The Heroic Legend of Arslan

The cover of The Capital Ablaze, the first volume.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan (アルスラーン戦記, Arusurān Senki^? ), also known as Arslan Senki, is a novel series written by Yoshiki Tanaka and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano and Shinobu Tanno. It was published in 16 volumes, with one side-story in The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Official Reader's Guide (アルスラーン戦記読本, Arusurān Senki Dokuhon^? ), from 1986 to 2017. The name of the complete work is often abbreviated to HLoA, HLOA, or simply AS.

The titular character is Arslan, crown prince of Pars. The primary hero of the work, he led the resistance against the Lusitanian invasion of Pars. Arslan would become the greatest Man of his time, leading his camp against Zahhāk's forces, driving back the Lusitanians, and reforming the Kingdom. He was the nineteenth and last King of Pars and became known as the Savior King.

Synopsis

See the articles on the individual books for plot summaries.

Publication history

The first ten novels were published by Kadokawa Shoten several months apart; the other six novels by Kobunsha, years apart. There are no other editions.

The first novel was translated to French by Calmann-Lévy, and translations to English by fans have reached Shadow of a Lone Rider.

Volumes

Part 1

• Book I: The Capital Ablaze (王都炎上, Ōto Enjō^? )
• Book II: The Two Princes (王子二人, Ōji Futari^? )
• Book III: The Sunset Elegy (落日悲歌, Rakujitsu Hika^? )
• Book IV: The Road of Sweat and Blood (汗血公路, Kanketsu Kouro^? )
• Book V: Shadow of a Lone Rider (征馬孤影, Seiba Koei^? )
• Book VI: A Frenzy of Dust (風塵乱舞, Fūjin Ranbu^? )
• Book VII: The Capital Retaken (王都奪還, Outo Dakkan^? )
  • Guide: A Tour of the East (東方巡歴, Tōhō Junreki^? )

Part 2

• Book VIII: The Masked Army (仮面兵団, Kamen Heidan^? )
• Book IX: A Rotation of Banners (旌旗流転, Seiki Ruten^? )
• Book X: A Gathering of Clouds (妖雲群行, Yōun Gunkō^? )
• Book XI: Assault of Demons (魔軍襲来, Magun Shūrai^? )
• Book XII: Shrine of Darkness (暗黒神殿, Ankoku Shinden^? )
• Book XIII: The Return of the Serpent King (蛇王再臨, Hebi Ō Sairin^? )
• Book XIV: Heaven Resounds, Earth Quakes (天鳴地動, Tenmei Chidou^? )
• Book XV: The Banners Yet Wave (戦旗不倒, Senki Futō^? )
• Book XVI: The Boundless Horizon (天涯無限, Tengai Mugen^? )

Translations

A few incomplete fan translations into English can be found online:

• The translations by T.E. Waters contain The Capital Ablaze, The Two Princes, and the first three chapters of The Sunset Elegy.
• The translations by Rukhnabad continued from the other chapters of The Sunset Elegy, with its last update's being chapter 2.I of Shadow of a Lone Rider from 2022.

Detailed summaries of the first eleven books were made by ryukoishida on Tumblr.