 Cover of the first issue of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! | |
| Categories | Light novels |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annually |
| Publisher | Takarajimasha |
| First issue | November 26, 2004 |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (このライトノベルがすごい!, Kono Raito Noberu ga Sugoi!, lit. This Light Novel is Amazing!) is an annual light novel guide book published by Takarajimasha. The guide book publishes a list of the top ten most popular light novels according to readers polled on the Internet and votes from "collaborators" (critics, influencers, and other people related to the light novel industry).[1] An introduction to each of the works comes with each listing, along with an interview of the light novel's author or authors for first place. Many of the light novels that have been listed in this guide book were later adapted into anime series. Most of the light novels listed contain a series of volumes, but some single-volume light novels also get listed. The first release of the guide book was on November 26, 2004 and is the 2005 listing. The latest release is the 18th volume on November 23, 2021 and is the 2022 listing.
A Certain Magical Index has appeared in the top 10 in 10 out of 19 issues, Sword Art Online has appeared in 9, Ascendance of a Bookworm appeared in 7 and Baka and Test appeared in 6. The Haruhi Suzumiya series, the Book Girl series, the Monogatari series, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, Classroom of the Elite and Mushoku Tensei have all appeared in 5. A Certain Magical Index and Sword Art Online also hold the longest streak in the top 10, with 9 issues in a row each. My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected and Ascendance of a Bookworm have been ranked first 3 times, more than any other series.
The guide book also ranks male characters, female characters and illustrators from all works released each year. Only on three occasions did a series rank first in all four lists in the same issue: A Certain Magical Index in 2011, My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected in 2015, and The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten in 2024.
- ^ "Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!: Sword Art Online is the Light Novel of the Decade". Anime News Network. November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.