Tokyopop has announced the August release of .hack//AI buster, a prose novel illustrated with designs from the multi-media .hack franchise and a peppering of manga-style drawings.  The novel functions as a prequel to the entire .hack saga, which has been revealed in a number of different ways in various media including anime, manga, and videogames.  In the U.S. both the anime series and the manga have proven to be top ten performers in their respective fields and the first of four Playstation 2 games has become a hit here as well.

Tokyopop's .hack//AI buster has very reasonable cover price of $7.99 and a good chance to enjoy success similar to that of  Tokyopop's popular .hack manga volumes.