Sshhhh! contains a series of brief vignettes from the fertile mind of Jason.

Jason, a Norwegian writer and artist born John Arne Saeteroy, has a stark, distinctive style in his work. His anthropomorphic, usually black-and-white art and nearly wordless tales are instantly recognizable. Sshhhh! is no different.

The stories collected here are almost emotionless in their presentation, and yet they pack a punch to the gut all the same. Each focuses on a bird-like character, perhaps the same in each. The first features a sweet, strangely loveless romance with a pair of sorrowful twists. In the second, Death shadows our protagonist and shares his daily routine. In the third, a chance encounter on a train leaves Our Hero with a boy (chick?) to raise.

He travels. He imagines the possibilities after divorce. He turns invisible. He meets himself. He adjusts a clock. He wins a lottery. Through it all, I don't think he smiles -- although smiling might be difficult when you have a beak instead of lips.

Jason has a lot of stories to tell, and a wonderful way of telling them. Let's hope he keeps on doing it for us.