Variance: Raise Your Weapon

As this extremely earnest but awkward science fiction debut begins, hero Paul Benedict is rushing toward an immense residential structure that is under attack by a merciless enemy. All the other citizens on planet Azure are perfectly calm Utopians who are constitutionally unable to have any feelings other than happiness, but Paul and his family have the unique ability to develop more varied emotions. This will let him fight back against the invading forces from planet Crimson. Therefore, Father Kaiser, creator of the Utopian race, sends him to the moon Xameeshee to compete in the gladiatorial contest of divine might so that he can confront Crimson’s mastermind, Shadow. Fortunately, Paul and his family have been designing a battle suit, Variance, that should be perfect for the task. As he fights, Paul loses most of his inhibitions, along with much of his original body mass; he is aided by a seductive AI and an amusingly foul-mouthed trainer. The escalating succession of combat scenes recalls run-of-the-mill manga, and there’s really nothing else to the story. (BookLife)