.hack//Another Birth

English Title: .hack//Another Birth
Japanese Title: .hack//もうひとつの誕生 — Dotto Hakku//Mou Hitotsu no Tanjou — “.hack//Another Birth”
Author: Miu Kawasaki
Illustrator: Kazunori Ito, CyberConnect2
Translator: Duane Johnson
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Run: 2004 – 2005
English Run: 2006 – 2007
Volumes: 4
English Publisher: Tokyopop
Volumes Published in English: 4 (COMPLETE)

MAL Entry — Forum

Synopsis: While the original four .hack video games followed the tales and travels of Kite, these books tell the story all over again, from the view of Akira Hayami, also known as BlackRose in The World. When her younger brother, Fumikazu, falls into a coma while playing The World, Akira decides to figure out why it happened, and launches herself into the most exciting, and dangerous, journey she will ever have to encounter. Where she meets the twin blade Kite whose friend Orca has fallen into a coma too. Together they venture to find out The World’s innermost secrets meeting new friends along the way who aid them in their journey.

Volume 1 – Infection
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf

Volume 2 – Mutation
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository

Volume 3 – Outbreak
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository

Volume 4 – Quarantine
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf

Note on the .hack chronology:
.hack//AI Buster (light novels) → .hack//SIGN (anime) → PS2 video games (Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, Quarantine)  â†’ .hack//Another Birth (light novels) → .hack//ZERO (light novels) → .hack//Legend of the Twilight (manga) → .hack//Roots (anime) → PS2 video games (G.U. Rebirth, Reminisce, Redemption) → .hack//CELL (light novels) → .hack//Link (manga) → .hack//Quantum (anime)

More exhaustive explanations on the franchise can be found on TV Tropes and Wikipedia.

Any broken links or incorrect information? Any thoughts on these light novels?
Leave a comment!