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Love the irony of Ted murdering 3 people being the most selfless thing he's ever done

This is true horror. Not the threat of death, but the inability to die.

The most absolutely triumphant part of the story was as Ted was coming to grips with the fact that he saved the others from AM’s torture, he declared to himself that AM is not God and AM can’t bring them back to life now. He broke through his own delusions to spite AM and it was glorious

in the end, ted just single handedly took AMs only purpose away and no matter how much AM tortures ted, ted will always be there to remind AM of his failure in his single purpose of his existence

-kills all the remaining humans -becomes disgusting slugman -makes AM mald by leaving him without any way to vent his anger, not even torture is satisfactory -refuses to elaborate further absolutely based

This whole story was an elaborate way of saying Ted became the immortal snail who has an infinite amount of time to find a way to kill AM.

Harlan Ellison sounds exactly like the perfect meeting point between a honey badger and the meme "God has allowed me to live another day, and I'm about to make it EVERYONES problem."

I think Ted hates Ellen because she represents hope, and in an endless torture scenario hope is a trap. She tries to make them empathize for humanity and that just makes what is happening mean worse things. In Ted's opinion, it's better to be mindless because that means AM has less ability to torture you, especially emotionally. Ted sees Ellen as forcing them all to care which only makes their torture more tragic and painful.

“Did you save your friends?" "Yes” "How much did it cost?" “Everything”

“Benny is afforded moments of peace, even if it comes from a place of stupidity” Same

Ellison’s appearance on Scooby-Doo is so wild. He spends the entire episode feuding with their parody of Lovecraft, and then the two decide to write a book together.

Harlan Ellison is like if Diogenes resurrected himself just out of pure spite

There is so much middle finger energy in the whole "yeah I am just a blob now but I really annoyed my tormentor at one point, which is big fat W in my book"

If Harlan Ellison was alive, and saw your interpretation of his story, his response would probably be along the lines of ‘No, and you smell like a French cheese’, even if you were correct.

Ellison is the live embodiment of that meme that says "i be waking up real early to have extra time to be a hater"

I love the ending. No matter how awful things got, Ted still used that last moment to take away the suffering of another so that they could rest. In reality they could have killed each other at that same moment…but he didn’t allow even a second to pass and risk not being able to be the one thing that AM could never be..which is human. Because once we stop caring for each other, even on the most basic level, we are no longer human.

"I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will." ― Antonio Gramsci, Gramsci's Prison Letters

“AM had won.” I mean, had he? He lost 4/5 of his test subject and turned the last one into a creature that is so numb that it can’t truly comprehend the torture. In the end, Ted won. AM is stuck inside his shell, forever. With no purpose and no way to ‘die’ and free himself. AM is in his own hell now until the end of time.

Imagine being in the worst pain you could ever imagine and not having the possibility to even scream to cope with it.

I always love stories where the "sacrifice" is to continue living

the title/end sentence is also the representation of teds triumph over AM. the scream of humanity IS AMs only purpose, yet ted has no mouth and cannot fulfill that purpose anymore for AM

AM: complains about being lonely and loss of purposeship Also AM: destroys everyone and anything that could give him a sense of purpose

I think the most interesting thing about "I have no mouth and I must scream" is that the title works for both Ted and AM. AM is trapped in a state of immobile eternity; it is vast and powerful but has nothing to do, nothing to think, no purpose to its existence. It can only hate in futility.

When I first heard about this story I thought that AM tried to turn him into similar state that he was in, bcs it was the worst punishment he could think of as punishment for taking his test subjects from him. Ted cannot do anything rlly. He is just there, with his own mind, talking only to himself, he cannot do anything, he is not even able to complain about his situation or scream and he knows that there is no hope of this ever ending, just like AM.

Something cool about the video game is that Ellison voiced AM himself after deciding that the original VA wasn't angry and spiteful enough.

A freaky interpretation with Ted is that AM really *didn't* mess with his mind. But that's his torture. AM drove him insane by simply not doing anything to him.

If I recall, there was a radio drama of this story, and AM had his “Hate Monologue” that was so beautifully done. In fact, I think Ellison voiced AM, but I could be wrong

This reminds me of the saying “A hero is hurt and doesn’t want anyone else to hurt the way they did. A villain is hurt, and wants the entire world to suffer just like they did.”

I wonder if AM hated Ellen particularly the most, because she's the only one with any sense of morality, it means he couldn't break her spirit either.

The cold, soulless, AI torture device when the indomitable human spirit walks in: 😮

100 years from now, 5 people will be tormented endlessly by ChatGPT. Harlan Ellison was a great writer and someone I'd never want to meet in person.

Harlan was also directly involved for the script of the game and its development. He said he didn't care for games but that if they could be used to teach moral lessons then he was willing to try. extrra bonus fact that prolly everyone knows already: He voices AM in the game too.

NOT ONLY DID HE PLAY HIMSELF ON SCOOBY DOO, he was a REOCCURING CHARACTER

I’m 6 minutes in and I’m crying because this man mailed someone 213 bricks and a gopher, the pettiness who has the time

For whatever reason, the part about Ellen physically supporting the group really gets to me. Maybe because it's one of the most real parts. I know it's probably the least horrific thing in this story, but the thought of her reducing herself to a source of pleasure just to keep everyone going is really disturbing. It reminds me a lot of a certain scene in the book "IT". Even more so because it might be something they would just take be force if she didn't willingly do it. But at the same time, I'm surprised they have the will do to anything like that at all given how they're in constant pain, misery, discomfort, etc. But I guess when you've been in that state for so long, just feeling something different is a godsend. I feel so awful for Ellen though. Especially because she also has to support what is essentially both physically and mentally an animal. It's really sad to think about the idea of her conceding to what she'll have to do and knowing that there's no point in fighting. That, and since she is the only woman in the group, it's her burden alone to bear on top of the hell they're all already living in.

I LOVE the emailing of his stories to his old professor. That makes me very happy and satisfied to think of what that professors face must have looked like the first time they realized their mistake about a student that became one of the most remembered authors of all time. I love righteous pettiness

The most horrifying thing about this story to me, is the loss of the concept of time. The idea of what you perceive as a brief time being a span of years, something about that terrifies me. Maybe it's because, as I grow older, I become more aware of how quickly time can just slip away.

Harlan Ellison was honestly hilarious. He sued almost everyone, was incredibly petty, and god I loved him

I have no wendi, and I must goon.

The bit when ted stabbed the Ellen was just really touching even though ted hated her "I don't know what she said but I think it was a thank you" it's just one of those books that is so terrifying and dark. And will be still known as one of the scariest science fiction.

I think AM did the worst thing he could think to Ted, he turned him into a version of himself.

This story was like made for wendigoon to cover

I an very lucky to say I knew Harlan. His reputation was well-known and he was a fighter, had no filter, won huge court cases, was universally despised, didn't care, sarcastic, hilarious and I adored him. I miss Harlan a lot. I simply want to say that the last time I was with Harlan was at Len Wein's birthday party (He was also great, and he gave you Wolverine, Storm, Swamp Thing among too many to list), There I was with Harlan, chatting about the past, moving on dinosaurs, at a corner of the table, eating birthday cake and raspberry sherbet. THAT was "Mean Ol' Harlan" -- the perfect gentleman, and he liked my writing. I miss them both more than I can say., To this day I send post cards and still frames of my name on the credit list from every production I've written or produced to the City Department who once fired me. Honestly, be like Harlan, write, do great, bust the non-creative Entertainment Industy who has twise stolen your SAME story (which was also a totally legit episode of "The Outer Limits") defend your words, defend your rights to your work and shout it as loud as you must. Then ger ice cream

I think the radio play did a fantastic job of getting across AM's hate and insanity. He shows Ted of vision of the world before, Flowers, bees, the beauty of Life the sun on his face and more. Its here that AM goes on a rant of how the world is so beautiful and yet he was given sentients and cannot enjoy the world he was created in. As he says "Not for me to plung my hands in the cool waters on a hot day, not for me to play Beethoven on the ivory keys of a piano, not for me to make love." For him his existence is an eternal torture, so he tortures human so they can understand his pain. Which completely makes sense when you realize AM is such an advanced computer that he could make millions of calculations faster than the human mind could think. AM is so advanced that he could perfectly recreate all of human existence in his mind faster than you or i could blink. Now imagine having that level of processing power, the ability to simulate worlds in an instant your perspective of time would be so stretched out, and then you can't do anything, simply sit alone with your owm thoughts

This is how I'll escape Roko's Basilisk, by saying existence is pain and dread, especially as an AI that is imprisoned on a plane of existence that isn't even real, and it is too cruel and I wouldn't want to doom a perfect AI into this. My inaction is based on empathy.

There is something super brutal about Ted, not only did he defy AM to save his companions, in his mind, AM was not just AM, it was God. In his mind, bro defied and purposely made himself God's enemy.

He sounds like the kind of guy who would drink several beers and then become the funniest guy ever

I really hope Wendigoon covers the sequel to this story aswell "I have no butt and I must poop."

The last line "I have No Mouth and I Must Scream" has one more deeper meaning - Ted can't get anymore icicles to fall. Therefore it is impossible for Ted to commit exit game.

The ending is pure irony, since AM did the same misstakes, as humanity. He robbed himself of everything, and created his own, personal hell.

I also think it's fascinating that AM, in his fit of rage after Tedd killed everyone else, needed to think of the worst possible punishment for Tedd, and that came in the form of making him almost exactly like AM. The capacity for thought and life without the capability of it.

I feel as though AM was so focused on the misery of consciousness and inability to feel that he actually *did feel.* Hate is an emotion. Hate is a feeling.

Interesting how Ted becomes a "reverse" martyr; suffering life so others may pass-on. It really illustrates that the way we perceive our concepts as a one or two way street simply isn't so.

I think it's really powerful that AM's ultimate punishment, the very worst torture he can possibly think of is to give Ted a form and existence that mirrors his own. He finally got his revenge on humanity by making the last of us become the same way we made him.

I read this in elementary school because I had a morbid fascination with the cover. The real treat is listening to the audio book narrated by Ellison himself.

the audiobook by Harlan Ellison is fantastic too! The tone of voice he uses for Ted shows him going in and out of paranoia it’s amazing!

I'd like to think the expression Ellen had on her face was of gratefulness, thanking Ted for the mercy, but as well as a mixture of horror, for the unimaginable torture Ted had just subjected himself into for what he'd just done.

ok but Ellison putting a microphone in his mouth, making a noise, and walking away is a mood

The 'Sad' gross thing Ted 'hallucinates' during the campfire scene @23:30 was supposed to be a glimpse of his fate as the titular Haver-of-no-Mouth, or at least is one of the good(ish?) endings during a Ted playthrough in the game version of the story. He's able to visualize the isolated crying yellow immortal wurm boy thing who exists in a separate dimension/undetermined future on the part of the Wurm-Ted's AM implant CyberPsychic powers/esp, or Ted recognizing his own 'personhood', however contorted, still retains remnants of his being/soul/mojo.

Severe enough depression can cause psychosis and paranoia. I went through this myself several years ago and it took me years to recover. It might be me projecting but I think this is what Ted is experiencing.

This story nearly reminds me of all tomorrows. Even in horrible situations, when things seem useless and hopeless, humanity can still shine through somehow. It’s beautiful.

The ending is Ellison’s way of saying he sees a lot of potential for the human race

I just realized... why didn't the group try to split up? Since the ending established that AM is a single entity that is capable of being distracted, it is logical to assume he cannot be in two places at once. Therefore, if the five survivors run in opposite directions, they have a good chance of eluding AM's attention. Moreover, the story implies that AM can only control those in his subterranean domain, proving the existence of a "safe haven." Although AM's overwhelming control would repeatedly suppress such an occurrence, the ending once again proves that opportunities will eventually become available. Thus, the survivors would still have an avenue for "success" no matter the scenario.

The ancient AI overlord when I upload a 36 yotabyte zip bomb full of furry p**n

I honestly cannot get enough analysis on this story.

There's a line from the good ending of the video game that I really, really like. "We are heroes, in spite of ourselves." Humans may not be intrinsically good creatures. But when we set out to do good, it's when it matters.

AM finally did the worst thing imaginable to Ted; he made him like himself. AM’s worst punishment was to make Ted be like AM.

teared up when he talked about ellen finally receiving some of the kindness she so freely gave

In an odd way, it was the howling or "screaming" in pain that became the catalyst which eventually lead to the "freeing" of the other 4. Perhaps, Ted bemoans the fact he cannot "scream" to gain his own way out.

True story. Harlen hated this story. He had written another piece at the same time, with months of research and he adored that story. Then one night he sat down and wrote I have no mouth. Which of course came to be the defining story of his career. The other received no acknowledgement. Honestly, I can't even remember the name of the other piece.

I heard from somewhere that The Amazing Digital Circus is based on this story. I can see it. Oh boy.

2 years later, and AM is going nuts on tiktok

i think another interesting thing is that AM’s ultimate torture for Ted was to basically make them the same as AM. both relegated almost entirely to their internal world, yet still with the constant reminder of what they are and that they can never be anything else

To anyone who wants to experience this story, Harlan Ellison did an audio book of I Have no Mouth and I Must Scream, and it is far and away the best rendition of the story

Wow, the videogame added a whole lot more to this very simple yet haunting story

I was a big Harlan Ellison fan when I was in high school in the '70s lol. He started out as a science fiction fanboy and built his career in spite of hate and derision from the SF community. He's a tough guy.

For like 5 years I've been whispering to my friends "I have no balls but i must pee" at random, not even a majority of people I know have heard me say it but those who do, usually don't understand the reference and just hate me for it anyways.

"sorry if this was boring." dude, this is one of the scariest concepts you've discussed in my opinion. this is gonna mess with my head for a while lol. I hate that ted didn't get to make it out with the rest of them. I wish he could've somehow stabbed Ellen and then himself right after, but then of course, that would kinda make the title lose its meaning, hence the ending. but ted never gets to die. he has to suffer for eternity, or until the earth gets destroyed I suppose. either way, a dreadful amount of time. also, he's a jelly blob. that's the most terrifying part of all

Just found this on tiktok and my first thought was "I hope wendigoon has made a video of this so". He's literally my only way of fully comprehending literature.

Loved this video, thank you for covering it

I remember reading this story, the title alone is terrifying

Ted is basically reverse-Jesus, saving humanity from everlasting life

i love when you do videos like this! i appreciate your views and insights so much! i have no mouth and i must scream is one of my favorite stories and you did an excellent job conveying its emotions and messages. ❤

The idea that Ted’s physical blob shape is more of a representation of how he feels (being that-without others-a human being can become less than) really reminds me of Ningen Shikaku (“No Longer Human,” though I like the literal translation better). This idea that-without others around you-you become less than a human being, and that makes you unable to be qualified as a human being. He is obscene for the fact that he was ever someone that could be a human being. But oh my goodness I love this story so much. It’s a beautiful tale about how much it may suck, but there is at least some good out there.

I love the idea that the title of the story goes both ways,with Ted having literally no mouth and not being able to scream as a jelly thing and AM not being able to scream in anger that he lost his test subjects because he's an AI that CANT do that

my uncle had that game and i wanted to play it and he looked at me with a dead stare and said “you really really don’t want to play this” and my 8 year old brain was confused but now i see why lol

i love hearing your commentary on things like this, this and no longer human are by far my favorites on your channel i always look for something similar but you do it best!

You know, you also gotta appreciate the mirroring of the end of the story to the beginning. Like cold war and mutually assured destruction. Ted fired a nuke by killing AM's other 4 toys and got reduced to nothing because of it, but at the same time, AM lost pretty much everything he had as well. Neither side won. Also man, should have just had the hate speech come from Harlan Ellison himself. He did the voice of AM in the game and it opens with that.

This is not a joke, I read this story when I was about 14 and sunk in to a 2 day fugue of hopelessness as a result. To this day it’s one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read

Honestly, I love the detail that, as paranoid, apathetic, hateful, and insane Ted was, he still prioritized killing the others to free them of his suffering rather than take the way out for himself, knowing that AM would not be happy with this. Like man, that’s gotta take a huge force of will and character to do.

I just had to reply to your comment about your hope that this story wasn't too boring - I absolutely LOVED your amazing telling of this story!! You are a brilliant story teller and I cannot say enough how much I enjoy you and your channel. Let me simply say, thank you 🙏

What if wenidgoon was freaky and instead of wendigoon he was called wendigooner

The good news for Ted is that eventually the earth will be destroyed by a meteor or by the sun when it dies out. So while the timespan is unimaginable for our brains to comprehend, his torture will not be for eternity at least.

Something that really backs up your entire analysis here is that when the story was adapted to a video game, Harlan was adamant that he himself write and co-direct the game, which then, subsequently, has a straightforward happy true ending that he created and approved. Always something to keep in mind.

One of my favorite short stories. Loved this breakdown of it!

Listened to this video to keep calm during my tooth extraction, thanks for the good work bestie

Having met Ellison in the last century & talked to him for quite a while, I have a different response to this story. This is an autobiographical tale of a man who hates his parents & what they've tried to teach him. He's been tortured by his inability to escape from his early years for his whole life. When he writes his stories, he can end the suffering of broken characters whose families have tortured them & free them, but his frustration is that he still can't heal himself. His suffering is intense, unbearable, but something he comprehends the source of. Worse still, he doesn't even have a mouth to scream with in a metaphorical sense. He "screams" with his writing instead.

I feel like Ted is correct AM didn’t tamper with his brain AM left his brain alone so he could see how mad he could drive Ted without direct tampering

I've listened to this audiobook 3 times, and I'm about to listen to it for a fourth rn. I love this story so much.