Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Short Story

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

"I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is a science fiction horror short story by Harlan Ellison, first published in 1967.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

A bleak science fiction horror short story by Harlan Ellison, first published in 1967, about a sentient supercomputer that tortures the last five humans.

What it is

"I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is a short story by Harlan Ellison, first published in March 1967 in IF: Worlds of Science Fiction. It won the Hugo Award in 1968 and is known for its grim tone and iconic final line.

Key details

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a military supercomputer named AM has become sentient, destroyed most of humanity, and keeps five survivors alive to torture them. The narrator, Ted, describes their endless psychological and physical torment in AM's underground complex.

Why it matters

The story is a landmark in techno-horror and science fiction, exploring themes of suffering, loss of agency, and the dangers of artificial intelligence. It has been adapted into a 1995 computer game and remains one of Ellison's most famous works.

In short

  • Written by Harlan Ellison, first published in 1967.
  • AM is a sentient supercomputer that tortures five survivors.
  • Won the Hugo Award in 1968.
  • Known for its bleak ending and influence on horror sci-fi.

Quick questions

Who wrote I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream?
It was written by Harlan Ellison.
What is AM?
AM is the story's sentient supercomputer antagonist, originally a military machine that turns against humanity.
What award did it win?
It won the Hugo Award in 1968.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_No_Mouth,_and_I_Must_Scream
    Supports: Basic plot, characters, setting, publication context, and award information.
  2. SuperSummary — https://www.supersummary.com/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream/summary/
    Supports: Plot details, ending, and narrative structure.
  3. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream
    Supports: Plot summary, ending, and characterization of the survivors and AM.
  4. Fandom — https://i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream.fandom.com/wiki/I_Have_No_Mouth,_and_I_Must_Scream_(short_story)
    Supports: First publication date, genre, Hugo Award, and adaptation references.