View source for AI buster 1(Novel)

<center>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Previous Title
!Current Title
!Next Title
|-
| [[Epitaph_of_Twilight_2(Novel)|.hack//Epitaph of Twilight Vol.2]]
| <center>[[AI_buster_1(Novel)|.hack//AI buster]] <br/> [[2nd Character (story)|2nd Character (AI buster 2 Story #1)]]</center>
| [[AI_buster_2(Novel)|.hack//AI buster 2]]
|}
</center>


{{Novel Media Infobox
|Image = [[File:Aibuster colorillustration jprelease.png|300px|link=AI buster 1(Novel)|alt=AI buster main illustration featuring Albireo, Lycoris, and Hokuto]]
|Logo = [[File:Aibuster logo black.png|300px|alt="AI buster logo"|AI buster logo]]
|Title = AI buster
|Languages = Japanese, English,
|Publications = Kadokawa Shoten
|Release Dates = September 28, 2002
|Author = 浜崎達也 <br/>Hamazaki, Tatsuya
|Artist = 依澄れい <br/>Idumi, Rei
}}

'''.hack//AI buster'''  ''(Japanese: .hack//AI buster)'' is a light novel set after the events detailed in Epitaph of Twilight novels and before the events of SIGN. The story follows the player character Albireo as he tries to solve what he thinks to be a strange in-game event. [[AI buster 2(Novel)|The second volume]] is a collection of stories, including a retelling of the events of AI buster from the perspective of Hokuto.

== AI buster ==
===Title===
Both the English and Japanese releases stylize the title as ''.hack//AI buster'' with a lowercase "b." "バスタ" (basuta) is a loan word from the English word "buster" and carries a slightly different connotation when used in Japanese speech and writing; "one that destroys, eliminates."<ref>[https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/buster Weblio English-Japanese Dictionary Article] (Accessed 2024 April 09)</ref> <br/>




===== US Edition Blurbs =====
====== Front Cover ======
"The adventure and intrigue in these pages make AI buster just as addictive as playing the .hack series on the PS2." –Evan Narcisse, Teen People <br/>
====== Back Cover ======
"AI buster captures the wonder of anime, the artistry of manga and the sheer thrill of gaming."–Melissa Walker, ELLEgirl<br/>

A "fast-paced, easy read."–Wesley Schneider, Dragon Magazine <br/>

"An adventure that flows from page to page"–Kristin Fletcher-Spear, VOYA <br/>

"An instantly discernable and absorbing cyber-reality accessible to anyone with a sense of wonder"–Dave Halverson, Play Magazine <br/>

===Summary===

====== Back Cover of Tokyopop US Edition: ======
<blockquote>Log On to // AI buster

The Year's Most Exciting Novel!

In the epic prequel to .hack, the avatar Albireo is a solo adventurer in The World–the most advanced online fantasy game ever created. When he comes across Lycoris, a strange little girl in a dungeon, Albireo wonders if she's simply nothing more than a bug in the system.

As the two journey further into The World, Albireo watches Lycoris turn all of the rules of The World upside down. Slowly, he comes to realize that she may hold a very deadly secret–a secret that could unhinge everything in cyberspace… and beyond! 

The untold origin of the super popular anime and manga franchise begins right here!</blockquote>"追うものと、追われるもの。凄惨なる冒険の旅が始まる" <br />
ネット世界を逃げ惑うひとりの少女に出会ったときから、主人公アルビレオの放浪と戦いの旅は始まった！　大ヒットＰＳゲーム＆アニメ『ドットハック』の創世記秘話がついに明かされる！

==== Tokyopop US Website blurb: ====
<blockquote>Welcome to The World, the most advanced online game ever created. In The World you can be anyone you want to be, act out your adventure fantasies and through teamwork and determination, you can even become a hero!

''AI BUSTER'', the prequel to ''.hack//SIGN'', is the story of Albireo,a debugger, who used to play 'Fragments,' the beta version of 'The World.'

Albireo encounters Lycoris, whom he assumes is an event NPC (an AI character) but she's actually a failed version of Aura. She is blind, deaf, and mute, because Albireo debugged her and broke up important files. The missing files are hidden as items in the World, and when returned to Lycoris, she gets a function back. When she gains them all, she changes into a teenage form with purple hair who looks like Aura. Because of his acquaintance with Lycoris, Albireo cannot log out of the game and exit the World ...</blockquote>

===Plot===

==== Chapter List (US Version) ====

* Area.0 Navel of Lake (p. 005)
* Area,1 Tacit Ruins (p. 021)
* Town Mac⭑Anu (p. 039)
* Real Cyberconnect Japan Co., Ltd. (p. 109)
* Area.2 Bad Angel (p. 129)
* Area.3 Alchemy (p. 163)
* Area.4 Memory (p. 181)
* Area.* (p. 219)
* Postscript (p. 231)

===Characters===
<center>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
![[Albireo]]
![[Lycoris]]
![[Hokuto]]
![[Balmung]]
![[Orca]]
|-
| [[File:Aibuster2 albireo.png|x173px|link=Albireo|Albireo]]
|[[File:Aibuster2 lycoris.png|x173px|link=Lycoris|Lycoris]]
|[[File:Aibuster2 hokuto.png|x173px|link=Hokuto|Hokuto]]
|[[File:Aibuster2 balmung.png|x173px|link=Balmung|Balmung]]
|[[File:Aibuster2 orca.png|x173px|link=Orca|Orca]]
|}
</center>
====== Albireo======
<span class="spoilerblur">A debugger and</span> the main character. <span class="spoilerblur">He is also Watarai and the Captain.</span>

======Balmung======
Balmung a legendary player that is known all over the World. The wings were part of a mod he obtained during .hack//AI BUSTER. He was one of two players that destroyed the One Sin, during the "One Sin avent".

======Lycoris======
She is deaf, blind, and mute.

======Orca======
Orca: Like Balmung, Orca is a lengendary player. In the video game series, he is Kite's classmate that convinces him to play, "The World".

=== Production===

=====Credits=====
{| class="wikitable"
|+Tokyopop 1st. Edition Credits
!Role
!Name
|-
|Story by
|Tatsuya Hamazaki
|-
|Illustrated by
|Rei Idumi
|-
|Translation
|Naomi Kokubo
|-
|English Adaptation
|Stormcrow Hayes
|-
|Copy Editor

|Abigail Phillips
|-
|Proofreader
|Wendy Hunter
|-
|Design and Layout 
|James Lee
|-
|Cover Design
|Christian Lownds
|-
|Editor
|Nicole Monastirsky
|-
|Digital Imaging Manager
|Chris Buford
|-
| rowspan="2" |Production Managers
|Jennifer Miller

|-
|Mutsumi Miyazaki
|-
|Art Director
|Matt Alford
|-
|Managing Editor
|Jill Freshney
|-
|VP of Production
|Ron Klamert
|-
|Publisher and E.I.C.
|Mike Kiley
|-
|President and C.O.O.
|John Parker
|-
|C.E.O.
| Stuart Levy 
|}

======Copyright and Licensing======
.hack//AI buster ©Tatsuya Hamazaki 2002. First published in Japan in 2002 by KADOKAWA SHOTEN PUBLISHING CO., LTD., Tokyo.

English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA SHOTEN PUBLISHING CO., LTD., Tokyo through TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo. 

English text copyright © 2005 TOKYOPOP Inc. First Tokyopop printing August 2005. First Tokyopop printing August 2005.

Author:  Tatsuya Hamazaki  ()
Artist: Rei Idumi () Listed as "Izumi"
Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten 角川書店 (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko Series)

English: Tokyopop
Volume 1
ISBN 10: 1595328696
ISBN 13: 9781595328694 
Publication Date:August 2005Novel

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

German: Carlsen Verlag GmbH
Volume 1
ISBN 10: 3551620040
ISBN 13: 9783551620040
Publication Date:

==Trivia==
The code featured on the background of the US cover appears to be HTML taken from Tokyopop's website header circa 2005.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050322044523/http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=HAC&categorycode=BNV AI buster product page on Tokopop's website.] Wayback Machine Archive. 2005 March.</ref>

==References==
<references />


{{DEFAULTSORT:AI_buster_1}}
[[Category:Novels]]

<center>
{{AI buster Novel Navbox}}
<center/>