Book Review: Sex in Space
In Sex in Space, author Laura Woodsmansee rattles on about the subject like a junior high school girlfriend. This book is full of simple puns, imaginative “what if’s,” creative propositions, plenty of facts (she clearly did her research), and too many exclamations for anyone who is not a teen-ager. Nearly every informative nugget is followed with an enthusiastic “Hot! That’s crazy! Let’s get this party started!” Sex in Space is a short 136 pages, which, if read in one sitting, will leave readers feeling like they’ve been up all night talking to curious, unexperienced pubescents who are giggling over a sneaky issue of soft porn at a slumber party. That said, Woodsmansee does pack an impressive amount of information in-between the immature commentary. She delves into a thorough history of sex in space (including sex among fruit flies), logistics, speculation on sex and space tourism (“I would name a space hotel the Zero-G Spot…”), pregnancy, physical risks, suggested positions and toys (diagrams included), psychological issues, and even porn.
In sum, the book is informative, but an utterly embarrassing read for anyone who no longer refers to sex as hanky panky. This book will also be irritating for those who have difficulty tolerating a large dose of feminist bitterness. In the Forward/Foreplay, Rick Tumlinson introduces the book by noting that “most of the tenants of fundamentalism, or today’s fanatic religions promoting sexual repression and social stigma were and are inventions of the male gender—not female. It is men who drive the social systems that force the covering of faces and bodies lest lustful thoughts occur (in men!)…the male hypocracy that has characterized our sexual dysfunction should be left on the savage savannahs of this world with the chest pounding apes who promulgated it…”
It is unfortunate that there are very few other books about sex in space. While this one does provide the necessary information, it’s not a turn on—but at least it can be finished quickly.
Sounds pretty annoying …the book, not the sex.
I don’t mind “a large dose of feminist bitterness” as, as a man, I find it eye-opening. That is why I regularly read several feminist blogs.
But otherwise, I guess it is OK that my copy never arrived (I shall contact amazon and ask for refund, I guess). Perhaps you should write a better book on the topic once you come back to Earth?
[...] so says Talia in her book [...]
Messiah says : I absolutely agree with this !