That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Vol. 1 (light novel) (Volume 1) (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (light novel), 1) Paperback – December 19, 2017

If you're here and aren't already familiar with Rimuru and company, I can only say, "GET THIS BOOK!!!""That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime," or "Tensei Slime" as we fans call it, is the story of Satoru Mikami, an unremarkable man living an unremarkable life, who was killed by an unremarkable nutcase with an unremarkable knife. And then the remarkable stuff happened!!!As our protagonist is dying, he thinks about how it feels: one minute cold, next hot, then he's in pain, as he realizes that he's laying there bleeding to death. A supreme being is taking note of this and setting him up in for his next life---and what a life it will be. When he wakens, he's confused. He can't see anything, hear anything, or feel anything. As a long time RPG player, he realizes that he has been reincarnated as the weakest monster that ever graced the virtual world of gaming: he's become a slime.Over the next three months, he learns what he can about his new body. How to move, how to gain sustenance, and still, all the while, in the dark. While experimenting with using water-jet propulsion after falling into a lake, he overdoes it, overshooting the banks of the lake, and hits something hard. Very hard. Suddenly, he hears a voice in his mind. It seems he didn't hit a rock wall, but rather Veldora, the Storm Dragon. Veldora teaches him how to use the magic around him to activate his magic sense. For the first time in months, Satoru is able to actually see things: including the Storm Dragon, Veldora. They chat, Veldora telling his story of being sealed in this cave, something our hero didn't realize he was trapped in. He agrees to help Veldora escape the cave, and the method he uses is rather unique.As he starts to look for a way out of the cave, he runs into several monsters which he dispatches with relative ease, using a skill that was given to him. By "eating" the defeated monsters, he acquires their special skills. He avoids an encounter with some adventurers, who happened to open a door he was trying to figure out how to open and escape the cave. As soon as they were out of sight, he scurries (or galumphs) out of the cave where he, again, encounters other monsters. Those he fights, he defeats, eats, and acquires their powers and skills.Soon he meets up wit a small band of Goblins. They are afraid because, since the disappearance of Veldora, other, stronger monsters have been attacking the weaker ones, like the Goblins. They ask the now Rimuru Tempest (a name given to him by Veldora) for aid. He agrees.The story goes on to tell how he becomes the leader of the Goblins, defeating first the DIre Wolves, and how he brings them into submission.If you've seen the anime, you know what happens next. If you haven't seen it, read this book: the entire series, even! This is just the laying of the ground work for the 16 (and counting) novels (Yen Press will be releasing Volume 9 in October 2020)The story started out as a web novel written by Fuse, and most of what the web novel described was transferred to the print copy. There are additional items as well. One name you'll want to remember is Gobta. He is one of the Goblins that Rimuru helped save from the Dire Wolf Invasion. In the anime, as in the manga and the anime, Gobta is usually treated as a comedy relief. The novel has the time to bring his real character to the forefront, especially with his trip to the Dwarven City. Not the one he made with Rimuru, but one he did earlier, and the details of it. It tells a bit about Goblin society, such as they become able to reproduce by the age of 3, they are evolved from fairies, most die by the age of 10, when they're middle aged. Only the most elderly goblins live to the ripe old age of 20.Gobta's story, added on at the end, shows he the Forrest Gump of monsters. Dumb luck saves him time and again, he falls in love, and successfully completes his mission to the Dwarven City. You pick up a new respect for this comic relief character, as it shows him mature. As later volumes come out, you'll see he develops as a warrior, but still, thanks to the sword master, remains the clown that we grow to love.Over all, a most satisfying read, and I look forward to finishing volume 2, which, as it turns out, arrived only hours after I finished reading volume 1.

I got the audiobook for this as soon as it came out and it's just amazing, love this little shorter story, it's great if you have a long commute in the car to drs appointments or work or whatever. Really enjoyable.

This is easily one of the best series I've ever read. This story is shockingly refreshing given how repetitive the YA Adventure genre often is. I wouldn't call the premise original, but originality isn't everything - there's a lot to be said for quality. If a good story comes from the interaction between captivating, constantly developing characters and a complex, evolving world, then this series is as good as it gets. This story somehow manages to develop a multitude of unique, interesting characters without displaying any hint of inconsistency (basically the opposite of GoT's characters). The world building is probably my favorite aspect of the story due to its incredible detail. I'd put it below only Lord of the Rings in terms of detail, and even then I'd argue that this actually develops the socio-political environment better than LOTR without getting bogged down in history that's irrelevant to the story. Frankly that's the highest compliment I can give, and I'd praise it more if I could do so without revealing any spoilers. For comparison, I thoroughly enjoyed the anime adaptation, but I love the LNs since they just have more intricacy than you could fit an anime series. I haven't read the web series yet so I no frame of reference for that.

This is the first light novel that I have delved into and it has been an enjoyable read. It starts a little slow but quickly picks up. There are a few spelling/translation errors but overall an excellent transcription.

I am a voracious reader, and have been since I was four years old. I like nearly genre; I'll read almost anything. This series, which starts simple and then grows in complexity, is my all-time favorite! Try at least the first one; you will find yourself hooked!

I’m really enjoying how Rimuru’s influence is growing and how the world around him is expanding. The new characters introduced in this volume add a lot of personality and depth to the story, and I love how each one brings something different to the table.

Came as described and it is a high quality book

And just a whole lot of fun regardless and one of my favorite series even though I prefer the manga version when it's usually the other way around for these. I also liked Veldora's perspective at the end of each manga volume. Even the anime is pretty good so all 3 versions are a trifecta which is very rare. The book does have some nice extra details.I love the main character and the fact that he becomes a slime! He also has a very nice perspective on things. The story does have a lot of bad things coming up with then sometimes a miraculous solution, but somehow it works so it actually fits because in some ways it's a part of the story itself.Somehow the story even manages to make power inflation seem to work.So many awesome and interesting characters. It's not necessarily perfect, but somehow the flaws help make it perfect.