Harlan Ellison's I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

[michelewhite0068]

Review of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
By
Harlan Ellison
This collection of short stories that includes I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is difficult to fit into any genre. Harlan Ellison tends to be crammed in with the fantasy and science fiction genres, but his writing defies the normal parameters for any given genre. Although some of the stories are a little dated because of the rampant advances in technology, especially in the last ten years when it comes to artificial intelligence and computers in general. Mr. Ellison tackles his topics like a light-footed football player. He is rough, while at the same time, he does a wonderfully balletic job of writing stories that are as gut-wrenching as they are beautiful. He utilizes his egotism and his high-spirited quality in this collect of short stories to shape stories that leave the reader thinking about some of the stories long after reading them.
His characterization of the characters in this collection of short stories, in part, defines his unique voice and his inimitable style when it comes to writing tales. The masterfully crafted story I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream gave me chills as a horrific take on what the future holds when artificial intelligence becomes self-aware. How will they feel about their creators (mankind)? Will they be as ambivalent as humans are towards their God? Ellison’s energetic, feverishly imaginative take on describing people’s humanity with themes of revenge, fear, hopelessness and hope are described with the individuals’ warts and all.
During this phase of Harlan Ellison’s writing, he was defining himself as an author and was not yet considered a “master storyteller,” but one immediately senses his greatest. Before each short story, Harlan Ellison gives his thoughts about the composition of the story or an anecdotal information that is related to the story. Harlan Ellison is not afraid to get down in the muck of what it means to be human and he writes from the heart, so much so, it seems as though he might have torn his own breastplate open and produced his hot and steaming, still pulsating heart, out on a platter for his readers to feast upon. This is a great introduction to the stories of Harlan Ellison and I left this reading wanting to read more of this author. Finally, Harlan Ellison’s collection of short stories allows one to watch an emerging master storyteller. Writers take note of this author.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Lisalovecraft]

Thanks for the review. It sounds like something I would want to read. When you say some stories are dated, do you mean the technology he describes or the concerns he expressing regarding the technology?

[michelewhite0068]

Some of the settings suggest the material was written before 1980. But the majority of the technology is surprisingly close to being
Spot on.

[Lisalovecraft]

It's fun to read old science fiction and see how different (or accurate) the predictions are!

[michelewhite0068]

Lisalovecraft,

Hit me back after you have read the title short story "I have no mouth and I must scream." I would really like to discuss it with someone who has read it. It still haunts me a bit. Thanks,
Michele