At their Anime NYC panel today, Yen Press announced the following titles for their Yen On light novel imprint:

• Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online
• Defeating the Demon Lord’s a Cinch (If You Have a Ringer)
• Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile
• WorldEnd: What Do You Do at the End of the World? Are You Busy? Will You Save Us?

Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online

Written by Reki Kawahara and Shigusawa Keiichi, illustrated by Kuroboshi Kohaku

This is a spinoff for Kawahara’s Sword Art Online series. The author is Shigusawa Keiichi, who is also known for the Kino’s Journey light novels. Alternative Gun Gale Online largely takes place in the virtual reality game Gun Gale Online, which was featured in volumes five and six of the Sword Art Online novels. So far there are six volumes of Alternative Gun Gale Online in Japan, published by Dengeki Bunko. There is a manga adaptation for this spinoff, which is already being released by Yen Press in English. There will also be an anime adaptation for it next year.

Synopsis: The story follows Karen Kohiruimaki, a 183-centimeter-tall (6-foot-tall) college student who’s insecure about her height, and is bad at dealing with people in the real world. She enters the world of Gun Gale Online with her avatar, Ren, who is less than 150 centimeters (5 feet) tall and wears all pink. She meets a beautiful, brown-skinned female player who goes by Pitohui. They hit it off, but one day Pitohui pressures her to participate in “Squad Jam,” a team battle royale variation of the Bullet of Bullets tournament.

Defeating the Demon Lord’s a Cinch (If You Have a Ringer)

Written by Tsukikage, illustrated by bob

The Japanese title for this is 誰にでもできる影から助ける魔王討伐 (Darenidemo Dekiru Kage kara Tasukeru Maou Toubatsu). It started as a web novel, but has begun getting light novel releases in Japan via Kadokawa, starting in December 2016. There are three volumes out so far. It sounds like a lighthearted fantasy adventure series, perhaps reminiscent of titles like Konosuba and Danmachi.

Synopsis: This fantasy light novel series begins with a holy warrior summoned from an alternate world to defeat a demon lord. Ares, a priest ordered to support the holy warrior, is shocked at the sight of his party members: a mage who can only use fire spells, a sword fighter who just transferred schools, and the holy warrior himself who repeats the same rash actions over and over. Unconvinced that they will succeed, Ares conceals his skill levels and follows behind.

Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile

Written by Nojima Kazushige

This is a collection of short stories that take place between the events of the video game Final Fantasy VII and its sequel film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It was released in Japan in 2009. It sounds like there will be other Final Fantasy-related novels to release in English in the future.

Synopsis of Final Fantasy VII: Final Fantasy VII follows the story of mercenary Cloud Strife, who is hired by the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE--led by Barret Wallace--to help fight the mega-corporation Shinra Electric Power Company, who attempts to drain the planet’s lifeblood as an energy source to further their profits. Apathetic to the cause, Cloud initially fights for personal gain, and for the promise he made to childhood friend Tifa Lockhart. Cloud eventually joins forces with many others to save the planet, which is threatened by Shinra and Cloud’s nemesis Sephiroth, and discovers a reason to fight for a cause other than his own. 

WorldEnd: What Do You Do at the End of the World? Are You Busy? Will You Save Us?

Written by Akira Kareno, illustrated by Ue

In Japan, this is titled Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasuka? Isogashii desuka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desuka?, sometimes shortened to Sukasuka. There were five volumes and a bonus Ex volume released from October 2014 to April 2016, published by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. A sequel series quickly followed, titled Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasuka? Mou Ichido Dake, Aemasuka? (or Sukamoka for short). So far there are five volumes for the sequel series. This year an anime adaptation aired for WorldEnd, which you can find streaming on Crunchyroll. From what I understand the anime adapted the first three novel volumes.

Synopsis: This light novel series series is set in a world where humans have been driven to extinction by “Beasts.” The duty of fighting the Beasts fall to “Fairies,” who are destined to use their powers to wield “Holy Swords” called “Kariyon” and eventually meet their destiny of death. A sole human being named Willem wakes up after several hundred years, and continues his fight against the Beasts. The series follows the everyday and transient lives of the leader Willem and the female fairy warriors.