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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the audio is a must-have. i don’t think this book would have even half the reputation it has if not for the delivery.
the best parts of this book are also it’s drawbacks: that ellison conducts himself in a manner that is unstable and uncomfortable. AM is hatred and his torturees are long past the point of being anything other than creatures in pain. this book has malice for its characters, and malice for its readers.
i don’t think i could talk about ihnmaims without talking about sexual assault and the treatment of women of colour. ellen is reduced to her victimhood, uniquely vulnerable to the heavy phallic imagery of the book and subject to the literal deprivation of her autonomy. ted describes AM as patriarchal— no doubt a reflection of his imperialist creators—and AM regurgitates misogynistic violence towards her at rate only rivalled by her fellow torturees. ted loathes her in a way that is sickening. they all do, even as victims of AM in their own right (benny’s whole thing has unaddressed gay conversion methods and implied corrective rape). still, ellen is an intriguing character that invites empathy even through the fractured view of ted. or maybe that’s just me, unable to look at her in the disgust that is asked of the reader.
ihnmaims does exactly what it intends: this book is brutal, gross, dehumanizing, and full of hate. it’s hard for me to muster up much *love* for it, but there’s a reason it’s a cult classic in sci fi horror.
the best parts of this book are also it’s drawbacks: that ellison conducts himself in a manner that is unstable and uncomfortable. AM is hatred and his torturees are long past the point of being anything other than creatures in pain. this book has malice for its characters, and malice for its readers.
i don’t think i could talk about ihnmaims without talking about sexual assault and the treatment of women of colour. ellen is reduced to her victimhood, uniquely vulnerable to the heavy phallic imagery of the book and subject to the literal deprivation of her autonomy. ted describes AM as patriarchal— no doubt a reflection of his imperialist creators—and AM regurgitates misogynistic violence towards her at rate only rivalled by her fellow torturees. ted loathes her in a way that is sickening. they all do, even as victims of AM in their own right (benny’s whole thing has unaddressed gay conversion methods and implied corrective rape). still, ellen is an intriguing character that invites empathy even through the fractured view of ted. or maybe that’s just me, unable to look at her in the disgust that is asked of the reader.
ihnmaims does exactly what it intends: this book is brutal, gross, dehumanizing, and full of hate. it’s hard for me to muster up much *love* for it, but there’s a reason it’s a cult classic in sci fi horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Racism
heed all content warnings
I needed this after a slight reading slump.
Very creepy and mad but I enjoyed it
Very creepy and mad but I enjoyed it
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don’t mind a horrific story with an unreliable narrator but I can’t help but feel like this story would have been a lot more meaningful if it had been written by a woman.
sad
tense
fast-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
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this short story up for a variety of reasons. The main one being it kept popping as one of the most horrific stories of the 20th century (newsflash this is like the third story I read that readers gave that acclamation to and the stories didn't even leave me in deep thought). The story was fine, the concept was unique and it was a worthy read, but the narrator. God it was like a college student who had just been given the story two seconds before they had to record and then they just submitted it. The narrator stumbled over their words, skipped words, and mispronounced words. Honestly, if I hadn't decided to read along with the story while listening to it I may have lost a majority of the plot. So yeah I did knock the story down a rating for this godawful narration. Other than that I really did enjoy the story and am glad I finally read it. I get why, at the time of reading it, this would've left readers in deep thought and horrified. The most unfortunate part though is that, with the way AI is unfortunately going, by 2050 I can see this being a very real possibility. Using advanced computers to fight wars and then them computers becoming sentient and either enslaving the world or outright killing us all, much like AM did.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes