フェイト／ゼロ,(Fate/Zero)

Genre
Action, Drama, Fantasy, Seinen, Supernatural, Thriller
Light novel
Author
TYPE-MOON
Artist
Nitroplus
Publisher
TYPE-MOON
Published
2006-2007
Volumes
4
Overview
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 novel with illustrations by Takashi Takeuchi. The first volume was released on December 12, 2006, and is a collaboration between TYPE-MOON and fellow developer Nitroplus. The second volume was released on March 31, 2007. The third volume was released on July 27, 2007. The fourth and final volume will be released on December 29, 2007, along with the Fate/zero Original Image Soundtrack "Return to Zero".
Story
The storyline of Fate/zero takes place 10 years prior to the events of Fate/stay night, detailing the events of the Heaven's Feel 4 in Fuyuki City [1]. It includes the following characters:
Humans:

-Kiritsugu Emiya (衛宮切嗣, Emiya Kiritsugu)
Master of Saber, unconfident and unhappy, adopts a strategy of exploiting a magus' weak point using technology.
-Kotomine (言峰綺礼, Kotomine Kirei)
Master of Assassin, works for Tokiomi and does everything he is asked to do to the best of his ability, but lacks fulfillment.
-Tokiomi Tōsaka (遠坂時臣, Tōsaka Tokiomi)
Father of Rin Tōsaka and Sakura Matō, Master of Archer, arrogant and manipulative, arranges for Kirei Kotomine to be his "pupil". Thinks highly of Kotomine and has him serve him.
-Aoi Tōsaka (遠坂葵, Tōsaka Aoi?)
Mother of Rin Tōsaka and Sakura Matō. Childhood friend of Kariya Matō.
-Irisviel von Einzbern (アイリスフィール・フォン・アインツベルン, Airisufīru fon Aintsuberun?)
Mother of Illyasviel von Einzbern, heroine of the story. Partner of Saber.
-Ryūnosuke Uryū (雨生龍之介, Uryū Ryūnosuke?) Master of Caster, psychotic killer who summons Caster after murdering a family and using their blood as a component in the summoning ritual.
-Maiya Hisau (久宇舞弥, Hisau Maiya?)
Assistant to Kiritsugu Emiya. She is cold and professional, which makes it easier for Kiritsugu to act as he needs to. Armed with a Steyr AUG.
-Waver Velvet (ウェイバー・ベルベット, Ueiba Berubetto?) Master of Rider, future Lord El-Melloi II. Steals his teacher's artifact and uses it to summon Rider. Plans to use the Grail to force the Magus Association to recognize his genius.
-Kariya Matō (間桐雁夜, Matō Kariya?)
Uncle of Shinji Matō, Master of Berserker, makes a deal with Zōken Matō that he will win the Grail War in exchange for Sakura Matō's freedom. He is the only member of Matō family who truly loves Sakura, and is upset that Tokiomi allowed his younger daughter to be adopted by Zōken.
-Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi (ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルト, Keinesu Erumeroi Achiboruto?)
Master of Lancer, a nobleman from the Magus Association. His artifact is stolen by Waver Velvet, but he manages to summon Lancer anyway. While he holds the command spells for Lancer, the energy to materialize the Servant is maintained by Sola-Ui.
-Risei Kotomine (言峰璃正, Kotomine Risei?)
Kirei Kotomine's 80 year old father, a priest in the Church, the regulator of the 4th Holy Grail War. He is a friend of Tokiomi Tōsaka and actively supports him. While he is proud of his son, who has demonstrated himself to be a perfect heir, Risei fails to understand Kirei in any sense.
-Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri (ソラウ・ヌァザレ・ソフィアリ, Sorau Nuazare Sofiari?)
The daughter of the head of the spiritual evocation division. She is engaged to Kayneth as a result of a strategic marriage arrangement and the decision of her family to entrust their crest to her brother instead.
Servants participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War and their true identities:

Saber: King Arthur
The same character from Fate/stay night. Known as the King of Knights.
Archer: Gilgamesh
A rogue servant in Fate/stay night, the King of Heroes. He dislikes the presence of Saber and Iskander in particular since they were kings like he was. Much to Tokiomi's displeasure, Gilgamesh has difficulty acting covertly.
Lancer: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne
A Servant with two Noble Phantasms: Gae Buidhe - Golden Rose of Mortality and Gae Dearg - Crimson Rose of Exorcism, which can counter Saber and Berserker's abilities.
Rider: Iskander(Alexander The Great)
The King of Conquerors, who desires to defeat Saber and Lancer in particular. Has several Noble Phantasms, the first of which is Gordius Wheel - Wheel of Heaven's Authority, which summons an ox-drawn chariot when Iskander slices the air with his sword.
Caster: Bluebeard
A Servant who derives pleasure from first providing his victims a moment of relief before terrorizing them and then killing them. Expresses an interest in Saber because he has mistaken her for Jeanne D'Arc, with whom Bluebeard has an infatuation.
Berserker: the Black Knight (true identity unknown) A Servant who possesses the ability to use practically any object as a Noble Phantasm.
Assassin: Assassins related to True Assassin Fate/stay night
Assassin is actually composed of several entities rather than just one. They act as reconnaissance agents for Tokiomi and Kirei after Gilgamesh "kills" one of them.
Minor Characters

Rin Tōsaka (遠坂凛, Tōsaka Rin)
The daughter of Tokiomi and Aoi Tōsaka. Despite her young age, she is capable of using elementary magic.
Sakura Matō (間桐桜, Matō Sakura)
Rin's younger sister, who was adopted by the Matō family one year prior to the start of Fourth Holy Grail War. Her physical appearance has already changed considerably since her adoption.
Illyasviel von Einzbern
The daughter of Irisviel von Einzbern and Kiritsugu Emiya, born eight years before the Fourth Holy Grail War begins.
Jubstacheit von Einzbern
The eighth head of the Einzbern family, known as "Acht". Nearly two centuries old, he has led the Einzbern family since they changed their course of action from seeking the Holy Grail to attempting to obtain it through the Holy Grail Wars. He presents Kiritsugu Emiya with Avalon as the catalyst to summon Saber.
Zōken Matō (間桐 臓硯, Matō Zōken)
The ancient head of the Matö family, Kariya's "uncle" and Sakura's adoptive "grandfather". He intends to use Sakura to obtain the Holy Grail in the next war, but agrees to return her to the Tösaka family should Kariya manage to acquire the Grail in the fourth war. Glen and Martha Mackenzie, an elderly Canadian couple who live in Japan; their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson were unable to adapt to Japan and have returned to Canada. They provide lodgings for Waver Velvet and Rider