No, not a novel composed entirely of beams of light, although that would be awesome.
While related to Manga and Anime, light novels are actually prose, written in short paragraphs for fast reading. 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. Due to the nature of the illustrators, many Light Novels out at the moment are mostly Ecchi to capitalize on their talents.
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. The closest parallel in the Western world is probably the distinction between "Modern English", "Middle English" and "Old English".
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. This is so common that some light novels are mistakenly believed to be anime or manga even if they don't have such an adaptation, or, oddly, that every Japanese-derived book adapted into anime/manga is a light novel regardless of text simplicity. Sometimes it may be the other way around, and a manga or anime project may get a Tie-In Novel or Novelization in the form of a light novel. Either way, due to the close-knit relationship between the media and their habit of sharing illustrators, light novels have come to be seen as manga and anime's text-based cousin.
Chinese-language literature has a somewhat similar phenomenon, particularly in Taiwan, though there is also a growing online force on Mainland China. Although the term "light novel" is not typically used in China for such works,note for convenience they will be listed here, though expect them to be listed under the Literature namespace (because most, if not all of them are Web Serial Novels).
The rough Western equivalent would be Young Adult Literature, which is typically aimed at teenaged and up readers (with the upper age, depending on the authority, ranging from 25 to 34). However, publishers are making efforts to market light novels to adult readers, while there are several Young Adult and even Children's books that aren't "light" by any stretch of the imagination (the later Harry Potter books come to mind).
See also Stock Light-Novel Hero.
Light novel series with pages on this wiki:
(Series marked with a * have a North American release at least in part.)
- Absolute Duo
- Accel World *
- Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
- Ai no Kusabi *
- Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor *
- Akikan!
- Allison
- All You Need Is Kill *
- A Lullaby Sinister *
- Amagi Brilliant Park
- The Ambition of Oda Nobuna
- And You Thought There is Never a Girl Online?
- Angel Beats!
- Another Note *
- Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon
- Apocalypse Alice
- Aria the Scarlet Ammo *
- Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest *
- The Asterisk War *
- Asuka Of The Scarlet Sky
- Asura Cryin'
- A Wild Last Boss Appeared
- Baby Princess
- Baccano! *
- Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts
- Bakemonogatari *
- Ballad Of A Shinigami *
- Bara no Maria
- Being Able to Edit Skills in Another World, I Gained OP Waifus
- Beatless
- Ben-To
- Beyond the Boundary
- Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian
- Black Bullet *
- Black Clover: The Book of the Black Bulls
- Black Lagoon
- Bladedance of Elementalers
- Blaz Blue Phase Shift
- Bleach: The Death Save the Strawberry
- Bleach: We Do Knot Always Love You
- Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan
- Bodacious Space Pirates
- Boku No Heya Ga Dungeon No Kyuukeijo Ni Natteshimatta Ken
- Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
- Boogiepop Series *
- Book Girl *
- Brothers Conflict
- Campione!
- Cat Planet Cuties
- A Certain Magical Index *
- Chivalry of a Failed Knight
- Chrome Shelled Regios
- Chuuko demo Koi ga Shitai!
- The Circumstances Leading to Waltraute's Marriage
- Clockwork Planet *
- Coffin Princess Chaika
- Cold Series *
- Common Sense Of A Dukes Daughter
- Cooking With Wild Game
- Corsair
- Crest of the Stars *
- Crusher Joe
- Cube×Cursed×Curious
- Dances With The Dragons
- Danganronpa Zero
- Date A Live
- The Death Mage Who Doesn't Want A Fourth Time
- Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody *
- Demonbane (three prequel novels)
- Demon King Daimao *
- Denpa Teki na Kanojo
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer! *
- Devil May Cry * (two that are prequels out of a total of four)
- DDD (aka Decoration Disorder Disconnection)
- The Different World Magic Is Too Far Behind
- Digimon Adventure
- Dirty Pair *
- Disgaea Novels
- Dog & Scissors
- Dokkoida?!
- Don't Worry Mama
- Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?
- Dragon Crisis!
- Dungeon Master Wants To Sleep Now And Forever
- Durarara!! *
- Earl and Fairy
- Eien no Filena
- Elegant Yokai Apartment Life
- The Empire of Corpses
- Eromanga Sensei
- Evillious Chronicles
- Esu, AKA S *
- Etsusa Bridge
- The Familiar of Zero
- The Faraway Paladin *
- Fate/Apocrypha
- Fate/Requiem
- Fate/Zero
- Fire Girl
- From the New World
- Full Metal Panic! *
- Fullmetal Alchemist *
- Gad Guard
- Gakuen Kino
- Gamers!
- Gargoyle of the Yoshinagas
- Gate - Thus the JSDF Fought There
- Gekkou
- Ginban Kaleidoscope
- GJ-bu
- Goblin Slayer *
- Gokudo
- Golden Time
- Gonna be the Twin-Tail!!
- The Good Witch of the West *
- Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun
- Gosick *
- Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash *
- Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl
- Guin Saga *
- .hack//AI Buster *
- Haiyore! Nyarko-san
- Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens
- Hariyama-san
- Haruhi Suzumiya *
- Heaven's Memo Pad
- Heavy Object
- Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko
- Here Comes the Three Angels
- Hero Of God Eye
- High School DXD
- High★Speed!
- Higurashi: When They Cry (originally a visual novel)
- Hiraheishi Wa Kako O Yumemiru
- Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere
- How A Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom *
- How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord *
- How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend *
- Humanity Has Declined
- Hundred
- Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls
- Hybrid X Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia *
- Hyouketsu Kyoukai No Eden
- I Am Behemoth Of The S Rank But I Am Mistaken As A Cat And I Live As A Pet Of Elf Girl
- I Became The Demon Lord So I Created A Dungeon
- I Couldn't Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job
- The Ideal Sponger Life
- Idol Defense Force Hummingbird
- If Her Flag Breaks
- Immoral Darkness *
- In Another World with My Smartphone
- Infinite Dendrogram
- Infinite Stratos *
- Inukami!
- Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu
- The Irregular at Magic High School *
- Irresponsible Captain Tylor
- I Saved Too Many Girls and Caused the Apocalypse *
- Isekai Omotenashi Gohan
- Isekai Onsen Ni Tensai Shita Ore No Kounou Ga Tondemosugiru
- Isekai Shokudou
- Isekai Yakkyoku
- Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? *
- Is This a Zombie?
- The Isolator *
- Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi
- I Was A Sword When I Reincarnated
- Izure Shinwa No Ragnarok
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Over Heaven
- Jorge Joestar
- Judgment Of Corruption
- Juni Taisen: Zodiac War *
- Kabukibu!
- Kage Kara Mamoru!
- Kagerou Daze *
- Kamikaze Girls *
- Kämpfer
- Kanokon
- Kara no Kyoukai
- Karin *
- Katanagatari
- Kaze no Stigma
- Kieli *
- Kimi No Suizou Wo Tabetai
- Kino's Journey *
- Knight's & Magic
- Kokoro Connect
- Konosuba *
- Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!
- Kou 1 Desu Ga Isekai Joushu Hajimemashita
- Kumo Desu Ga, Nani Ka? *
- Kurenai
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
- Kyo Kara Maoh!
- Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
- Ladies Versus Butlers!
- L: change the WorLd
- Legend of Galactic Heroes
- The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
- The Legend of the Legendary Heroes
- Library War
- Lillia & Treize
- Lodgeworld
- Log Horizon *
- Lord El-Melloi II Case Files
- Lord Marksman and Vanadis
- Lost Universe
- Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
- Maburaho
- Maerchen Maedchen
- The Mage Will Master Magic Efficiently in His Second Life
- Magician's Academy
- Magical Girl Raising Project *
- Magic User's Club (Mahou Tsukai Tai!)
- Magika no Kenshi to Shoukan Maou
- Mahou Sensou
- Mai-HiME Destiny (Alternate Continuity to the anime series)
- Manuke FPS Player Ga Isekai E Ochita Baai
- Maou Na Ore To Fushihime No Yubiwa
- Maou no Hajimekata
- Maou No Ore Ga Dorei Elf Wo Yome Ni Shitanda Ga Dou Medereba Ii
- Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
- Maria-sama ga Miteru
- The Master Of Ragnarok And Blesser Of Einherjar
- Mayo Chiki!
- Mayoi Neko Overrun!
- Mikagura School Suite
- Mirage of Blaze
- MM!
- Mnemosyne
- Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight AXIS
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
- Momo Kyun Sword
- Moon Led Journey Across Another World
- Mushi-Uta
- Muv-Luv
- Mushoku Tensei
- The Muzzle Of Nemesis
- My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
- Myriad Colors Phantom World
- My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
- Nanatsuiro Drops
- Naruto Hiden
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA
- Nidome no Yuusha
- No. 6
- Ninja Slayer
- Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
- No Game No Life *
- No-Rin
- Occultic;Nine *
- Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!
- Only Sense Online
- Only the Ring Finger Knows
- Ōkami-san
- Ore Ga Suki Nano Wa Imouto Dakedo Imouto Ja Nai
- Oreimo
- Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru
- Oreshura
- Outbreak Company
- Over Lord 2012 *
- Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai!
- Persona x Detective NAOTO
- The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
- Pita-Ten *
- Please Teacher!
- Pocket Monsters: The Animation
- Prince of Stride
- Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica (adaptation)
- Purple Haze Feedback
- R15
- Rail Wars!
- Rakuin No Monshou (Emblem of the Branded)
- Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
- Read or Die
- Record of Grancrest War
- Record of Lodoss War
- Re:Monster
- Re:Zero *
- Rental Magica
- The Rising of the Shield Hero *
- Rising × Rydeen
- Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers
- Rokujyouma no Shinryakusha!?
- Rune Soldier Louie
- Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizouki
- The Sacred Blacksmith
- Sagrada Reset
- Saiunkoku Monogatari
- Sasami-san@Ganbaranai
- Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai
- Scrapped Princess *
- Seiken Tsukai No World Break
- Seikoku no Dragonar (a.k.a. Dragonar Academy)
- Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
- Seitokai no Ichizon
- Seraph of the End *
- Shakugan no Shana *
- Shangri-La
- Shimoneta
- Shingan no Yuusha
- Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica Crimson
- Shomin Sample
- Shōnen Onmyōji
- A Simple Survey
- Sister Princess
- Skeleton Knight In Another World
- Sky Wizards Academy
- Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World
- Slayers *
- So, I Can't Play H!
- Sorcerer Stabber Orphen (Two series; the original "Haguretabi" and the comedic "Mubouhen")
- Spice and Wolf *
- Spirit Migration
- Starship Operators
- Strawberry Panic! *
- Strike the Blood *
- Sukasuka (Full name: What will you be doing at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?)
- Sukisho
- Sunday Without God
- Suterareta Yuusha No Eiyuutan
- Sword Art Online *
- Sword Princess Altina
- Taisho Baseball Girls
- Tatakau Shisho
- Telepathy Shoujo Ran
- The Reunion With Twelve Fascinating Goddesses
- The Testament of Sister New Devil
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye
- The Unexplored Summon://Blood-Sign
- The Unique Cheat of the Man Dragged in by the Four Heroes
- Toaru Hikushi e no Koiuta
- Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku
- Toaru Hikushi E No Tsuioku
- Tokyo Ravens
- Toradora! *
- Trinity Blood *
- Tsuki Tsuki!
- Tsurune
- Tsuyokute New Saga
- The Twelve Kingdoms *
- Tytania
- Unbreakable Machine Doll
- Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle
- Unlimited Fafnir
- Unlock City
- Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knights
- Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria
- Vamp!
- Vampire Hunter D *
- Venus to Mamoru!
- Violet Evergarden
- Wagaya No Oinari Sama
- Watashitachi No Tamura Kun
- The Weakness Of Beatrice The Level Cap Holy Swordswoman
- Welcome to the N.H.K.
- When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace
- World Customize Creator
- World Teacher Isekaishiki Kyouiku Agent
- Wortenia Senki
- The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic
- Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou
- Youjo Senki *
- Yumegari
- Zaregoto *
- The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village
Chinese works equivalent to "light novels":
- Coiling Dragon (盘龙)
- Desolate Era (莽荒纪)
- Douluo Dalu (斗罗大陆)
- Eclipse Hunter (玄日狩)
- ½ Prince (½王子)
- The King's Avatar (全职高手)
- The Legend of Sun Knight (吾命騎士)
- Release That Witch (放开那个女巫)
- Way of Choices
- Mo Dao Zu Shi (魔道祖师), translatable as Founder of Diabolism or Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
Original English Language Light Novels:
Much like Original English Language Manga, there are a small group of authors writing in the style of light novels.
- American Kitsune
- A Most Unlikely Hero
- Daybreak on Hyperion
- God Complex
- Harem Prince
- Reaper
- Rolitania
- Tokyo Demons
Companies that publish Light Novels:
- Alphapolis
- Fujimi Shobo
- Media Factory
- Overlap Bunko
- Type-Moon
- nitro+ (Nitro+ Books)