Full Metal Panic

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Light Novel Review (Volume 1)
Okay, first, a bit of reviewer's context. I didn't go into this novel fresh. I've seen the first half of the original Full Metal Panic anime, one episode of Fumoffu!, and all of The 2nd Raid. I've read all of the manga. So, I know these characters, and I know this story.

Briefly:  The light novel deepened my love for this franchise.

This novel tells the story that's covered in the first 1/4 of the original anime, and the first few volumes of the manga. I won't post any spoilers here; suffice to say that it covers everything up through the initial use of the Arbalest. Which was my favorite part of the anime, to be honest.

Therein, though, lies the problem. You will learn very little new about the universe of Full Metal Panic through this novel. There are a few little surprises, though now that I think about it, it's been so long since I watched the anime that I may have just forgotten them.

But the novel really shines at getting into the heads of the characters. The relationship between comically serious Sousuke and the ever-practical Kaname makes sense here in a way that's never fully explained in the anime (until 2nd Raid). Kaname finds Sousuke chilling at times. He's a boy soldier, a high school boy who can pilot their world's equivalent of an F-16. A classmate who kills without remorse.

Meanwhile, Sousuke has feelings for Kaname. He's never really felt love before; camaraderie, yes, but not that wobbly-legged feeling. Not affection. And not only does that confuse him (causing all sorts of fun dramatic conflict), it compromises his effectiveness in combat. He can't think straight. His feelings are explicitly dangerous.

I also want to point out here that the Sousuke in the light novel is a little different than the one portrayed in the anime and manga. In the latter mediums, Sousuke's portrayed as an emotionless military brat. Heero Yuy, basically. No time for emotions.

In the light novel, Sousuke is more normal than that. He and Kurtz are army buddies. Sousuke rolls his eyes at Kurtz's antics, and even makes a few dry jokes here and there. Sousuke's essentially an ordinary boy who just happens to have spent every waking moment with guns and and warfare. That's affected his outlook on life, obviously, but he's not the simple, single-minded caricature that he often comes across as in the anime. He's a career military man.

There's a wonderful moment (no spoilers) near the end of the novel where Kaname and Sousuke are running from danger through the woods, and they stop for a moment as Kaname freaks out a bit about all that's going on. Kaname doesn't know what to think any more, and she doesn't trust Sousuke any more. His actions creep her out. And this is how he reacts:


 * When she felt the impulse to turn around and run, Kaname noticed Sousuke's expression was not one of anger--it was one of hurt. He looked like someone who had been slapped unexpectedly by a friend.


 * He started to speak, stopped, and looked at the ground. Then, he finally spoke.


 * "You're...afraid of me." When she said nothing, he continued. "That's a natural reaction. I'm sure I must seem..."


 * And a shadow of profound loneliness crept across his profile, finishing the sentence for him.

Painful, shocking, and it brings a new dimension to Sousuke.

Okay, so enough about my personal reactions. How's the writing? Pretty plain, honestly. I had to push myself through the first half of the novel, as the writing was very matter-of-fact. Lots of simple sentences and dry descriptions. Of course, I don't know if this is the translator's fault or Gatou's, though it feels like more of an authorial issue.

But the writing flowed more eloquently in the last half, to the point that I read the last third in one sitting, late one night. In the novel's afterword, Gatou struggles to define the novel's genre, and finally admits, "I intended it to be seen as an action B movie."

Which is ultimately the best way to approach it. This is not high conceptual art, nor is it a deep work of great moral significance; it's a rollicking action-adventure story starring two polar-opposite but remarkable characters. The fact that both exemplify tired anime and manga stereotypes, while still remaining interesting to read about, is a testimony to the novel's basic appeal.

Basically, it's fun.

Thanks to The Ranobe Cafe for the impetus to read this book.