Harlan Ellison: "Repent Harlequin," said the Tick Tock Man.

I've read most of Harlan Ellison's short stories, but that was long ago. I remember most of them mainly for their titles, which are quite clever, e.g. "I Have no Mouth and I Must Scream."

actuallyt I have a book full of his stories that I pick up at a used book store. The book is called alone against tommorow.

many of them including the one you mentioned can be really sad and grim.

I have to be in a the right mood for such pessimism.

except when I read the story about the tick tock man.
that story is to funny and inspiring.

not a huge ellison fan, but love ticktock man, though couldn't figure out what the mrnee mrnee (sic) sound was about.