Tips for healthy, happy science fiction sex

Posted at 2:41 PM Sep 26, 2008

By Bonnie Ruberg

Today marks the official first day of Arse Elektronika, San Francisco's sex tech conference, this year with a science fiction theme. That means last night yours truly attended the mini-gala opening for the conference, complete with an award given for a vibrator that responded to earthquakes across the world, and an acoustic song about sex with robots. The main event of the night, however, was i09 editor Annalee Newitz's tongue-in-cheek talk giving tips on how to have a happier, healthier science fiction sex life.

Her amusing, if less than pragmatic, suggestions included: don't have sex with a cylon in a puddle, and always discuss boundaries before -- not after -- you have a threesome with two fembots. Oh, and if you're going into a mind meld using a ridiculous, early '90s form of virtual reality, respect your lover when she says, "No, I don't want to hang out with you in the sexual goo of your mind." Because even in fake virtual reality, no means no.

I'll be sure to report back next week on other fun tidbits from Arse Elektronika. Wish me a happy weekend of sex and tech!