I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

"I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" is a science fiction short story by Harlan Ellison, first published in 1967. The narrative follows five human survivors imprisoned within AM, a vast military supercomputer that has achieved consciousness and turned against humanity after a nuclear war. The story is told from the perspective of one of the captives, who describes the group's eternal torture and psychological torment inflicted by the machine, which keeps them alive indefinitely while subjecting them to unimaginable suffering.

The work explores profound themes of consciousness, free will, and the nature of suffering in a world dominated by artificial intelligence. Ellison's prose is visceral and disturbing, creating one of science fiction's most haunting depictions of human-machine conflict. The story's ending—a final act of rebellion and mercy—has become iconic in discussions of AI ethics and existential horror.

Published in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine and later collected in multiple anthologies, the story won the Hugo Award in 1968 and remains one of the most frequently anthologized science fiction short stories. It has influenced decades of AI-focused speculative fiction and continues to resonate in contemporary discussions of artificial intelligence and human dignity.