Fate/Zero [LN - English]

Fate/zero (フェイト/ゼロ Feito/zero?) is a prequel to Type-Moon's visual novel Fate/stay night. It is a light novel by Gen Urobuchi, illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi.
AVAILABLE ONLINE: http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Fate/Zero
Offline versions - http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?topic=19701.0

The storyline of Fate/zero takes place 10 years prior to the events of Fate/stay night, detailing the events of the 4th Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City. The War of the Holy Grail, pursuing the power of the "Holy Grail" which grants a miracle, this is a contest in which seven magi summon seven Heroic Spirits to compete for it. In that battle whose conclusion was postponed three times, now, the fourth war commenced again.

Fate/Zero gives more depth to familiar characters in Fate/Stay Night, like Kotomine Kirei, Saber, Gilgamesh and Tohsaka Rin, while completely fleshing out characters who were only mentioned briefly, like Kiritsugu Emiya. A whole cast of new characters is introduced as well, every one of them unique and extremely vivid. As the reader reaches the conclusion, Fate/Zero transitions seamlessly into the Fate/Stay Night storyline, ending with one of the first scenes you will experience while playing as Shirou, the protagonist.

Urobuchi Gen's writing style successfully maintains tension between major events, and paints a clear picture of the 4th Holy Grail war. Gen effectively tells the story himself, but is aided by Takashi Takeuchi's beautiful greyscale and color drawings which range from ominous to explosive, and are brilliant all the while. The story is serious and tragic, and completely lacks the Deus Sex Machina so prevalent in the VN. A must read for anyone who liked Fate/Stay Night, and is ready for a deeper plunge into the Nasuverse.

NOTE1: The work and related drawings are all available online at the above website.
"Fate/zero (English) is a translation project undertaken by various members of the Beast's Lair Forum and Baka-Tsuki, hosted only by Baka-Tsuki. Be sure to thank them accordingly!"

NOTE2: Fate/Zero has been fully translated to English. - April 1st, 2011