Harlan Ellison 'I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream' interview

We have lost a true legend of science fiction. RIP.

Footage taken from episode 13 of Interactive Entertainment CD-ROM magazine from May 1995.

Check out the DOS Nostalgia Podcast:

[Nov-]

I love how the interview all of a sudden diagressed into talking about Oj Simpson and cheese and fashion for seemingly no reason.

[korkskrew]

can't say i was expecting the creator of some of the most horrific and bleakest stories ever to drop a "yo mama" joke in middle of a sentence

[bunnylegion]

I like how Harlan wanted to make a game that couldn’t be won, but instead, one that you could “lose better.” I’ve played the game, it’s a masterpiece. I wish there were more game that don’t have “happy endings, ” but endings where you “lose better.”

[CharuzuAutomatonArtificer]

He's so passionate, it's such an interesting to listen to his point of view.

[yintoons]

He sounds mean at times yet very passionate, it's interesting to listen him speak.

[Denver_Risley]

Hearing Ellison exclaim, "Yo mamma!" made my day.

[armandj.]

Don't understand all the comments saying HE is crazy or angry. He had a point of view that he expressed clearly and forcefully, and that's rarer and rarer these days.

[drsPascalsArchive]

I love how he thought video games were trash but he still worked on one.

[victoriasargent]

I was a close friend of Harlan’s from 1975 until his death. Underneath his abrasiveness and very sharp delivery, he was a kind and gentle soul. He loved dogs and most children!

[topdamagewizard]

I understand his hatred of video games at the time. He was just ahead of the curve. He would love Metal Gear, Dark Souls, etc.

[snowlabradorffn]

Parts of this interview crack me up - I love how he hated video games, yet created a masterpiece one.

[williamwebb]

His comment about upsetting parents' groups is one of the most based things I've ever heard.

[Tarkus-Ivalice-dweller]

"Why do a computer game based on no mouth?"


"Well STUPID, because somebody asked me to do it"

[antiproductive]

So tell us about the character Gorrister
- No

[psychodiver]

Wisconsin cheese, flavored tampons, the comment on Wolfenstein...this might the most maddening, yet enlightening, interview by Harlan that stimulates the mind with his responses.

[weird-manYT]

I was high on medication when I first encountered gameplay footage of I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream. It disturbed and terrified the crap out of me. I'd like to think if I told Ellison that he would reply, "Good".

[JimmyExtreme]

"Wolfenstein is absolutely demented" - the guy who wrote I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream

[YukoValis]

You will always be immortalized to me as AM himself.

[akshennum]

Love how he gives such a detailed and passionate description of why there is cheese in Wisconsin.

[budakbaongsiah]

The full version of this interview might just be the best interview of all time. Even in this chopped-up state it's still so fun to watch and went everywhere and nowhere!

Also love this guy working with a medium he didn't like and still commited enough effort to it that it became one of the most profound game of all time.