A Certain Magical Index is a popular Japanese light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura. The series is set in a world where supernatural powers are predominant, and it follows the story of a young high school student named Toma Kamijo. Toma possesses a unique ability called Imagine Breaker, which allows him to nullify any supernatural power with his right hand. The story takes place in a city called Academy City, where students with superhuman abilities receive specialized education. Toma encounters a young girl named Index Librorum Prohibitorum, who is on the run from a secret organization known as Necessarius. Index possesses forbidden magical knowledge stored in her mind, making her a target for various groups.
Volume 1
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Releasing November 17, 2020 — ISBN-13: 9781975317973
1 A Certain Magical Index MAL Entry Published April 2007 ongoing English releases by Yen Press Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository RightStuf 2 A Certain Scientific Railgun MAL Entry Published February 2007 ongoing English releases by Seven Seas Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository RightStuf 3 A Certain Scientific Accelerator MAL Entry Published December 2013 ongoing English releases by Seven Seas Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository RightStuf. MAL Entry 74 episodes Aired October 2008 March 2009, October 2010 April 2011, October 2018 April 2019 Crunchyroll streaming Funimation streaming Hulu streaming Amazon RightStuf Note Adapted volumes 1 to 22 of the light novel series.
Index possesses forbidden magical knowledge stored in her mind, making her a target for various groups. As Toma becomes involved in Index's troubles, he discovers a world of magic and science coexisting in the city. He encounters other characters with unique abilities, such as Mikoto Misaka, a powerful electromaster, and Accelerator, a young man with the ability to manipulate vectors.
A Certain Magical Index
English Title: A Certain Magical Index
Japanese Title: とある魔術の禁書目録 — Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu
Author: Kazuma Kamachi — 鎌池 和馬
Illustrator: Kiyotaka Haimura — 灰村 キヨタカ
Translator: Andrew Prowse, Yoshito Hinton
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Run: April 2004 – October 2010
English Run: November 2014 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: Dengeki Bunko (ASCII Media Works)
English Publisher: Yen On (Yen Press)
Volumes in Japanese: 22 (plus 3 side story novels, and ongoing sequel New Testament: Toaru Majutsu no Index)
Volumes in English: 21 (In Progress)
Average Price Per Volume: Paperback $12 — Kindle $8 — Nook $8
- English Website — Japanese Website
- MAL Entry — Forum
- Baka Updates — LNDB.info — Novel Updates
Synopsis: A certain unlikely hero… Touma Kamijou has the worst luck imaginable… Sure he’s a citizen of Academy City, a scientific marvel of the modern world where superhuman abilities are artificially cultivated and commonplace, but when it comes to paranormal talent, Kamijou’s been classified a Level Zero–a loser, basically. Oh, he does have one trick up his sleeve (literally), but even that’s more trouble than it’s worth. When Kamijou encounters a delusional young girl convinced she’s a nun and raving about being chased by evil sorcerers, he’s eager to send her on her way and get back to failing his studies. Fate, it would seem though, has other ideas, and he suddenly finds himself caught up in a supernatural intrigue with a girl named “Index” at the center! Science and magic collide in this first volume of one of the most popular light novel series ever penned!
Volume 1
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Released November 18, 2014 — ISBN-13: 978-0316339124
Volume 2
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Released February 24, 2015 — ISBN-13: 978-0316259422
Volume 3
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Released May 19, 2015 — ISBN-13: 978-0316340540
Volume 4
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Released August 18, 2015 — ISBN-13: 978-0316340564
Volume 5
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Released November 17, 2015 — ISBN-13: 978-0316340595
Volume 6
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Released February 23, 2016 — ISBN-13: 978-0316340601
Volume 7
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Released May 24, 2016 — ISBN-13: 978-0316272230
Volume 8
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Released August 23, 2016– ISBN-13: 978-0316359924
Volume 9
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Released November 15, 2016 — ISBN-13: 978-0316359962
Volume 10
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Released February 21, 2017 — ISBN-13: 978-0316359986
Volume 11
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Released May 23, 2017 — ISBN-13: 978-0316360005
Volume 12
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Released August 22, 2017 — ISBN-13: 978-0316360029
Volume 13
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Released November 14, 2017 — ISBN-13: 978-0316442671
Volume 14
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Released February 27, 2018 — ISBN-13: 978-0316442701
Volume 15
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Released May 22, 2018 — ISBN-13: 978-0316442725
Volume 16
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Released August 21, 2018 — ISBN-13: 978-0316442749
Volume 17
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Released November 13, 2018 — ISBN-13: 978-0316474542
Volume 18
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Released February 19, 2019 — ISBN-13: 978-0316474566
Volume 19
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Released June 18, 2019 — ISBN-13: 978-1975357566
Volume 20
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Released October 1, 2019 — ISBN-13: 978-1975331245
Volume 21
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Released December 17, 2019 — ISBN-13: 978-1975331269
Volume 22
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Releasing March 24, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975331283
– A Certain Magical Index SS –
English Title: A Certain Magical Index SS
Japanese Title: とある魔術の禁書目録 — Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu
Author: Kazuma Kamachi — 鎌池 和馬
Illustrator: Kiyotaka Haimura — 灰村 キヨタカ
Translator: TBA
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Run: 2007 – 2008
English Run: TBA – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: Dengeki Bunko (ASCII Media Works)
English Publisher: Yen On (Yen Press)
Volumes in Japanese: 2 (Complete)
Volumes in English: 2 (Complete)
Kamijou Touma faces his roughest challenge yet-a classroom hot pot party! Meanwhile in London, the women’s dorm in a base of magicians may never see another day as wild as this one. And in the underbelly of Academy City, Accelerator stumbles upon someone who has been waiting for him all this time…? Here begins the supplementary SS series of A Certain Magical Index!
Originally published in Japan during the serialization of A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Magical Index SS was the first spin-off of the popular light novel series. The side stories featured in A Certain Magical Index SS are led by fan favorite characters such as Touma, Hamazura and Accelerator.
Volume 1
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Releasing November 17, 2020 — ISBN-13: 9781975317973
Volume 2
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Releasing March 2, 2021 — ISBN-13: 9781975317997
Reviews of A Certain Magical Index
- Manga Bookshelf: Vol 1 — Vol 2 — Vol 3 — Vol 4 — Vol 5 — Vol 6 — Vol 7 — Vol 8 — Vol 9 — Vol 10 — Vol 11 — Vol 12 — Vol 13 — Vol 14 — Vol 15 — Vol 16 — Vol 17 — Vol 18 — Vol 19 — Vol 20 — Vol 21 — Vol 22 — SS 1
- Takyobon: Vol 1 — Vol 2 — Vol 3 — Vol 4 — Vol 5 — Vol 6
- The Fandom Post: Vol 1 — Vol 2 — Vol 3 — Vol 4 — Vol 5 — Vol 7
- Justus R. Stone: Vol 1
- The Light Novel Podcast: General Discussion
Illustrations Sampler
Anime Adaptation
MAL Entry — 74 episodes — Aired October 2008 – March 2009, October 2010 – April 2011, October 2018 – April 2019
Crunchyroll (streaming) — Funimation (streaming) — Hulu (streaming) — Amazon — RightStuf
Note: Adapted volumes 1 to 22 of the light novel series
Related Anime: A Certain Scientific Railgun — MAL Entry — 48 episodes — Aired October 2009 – March 2010, April 2013 – September 2013
Related Anime: A Certain Scientific Accelerator — MAL Entry — 12 episodes — Aired July 2019 – September 2019
Related Manga
1) A Certain Magical Index — MAL Entry — Published April 2007 – ongoing (English releases by Yen Press)
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2) A Certain Scientific Railgun — MAL Entry — Published February 2007 – ongoing (English releases by Seven Seas)
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3) A Certain Scientific Accelerator — MAL Entry — Published December 2013 – ongoing (English releases by Seven Seas)
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If you liked A Certain Magical Index, you might also want to try…
- Kagerou Daze — story involves teens with special powers
- Strike the Blood — urban fantasy
- Durarara!! — urban fantasy
- Psycho Busters — similar setup, supernatural adventure
If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!
Volume 12
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Released August 22, 2017 — ISBN-13: 978-0316360029
Throughout the series, Toma finds himself caught in various conflicts involving factions seeking to control or exploit magical knowledge. He becomes involved in battles against powerful enemies and navigates the complex politics and relationships of the city. Toma's desire to protect those around him, even at great personal cost, fuels the story and drives his character. A Certain Magical Index explores themes of power, morality, and the clash between science and magic. It blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, and action together to create a unique and engaging narrative. The light novel series has been highly praised for its intricate world-building, compelling characters, and complex storylines. A Certain Magical Index has been adapted into multiple media formats, including anime, manga, and video games. It has gained a substantial fanbase both in Japan and internationally, with its gripping plot and fascinating characters capturing the imaginations of readers and viewers alike..
Reviews for "A Certain Magical Index Light Novel: Exploring the Themes of Power and Knowledge"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "A Certain Magical Index." The story had a promising premise, but it fell short in execution. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their struggles. Additionally, the pacing was all over the place, as the story jumped from one event to another without giving enough time for proper development. Overall, I found the light novel to be mediocre and unsatisfying.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I couldn't get into "A Certain Magical Index" at all. The plot was convoluted, and I had trouble following the numerous storylines and the complex magic system. The writing style was also tiresome and repetitive, with unnecessary exposition and long-winded descriptions. Moreover, the characters felt like mere archetypes without any real depth or growth. This light novel just didn't click with me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Michael - 2/5 - Despite its initial promise, "A Certain Magical Index" fell flat for me. The world-building was confusing and inconsistent, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The constant info-dumping and lack of clear explanations made it a chore to understand the magic system and its rules. Furthermore, the main protagonist lacked any real personality or charisma, which made it hard for me to stay invested in his journey. Overall, I found the light novel to be confusing and unsatisfying in its execution.