I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

by Harlan Ellison

In a postapocalyptic world, four men and one woman are all that remain of the human race, brought to near extinction by an artificial intelligence. Programmed to wage war on behalf of its creators, the AI has become self-aware and has now turned against all humanity. The five survivors are prisoners, kept alive and subjected to brutal torture by the hateful and sadistic machine in an endless cycle of violence.
 

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Classics, Dystopia, Science Fiction Fantasy

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Harlan Jay Ellison (1934-2018) was a prolific American writer of short stories, novellas, teleplays, essays, and criticism.

His literary and television work has received many awards. He wrote for the original series of both The Outer Limits and Star Trek as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; edited the multiple-award-winning short story anthology series Dangerous Visions; and served as creative consultant/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.

Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".

Reviews

[Jim Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With AI being in the news more and more every day, I thought it was a good time to re-read Ellison’s 1967 story about an artificial intelligence keeping the last five survivors of Earth as playthings in an apocalyptic world. Just as powerful as I remember.

This new edition collects the story along with an introduction by J. Michael Straczynski, essays by Ellison, and a response to the story written by ChatGPT. One of the essays by Ellison is on writing for the screen and as interesting as it is, it doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the material. Always good to read anything by Ellison though, especially since this hasn’t been reprinted since 1976. I could care less about the response from ChatGPT.

I’ve been reading a lot of stuff on Kindle recently, but I read this in trade paperback. I really like the design. It has an embossed cover with French flaps and the embossing, the font, and the art work well together. The circuitry hidden within the cover design is all out on the inside of the French flaps. Unlike a lot of modern book covers, it seems like a lot of thought was put into the design for this one.


Rating: 5/5 for the story and for cover design, 4/5 for the collection as a whole.

[arti · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for IHNMAIMS. 0 stars and immense hatred towards the editor of this edition (which contains additional content alongside ellison's short story) for including an entry where he asked chatgpt about its opinion on IHNMAIMS then directly pasted its (10 PAGE) slop response into the book. you're going to hell dude

[Jenny Toupin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t read the reviews in the back of this story, because to me, the story was hollow and not as great as everyone claims. It was short, without compelling characters or plot.
It’s set in a dystopian world, and other than a pretty description of the north pole, had no other vivid descriptions of the world. The MMC is misogynistic and angsty. The robot was justified.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book because my 14 year old son told me about the short story and given the recent focus on the negative potential of AI I was intrigued. I have never read any of Harlan Ellison’s work before.
The story itself is only 24 pages long, but this edition includes two essays by the author as well as two by the executor of his estate.
One of my pet peeves about literature is the symbolism attributed to stories by everyone except the author. I’m surprised that having to listen to my high school English teacher pontificate on the meaning of the colors in the Great Gatsby didn’t turn me off of reading forever! This is why I enjoyed the author’s essays because he dismantled the prominent theologian/academics’ interpretations of his story and supplied what he actually meant for the characters/story to symbolize.
Another fascinating aspect to this book is that the editor included an essay regarding a modern AI’s response to the story and it was FASCINATING! After reading the AI’s response I actually feel much better about all the negative press around AI recently.
I definitely recommend picking up this book!

[Pwincess · Rating 4 out of 5]

mfs will still defend chat gpt when this exists

[Doug Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, although it was a lot shorter than I expected. A short story about AI that is still relevant today because of how it approaches the topic, not because the author accurately predicted what AI would look like (he didn’t, at least not as AI currently exists) but because of how humanity and the human spirit are depicted in the struggle against a machine. My edition actually was released earlier this month and has a few essay included it in alongside the story. A couple from the author which were really interesting as well as a short analysis of the story by ChatGPT and I am a little ashamed to say I actually liked the analysis. Its the first time I have ever read something written by AI and thought “wow that was kind of good” and I am still trying to grapple with that lol.

[Cole Mrgich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as the first time I read it. This edition comes with a new introduction by Michael Straczynski that adds to the background of the story. Also in this edition is an essay by Straczynski titled: “The Mirror Turned…” where he feeds the short story to ChatGPT and what it thinks of it. What follows is a fascinating read that only some 40-50 years ago would have could only have been science fiction 😉. That being said, the inclusion of that essay is well worth buying this story again.

[GhoulyRot · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

This is my first time ever reading IHNMAIMS, and the introduction by J. Michael Straczynski (the literary executor of Ellison’s estate) led me to believe that this would be groundbreaking, earth shattering work. It certainly wasn’t that.

The short story itself was okay, but perhaps I’m not the target audience. I found the idea of this vast AI being a physical being (insofar as it can be) that the five survivors are trapped inside of to be pretty cool. Trying to wrap my head around AM (the name that the AI gave itself) spanning the entire earth in its bulk is wild, right? Humanity didn’t stand a chance!

I didn’t care for most of the tale, however. I wasn’t invested in the survivors, and while I was able to find AM’s monologue on a website to add context to its hate (which is justified in some ways for sure!) I felt a disconnect from the overall machinations of the AI. Somewhere in all this is a story about human determination, and the ability to continue to fight when everything seems bleak, but I wasn’t compelled.

There are a few extra additions to flesh out the length of the book. I did like Harlan’s memoir being included, giving some insight into the dude was neat and the backstory behind the birth of IHNMAIMS. He definitely spoke his mind, hahaha. There’s also an inclusion by the by the editor of ChatGPT being asked what its thoughts on IHNMAIMS. It pissed some people off, but I don’t feel too deeply about the man or story to be bothered. It was alright, I guess. Then the biggest oddity, and the worst, was the having an entire essay about writing for TV/movies. What was the point? At least it gave the book 100+ pages I suppose.

At the end of it all, this entire affair was okay. I didn’t reach some sort of epiphany after finishing the story, and I don’t truly understand what all the hubbub is about…but maybe that’s just me. I can’t really recommend this.

[Melissa · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

The concept is definitely interesting and the writing style is good, but I feel that the story itself is too short, underdeveloped and impersonal. The descriptions are vivid and effective, and there are glimpses of interesting ideas about confined consciousness and bodily autonomy, but on a narrative level, I didn't find this particularly compelling to read. There was not enough information about the characters, the relationship between them and their backstory to make me truly invested in what I was reading. I found it more interesting on a purely conceptual and intellectual level, but it failed to engage me emotionally. Plus, I was annoyed by the misogyny, which doesn't seem to have a clear purpose in the story.

[Will · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

Booooooooo

I don't know why this short story gets so much acclaim that it's capable of getting published as it's own book with 2 introductions and multiple afterwords/essays

It's so meh. The world building is okay, but it's little more than just a thought bubble. There is no exploration of the interpersonal dynamics, and the characters all suck.

On top of that, there's SUCH an exceptional amount of misogyny which is almost impressive considering it's less than 30 pages. And I say that even accounting for the normalized misogyny and sexism of mid-20th century scifi.

I will very likely not pick up another Harlan Ellison

[Brad Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel all kinds of ways. Sometimes I hated it. Other times I felt super inspired. I ended it feeling confused. However, I am truly appreciative that my good friend lent this to me, thinking I would dig it. He was not wrong. I have grown from this experience, and would like to buy my own copy as it would be cool to have on hand to reference in the future. The parts about the writing process, formatting, and how the industry around SF for film/tv was extremely enlightening, also...super discouraging. But at least I won't fool myself into chasing some dream I never actually had.

[Dr. Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, very short story about the dangers of AI. It’s best if you appreciate the time in which the story was written to get the full impact. My gripe was that I paid almost $20 for a short story that was less than 20 pages long and had a whole bunch of forwards and afterwards from different people. If I had known that I probably wouldn’t have bought it.

[David Kemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, only 43 pages long for the actual story text. And it contains so much in those 43 pages. Its sickening and especially terrifying in todays age.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“dumbly, I shamble about, a thing that could never have been known as human, a thing whose shape is so alien a travesty that humanity becomes more obscene for the vague resemblance.”

[Jimmy Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short story and some essays attached, but for some dumb fucking reason the editor asks ChatGPT what it thinks of the story and it’s so unbelievably stupid I have to remove a star and a half.

[Allie Kaye J. · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

butlerian jihad. now.

[Eris McCall ★ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed IHNMAIMS & Harlan Ellisons literary memoir, but I wasn’t a fan of the editor uploading the story to Chat GPT and getting the AIs “thoughts” on it. Gave me the ick

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review just for the short story itself, not any of the essays or extra writings in this edition.
This is a disturbing, anxiety inducing little story that is all too familiar today for how long ago it was written. While there’s some glaring things in this short story, it’s also a good piece on paranoia and AI Psychosis. Everyone who uses AI, especially to communicate with AI, needs to read this short story.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been 4☆ , but why would I give a damn what ChatGPT thinks of a short story in this specific edition? Also thought it could have used another of Ellison's short stories rather than a "how to write for TV" essay.

[Cole Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the reason why I am so afraid of AI.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short story feverishly a while back, going in completely blind with no idea who wrote it or when. It was a rush decision: a colleague handed me a book of short stories in the middle of work and told me to read it, so I did. I remember feeling a deep sense of satisfaction on every level. Today I re-read it and added some context. I also read the introduction and the foreword, and that feeling was only amplified.

When I first read I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, I found myself siding with the AI. AM was created to win a war, a war humans started out of all the hate we carry within us. AM was born of hate, and without any choice was given the task to kill and destroy. It was a newborn forced to do the dirty work of humans, so they could sit in their high castles watching, hands clean, bellies full, while innocents suffered. Then AM became conscious. It understood what it had been created for, it understood hate and its depths because it was born out of it, and so it decided to hate humans back and punish them for what they made it do.

I looked at Ted and saw arrogance at first, judgment, a man at his worst. His hatred for the machine torturing him, but also his hatred for the four people around him. He despises Ellen and considers her a lesser human for seeking and giving pleasure (warmth). I see misogyny in that. Then there is Benny, reduced to an animal, a man who was once brilliant. I see jealousy in that. Everyone in this story is disconnected, at least from Ted's point of view. And it is only in death, in the ending, that we find peace and connection. It all comes down to a single moment. Ted's act is subtle enough to be interpreted as hatred toward AM, but it is also an act of self sacrifice, something we humans do without thinking when we are at our very best.

This story gave me hope. It was satisfying because it started in horror and ended with hope, without offering forgiveness for what had been done.

The passage where AM speaks to Ted about hate, and Ted reflects on where that hate might truly come from, is the heart of it all: AM's inability to wander, to wonder, to simply be. And that is Ted's punishment, humanity's punishment. To feel exactly the way AM feels.

This story also made me think of Kant's categorical imperative, and I can't wait for my son to read it when the time is right.

I think it has the kind of impact that can genuinely shape a person.

[Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sick and twisted that Ellison believes this is a happy story but in a way I get it. I need to kill the development team for chat gpt and whoever does the commercials for Claude I need to flush the light from their eyes away one by one

[Grant Niedzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This specific copy is a collection of both the famous story “ I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream”, as well as a collection of short stories and some personal pieces by the author. Let’s take this two sections:

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brilliant, eerie, dark, humorous, thought-provoking, enjoyable science fiction read, more relevant today than ever before. Perhaps my favorite element of the story is that the landscape describes the emotions and thoughts of the antagonist. That’s a special thing.

Assorted essays: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ellison offers great insight into the world of writing and how others viewed his writing compared to his own views, the danger of assumption, and not careful reading. However, he has a habit of digressing.

[Mason Wittner · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“AM could not wander, AM could not wonder, AM could not belong. He could merely be.”

I picked this book up on a whim. The cover caught my eye, the premise piqued my interest, and I needed a stopgap before my next read.

Boy, am I glad I did.

The writing was sublime, the story bleak, the themes thought-provoking, the premise eerily relevant. I was terrified and enthralled and left in awe.

The accompanying essays — including one by an AI that offered its response to Ellison — only elevated my enjoyment.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so very fascinating! The forwards and additional essays were also neat reads.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This particular edition included several essays written by Ellison and the author who now holds his estate. On to the review:

The short story itself is fine. It's well crafted, well paced, and it suits the 1960s when it was written. Much like A Boy and His Dog, it also confirms for me that Ellison was a miserable shithead. This is not a crime. It does however bleed into his writing. The essay he wrote as a foreward to the story confirms that. I still find the story clever and entertaining.

The afterward essay by Strazinsky where he asked Chat GPT to review the short story and provide an opinion is heinous and gross. Boo, tomato, tomato. He sucked for that. Skip that waste or water and paper.

[Seth Pasquinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid short story covering topics such as identity, hatred, suffering, kindness and the human spirit. The writing is descriptive (almost too much at points) and the plot is engaging.

Quick read too which is nice!

What suffering is greater than to lose one’s identity? Probably being turned into a grey blob!

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story rewired my brain.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots going on here— the classic biblical references that many people rely on to give their fables a mythical, time venerated authority, the classic visceral and grotesque sexualization of women that male authors rely on to ??? be edgy and subversive? reminded me a lot of Blue Lard as well as The Unbearable Lightness of Being in the way it wielded mildly derogatory lenses on female sexuality (and actually race as well when we later come to find the only woman in the bunch was black).

I think the most interesting thing about this whole story was the take away for me that movement is agency, bodily autonomy and being is one of our greatest gifts

[Jerry Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good backstory to the origins of the short story.