Editing Slayers (section)

===Light novels===
{{See also|List of Slayers light novels}}
''Slayers'' began serialization in ''[[Dragon Magazine (Fujimi Shobo)|Dragon Magazine]]'' in 1989 as a short story series written by Hajime Kanzaka and with artwork by Rui Araizumi.<ref name="Anime encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=The Anime Encyclopedia, Revised and Expanded Edition|last1=Clements|first1=Jonathan|last2=McCarthy|first2=Helen|year=2006|page=591|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|isbn=1-933330-10-4}}</ref> The chapters were then published as [[light novel]]s under the [[Fujimi Fantasia Bunko]] imprint across 15 volumes from January 17, 1990 to May 10, 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fantasiabunko.jp/product/slayers/199998202001.html|title=スレイヤーズ！|work=ファンタジア文庫 |date=January 17, 1990|language=ja|publisher=[[Fujimi Fantasia Bunko]]|access-date=July 8, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708041947/https://fantasiabunko.jp/product/slayers/199998202001.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fantasiabunko.jp/product/slayers/199998202034.html|title=スレイヤーズ（１５） デモン・スレイヤーズ！|date=May 10, 2000|language=ja|publisher=[[Fujimi Fantasia Bunko]]|access-date=July 8, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708092143/https://fantasiabunko.jp/product/slayers/199998202034.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the original story ended with the 15th volume in 2000, Kanzaka began a new arc 18 years later in the May 2018 issue of ''Dragon Magazine'', which was published in March 2018, to celebrate the magazine and Fujimi Fantasia Bunko's 30th anniversary.<ref name="20million">{{cite news|last1=Komatsu|first1=Mikikazu|title=Slayers Novel Original Series' Long-Awaited 16th Volume Set for Release on October 20|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/08/31/slayers-novel-original-series-long-awaited-16th-volume-set-for-release-on-october-20|access-date=February 10, 2019|work=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130724/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/08/31/slayers-novel-original-series-long-awaited-16th-volume-set-for-release-on-october-20|archive-date=February 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He described it as "kind of a reunion" and said he had not decided to relaunch the series yet.<ref name="reunion">{{cite web|last1=Komatsu|first1=Mikikazu|title=Slayers Fantasy Light Novel's Next 17th Volume to be Released on October 19|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/09/19/slayers-fantasy-light-novels-next-17th-volume-to-be-released-on-october-19|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=December 8, 2019|date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201140041/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/09/19/slayers-fantasy-light-novels-next-17th-volume-to-be-released-on-october-19|archive-date=December 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Volume 16 was published on October 20, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Slayers Novel's Latest 16th Volume Immediately Gets Reprints|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/10/26/slayers-novels-latest-16th-volume-immediately-gets-reprints|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109024819/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/10/26/slayers-novels-latest-16th-volume-immediately-gets-reprints|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A third story arc began in the November 2019 issue of the magazine, released in September 2019.<ref name="reunion"/> The author described this as "Rather than an official history, the third arc is going to be more like one of the possibilities, a parallel existence to the TRY TV anime and the Water Dragon King manga, I guess."<ref>{{cite web|title=Hajime Kanzaka's Slayers Novel Confirmed to Return with Its Third Arc|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/05/16/hajime-kanzakas-slayers-novel-confirmed-to-return-with-its-third-arc|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705212050/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/05/16/hajime-kanzakas-slayers-novel-confirmed-to-return-with-its-third-arc|url-status=live}}</ref> Volume 17 was published on October 19, 2019.<ref name="reunion"/>

On September 7, 2004, [[Tokyopop]] began publishing the novels in English,<ref>{{cite book|title=Slayers Text, Vol. 1: The Ruby Eye (Paperback)|isbn=1595320946|last1=Kanzaka|first1=Hajime|date=September 7, 2004|publisher=TokyoPop}}</ref> ending with the release of volume 8 on January 2, 2008.<ref>{{cite book|title=Slayers Volume 8: King of the City of Ghosts (Paperback)|isbn=978-1427805058|last1=Kanzaka|first1=Hajime|last2=Araizumi|first2=Rui|date=January 2, 2008|publisher=TokyoPop}}</ref> On July 3, 2020, [[J-Novel Club]] announced their rescue license of the series at [[Anime Expo]] Lite. They first release the novels digitally, with the first chapter uploaded to their website that day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-03/j-novel-club-licenses-slayers-novels-8-other-novels-4-new-manga/.161388|title=J-Novel Club Licenses Slayers Novels, 8 Other Novels, 4 New Manga|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=May 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501132106/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-03/j-novel-club-licenses-slayers-novels-8-other-novels-4-new-manga/.161388|url-status=live}}</ref> Their physical release of ''Slayers'' began in July 2021 and is a 3-1 hardcover omnibus edition based on Japan's 2008 revised edition that featured new illustrations and covers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-03/j-novel-club-releases-slayers-novels-in-both-print-digital/.161424|title=J-Novel Club Releases Slayers Novels in Both Print, Digital|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704104413/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-03/j-novel-club-releases-slayers-novels-in-both-print-digital/.161424|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoasg.com/articles/j-novel-club-on-publishing-slayers-a-light-novel-that-literally-defines-an-era/20401|title=J-Novel Club on Publishing Slayers, a Light Novel 'that literally defines an era'|date=July 4, 2020|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707031737/https://www.theoasg.com/articles/j-novel-club-on-publishing-slayers-a-light-novel-that-literally-defines-an-era/20401|url-status=live}}</ref>

*{{Nihongo|''Slayers Special''|スレイヤーズ すぺしゃる}} is a spin-off prequel series of 30 novels published from 1991 to 2008. Each consisting of one-shot stories (sometimes, two-chapter stories) chronicling the exploits of [[Lina Inverse]] and [[Naga the Serpent]] before the events in ''Slayers''. Five additional volumes were released under a new series title, {{Nihongo|''Slayers Smash.''|スレイヤーズ すまっしゅ。}} between July 2008 and November 2011.
*{{Nihongo|''Slayers Delicious''|スレイヤーズ でりしゃす}}, a four volume prequel featuring Lina and Naga, was released between 1997 and 1999.  These four stories were originally published separately by Fujimi Fantasia in mini-[[bunkobon|bunko]] format, and later they were included in different Special novels. A one volume crossover between ''Slayers'' and the series ''[[Sorcerous Stabber Orphen]]'' was published in 2005 under the title ''Slayers VS Orphen'' and was later reprinted in 2013.
*{{Nihongo|''Slayers Select''|スレイヤーズ せれくと}} is a best-of compilation of ''Slayers Special''. Its five volumes were published in August 2008, September 2008, June 2009, February 2010, and March 2010.
*''Slayers Anthology'' was released to mark the 25th anniversary of ''Slayers'' novels in January 2015. It is a compilation of six stories, one of which was written by Kanzaka and five by fan writers. It is illustrated with previously unpublished pictures by Araizumi and contributing artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://misiontokyo.com/noticias/cultura-otaku/novelas/25-aniversario-de-slayers|title=¡25 aniversario de Slayers!|language=es|website=Mision Tokyo|date=January 21, 2015|access-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216062253/http://misiontokyo.com/noticias/cultura-otaku/novelas/25-aniversario-de-slayers|archive-date=February 16, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{Nihongo|''Slayers Spirit''|スレイヤーズすぴりっと}}, released in 2025, is the first short story collection in 13 years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tsuji|first=Taimu|title=Latest: Japan Weekly Light Novel Sales Ranking As of March 31 2025 Announced by Oricon|url=https://us.oricon-group.com/news/3979/2/|website=Japan Anime News|publisher=[[Oricon]]|date=March 27, 2025|access-date=March 28, 2025}}</ref>