In Ferrett Steinmetz’s Flex, people’s obsessions can wear down the laws of the universe, enabling them to do magic associated with their obsession. Can’t stop playing video games? You may find yourself able to summon those characters into your world, or generate health packs around you when you injure yourself. People whose obsession is art can create living paintings, pyromaniacs can do magic with fire, and cat ladies … well, that one’s never actually explained.

It might be a bit of a disappointment, then – at least at first – to learn that the protagonist of this novel is obsessed with paperwork. He just loves doing paperwork so much that he one day wakes up to find he has magical powers related to filling out forms. I know, it sounds kind of lame. But there’s a lot more excitement in this novel than the main character’s particular talent might suggest.  Continue reading →