I, Executioner

"I, Executioner" by Ted White and Terry Carr is a science fiction short story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around a dystopian society where execution of deviants is normalized as a method of maintaining societal order. The story delves into the psychological turmoil of the protagonist as they grapple with their role in a cruel justice system, reflecting on deep themes such as identity, sanity, and the nature of societal control. The story follows the protagonist, Bob, as he confronts the internal conflict of being an executioner in a world that silences those deemed mentally unstable. As Bob attends an execution, he encounters an old friend, Rosalie, among the condemned. Their shared memories of innocence clash starkly with the harsh realities of their present, and Bob is faced with the painful recognition of his past emotions. As the execution unfolds, Bob experiences a harrowing moment of psychological trauma, culminating in a realization of his own fragility within the oppressive structure of the society. The story ultimately questions the cost of conformity and the price of sanity when it is enforced by such violent means.