and manga, and multiple video games.

Source: Dengeki Bunko, MoCa News, Anime! Anime!