I am often flabbergasted at the level of precision and skill–not to mention dedication–that goes into creating a wordless novel. Unlike a narrative crafted out of words, each scene must be painstakingly planned before being carved into blocks of wood. There is no delete key, no backspace, no undo. The medium is rooted firmly in the past in its demands for patience, still and craftsmanship.

So what does it look like when the wordless novel is pressed into service to tell a tale of the future?

In Metamorphadox, Jarrett Heckbert does just that. The OCAD U student adopted the format to tell a cautionary tale of a future steeped in virtual reality. Though the art form may at first seem at odds with its futuristic subject matter, Heckbert employs the medium’s history of social commentary to great effect, providing a fascinating take on a society in which kinship and friendship are all but obsolete, and in which humanity’s most meaningful relationships are with technology.

Take a peek inside the covers to experience this philosophical sci-fi thriller in pictures.

I was particularly thrown by the ending that the artist devised. I won’t spoil it for you, but let me just say, it  pretty much acted as a knockout blow when it came to my interpretation of the whole work.

If you’d like to get your paws on this fantastic addition to the Wordless Novels series, you can learn more about it and find buy links here. I love the tactile thrill of the print edition, but we also have a very reasonably-priced ebook available as well.

Enjoy!