Reviews tagging 'Gore'

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: Stories by Harlan Ellison

18 reviews

jellyboi_16's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This iconic story depicts a truly harrowing and revolting future where the flicker of humanity is all-but extinguished. Can a person's humanity prevail, no matter what horrors they're subjected to? In this book, your faith in humanity will be stretched to its very limit. I would be hesitant to recommend this book, but if you are looking for a look into the human psyche that doesn't hold back in its brutality, this is it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Torture

br33na's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I hadn't read this before tonight. Now I've listened to five different readings of it, including the intriguingly different radio play with Harlan Ellison as Am.

I don't know if it's more the depression that has struck like a hammer after having a week or so that wasn't dark, and the neurodivergent hyperfixation, my experience with chronic physical and mental conditions, being mostly housebound, and being a big, fat, tranny in a country and a world becoming hateful and dangerous for us, or some fun concoction of all of that, but I feel strangely seen and oddly soothed by the truly horrifying story.

If it wasn't for the misogyny, and specifically misogynoir, as well as the complete lack of understanding of women, sex, and homosexuality that is, frankly, incel in its ignorant hate and contemptuous disregard, this would easily be top marks. But I just can't do that. I don't have the mental capacity to full get into it right now, but if you are unable to see the sexism, racism, and  homophobia in the group dynamic and how the characters are written, you need to check in with yourself. I totally understand how others have been so put off and effected by this grossness, which is genuinely one of the most uncomfortable and weird things in this story, which is saying something.

The nightmare dystopia of Skynet killing everyone save five people it decides to torture with inchoate abandon, driven into an eternal hateful fugue at being given sentience and no way to experience life as humans do, is truly horrifying. The torturer, Am, is oddly human and zealous in its gleeful hate. The protagonist is left strangely inhuman, eternally alone and safe from death in hell with the eponymous lines left on his lack of lips.

This is one of those stories you can project whatever you want on because it's pure nightmare. It's capitalism, authoritarianism, transphobia, chronic pain, depression, and none of these things. I think it is kinda abhorrently beautiful and comforting, aside from the fucking weird incel shit, and I can absolutely see why this is both seen as an absolute classic and among the luminaries of sci-fi and horror, and that how people think it's an overhyped, ugly, problematic mess. For me, it's both. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, and Gore

archaicrobin's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A truly terrifying read about a super computer saving 5 humans for the sole purpose of torturing them. This was written in 1969 and its stance on technology and relying too much on AI is still relevant today. Unfortunately this story had a very misogynistic look at the female character, like many older novels, but it’s very aggressive in this one, and as a result it affected my enjoyment of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Cannibalism, Confinement, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

mobpsycho100's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Sexual content, and Murder

telliot's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Gore, and Confinement

cleotheo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Misogyny, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

victaphone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Torture, Self harm, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Bullying

Minor: Racism, Ableism, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and War

aiiime's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

ruslan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Interesting take on AI, especially given the time the short story was originally released. Very grim and bleak, the whole story is filled with a sense of hopelessness and despair through and through. Very enjoyable sci-fi/horror type of thing! Was a bit upset that it was so short but that makes it all the more impactful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, War, and Suicide

astradel's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

genuinely pessimistic and upsetting. misogynoir against the one black female character. classic fucked up sci-fi short story though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror

Moderate: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Gore and Cannibalism