SOLVED. Sci-fi, coming of age, young man on an unknown planet is overweight, maybe ugly, loner, unpopular. he undergoes hardship and somehow he gets trained up and end up almost like a super hero, written at least 20 years ago. [s]

[Greg]

a young man on an unknown planet is overweight, maybe ugly, loner, unpopular. he undergoes hardship and somehow he gets trained up and end up almost like a super hero.

[Peter]

Possibly Helm by Steven Gould? Never read it, but I know it's about a young man getting training on another planet.

[Greg]

It is not Helm, but I love Steven Gould books. Ill add it to my to read list. Thanks!

[Greg]

I remembered also that I found out about the book on a best of scifi list about 15 years ago. might have been written in the 80s. also I don't think the author wrote many books.

[Greg]

bump

[Kris]

Greg, after he's trained, is he a teenager or adult? How does he spend his time?

Does someone teach him how to train physically? What hardships does he encounter? (Spoilers are okay - just give us a clear warning before revealing a spoiler.)

How is his planet different from Earth?

[Greg]

He starts out as a young adult living in a run-down apartment with a bad job. By the end, he is probably a few years older.

Some organization does teach him, but I can't remember who.

He definitely encounters hardships on this path, but I can't remember what.

The planet is probably pretty earthlike, i think.

Sorry, i wish i could remember more.

[Ky]

Just throwing this out: Radix by A.A. Attanasio? I don't remember specifically about the apartment, but I do remember the protagonist Sumner Kagan starts off being ugly and overweight but goes through training by an organization and his physique greatly improves. Written almost 40 years ago though but may have newer editions.

[Greg]

Solved!

That is it! Thank you so much!