Description: Full Metal Panic! is written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji, serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Dragon Magazine since 1998.
This has led to two discrete series of books within the narrative: the collected short stories, and the full novels. As of April 2007, there have been nine novels and ten short story collections published. There is also a significant number of short stories that have not yet been published in a collection, making the stories difficult to find outside back issues of the magazine. The main storyline is still continuing, with the latest novel, Approaching Nick of Time, released on February 2008. Shoji Gatoh has recently stated in his blog that the next novel will be the "climax" of the series.