M.Christian (they/them) enjoys nothing more than exploring the intersection of sex and technology—and speculating on the future of both.
Their non-fiction regularly appears on dozens of sites, notably Future of Sex, where they are both Managing Editor and Senior Columnist.
A highly regarded erotica writer, they have six novels,12 collections, 100+ short stories, and 25 edited anthologies to their name.
Reflecting their unique ability to sympathetically and convincingly write for multiple genders and sexual orientations, their stories have appeared in multiple editions of Best American Erotica, Best Gay Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, The Mammoth Books of Erotica, and others. Their collection of gay erotic fiction, Dirty Words, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.
Their fondness for combining sex and science fiction is evident in collections like Rude Mechanicals, Technorotica, Better Than The Real Thing, Skin Effect, Bachelor Machine, and Hard Drive: The Best Sci-Fi Erotica of M.Christian.
As a novelist, M.Christian’s versatility is on full display with Running Dry, The Very Bloody Marys, Brushes, Painted Doll, and the somewhat controversial queer BDSM/horror/thrillers Finger’s Breadth, and Me2.
If you could time travel to any point in history, which era would you choose, and why?
Sure, traveling with Henry de Monfreid or Sir Richard Francis Burton, pirating with Felix von Luckner, dining with William Buckland, enjoying tea with Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger or Ada Lovelace, sipping coffee with Alice Bradley Sheldon, sampling sherry with the Chevalier d’Éon, dancing with Josephine Baker, soaring with Beryl Markham, and popping pills with Anita Berber could be fun and all, but if I had my druthers, I’d prefer to go forward rather than back–more than anything to see if we actually make it as a species.
If you could travel to any alternate universe where a different version of yourself exists, what do you think your other self would be like?
Been there, done that, and have the infinite t-shirts to prove it. Though whether in a world where Robespierre died, pre-revolution, and the Girondists prevailed over the Jacobins; the ecologically aware and inner-directedness of a 60’s-70’s alternative future, or as a post-everything citizen of a post-everything billion+ year stellar civilization, I’m always a writer.
If you were to write a story featuring yourself as the main character, what kind of adventure would you embark on?
Way ahead of you: already working on a more-surreal-than-a-wallpapered-and-(cheaply)-jeweled-rhinoceros-who-likes-nothing-more-than-crooning “I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General”-in-Flemish called, tentatively “This Is A Book” featuring myself as one of the characters–which I’d finish except that other M.Christian keeps flubbing their lines (sigh).
If you were to write a fantasy-themed cookbook, what kind of recipes would you include?
Not much of a fantasy person–because at least some SF is at least, sort-of, kind-of possible–would someday like to host an alien dinner party: a bit of molecular gastronomy, a smidge of odd, but somehow they work flavor/texture and weird combinations, sprinkled with some boundary-pushing cosplay, and a page or two from Dali’s Les Diners De Gala.
If you were to write a parody of one of your own books, what would be the most ridiculous twist you could add to the plot?
You’re kidding, right? I mean, my books and stories are already so twisty they can pull a cork from a bottle. I even like to play games with myself, trying to make them more ridiculously convoluted, exceptionally outrageous, and, if I’m good, entertainingly inventive, or, if I’m not, a jumbled mess.
If you had to choose one of your own fictional worlds to live in, which one would it be, and why?
I never thought I’d be a world builder, though somehow–which I suspect stems from my verdant or, perhaps more accurately, maniacal subconscious–I’ve done just that.
Of them all, my favorites inevitably feature Nous Colonies: energy-independent, self-sustainable, low-impact, environmentally-aware communities that, on the surface, appear zero-tech agrarian. However, due to their citizens wearing augmented/mixed reality contacts or glasses, they’re anything but.
My fondness for this particular fantasy is obvious, especially as I like to spice things up a bit by making them also socially aware, inclusive, supportive, patient, creative, and non-violent (unless threatened).
If you had to choose one of your books to be turned into a cheesy made-for-TV movie, which one would it be and who would you want to play the lead roles?
Alas, I don’t think any of my six, going on nine, novels or the 100+ or so stories would work–if anything, because the lion’s share is either too wildly speculative, unabashedly erotic, or unapologetically queer.
That hasn’t stopped me from a few dreaming-a-little-dreams about what my low budget, likely produced by the one-and-only Roger Corman flick, would be like.
If I had my druthers, I’d prefer going the flat-out amazing 1980s Lathe Of Heaven route. Actors? Not sure if they’d work or not, but if we’re going the low-budget classic route, I’m fond of Jeff Corey, Eartha Kitt, Robert Culp, Dianna Rigg, Ian Hendry, Salome Jens, Greg Morris, Khigh Dhiegh, and Robert Duvall, to name just a few.
If you could have any sci-fi gadget in real life, what would it be, and what practical uses would you have for it?
What kind of bovine excrement is this? I mean, seriously, I’m insulted: how dare you imply I’m a pathetic, lifeless, ultra-geek spending any time at all, let alone enough to watch what must be hundreds, if not thousands, of SF films and shows to develop a preference for some obscure, meaningless piece of poorly conceived, clumsily made-up crap I’d like to actually own?
If push comes to shove, and purely as an albeit absolutely unworthy of any, as in the barest, barely measurable, amount of cognitive energy, I guess–and this is done under process, you understand–I suppose I’d have to choose the Mire Repair Kit, which appeared in the 9th series, fifth episode of Dr Who, “The Girl Who Died” starring the always-great Peter Capaldi.
Why? If you must know, I’ve always been fascinated by immortality: to be able to do and see everything, learn everything there is to know, or live a million–or a billion–different lives. Agreed, it all may get boring after a petasecond or two, but with all the time in the world and an entire universe to explore, I’d sure love to try.
If you had to choose between being a cyborg or a hologram, which would you pick and why?
Without a doubt a hologram, specifically having my consciousness digitized. Cliched as it most certainly is, people often existing as a virtual construct doesn’t only mean immortality (see previous question) but also the potential to alter your personality, like increasing or decreasing your intelligence or overclocking your mind where a minute in the so-called “real” world would be a century of learning, growing, and delving into the secrets of your own conscious and the universe as a whole.
What off-beat location would you like to see host a convention, and why?
The last, and more likely the final, con I attended was 2018’s Worldcon in San Jose, California, and just for poops and laughs, my first was John and Bjo Trimble’s Filmcon way back in 1972.
I said last because if I had to describe it in one word, it’d be–and sorry to be so blunt about it–boring. Not that cons have always been a hoot and a half; it was just that Worldcon felt less about SF as a genre and more about its fandom.
Naturally, I’ve spent no small amount of time envisioning what my con would be like: think Burning Man without filk singing (shudder), high-tech/futuristic experiences, more educational opportunities, writing and media classes, and less “what we did last year … and the year before that, and before that,” ad nauseam.
But that’s just me, so if people favor classic cons, then more power to them–it’s just I won’t be attending anytime soon.
How have you used the phrase “I’m a writer” to avoid an unpleasant situation? What was it?
All the bloody time, except in my case, it tends to get noticeably uncomfortable, if not downright awkward.
Q: “What do you do for a living?” A: “I’m a writer.” Q: “Oh, what do you write?” Result: either tell the truth, i.e., “I’m mainly an erotica writer, sextech journalist, and sex toy reviewer,” and watch them look for the nearest exit, or hide behind “Oh, lots of things.”
Guess it’s just part of being the sort of writer I am. Though it would be nice not to walk on eggshells all the time, constantly worrying by sharing what I do for a living–and like doing more than anything else–will freak someone out or leave them thinking I have a closet full of whips, chains, and/or vibrators. While in reality, only the last occupies way too much space in my pleasant little apartment.
Still, I shouldn’t complain. Others might be embarrassed by what I write, but all that truly matters to me is I get to write what I want when I want–and there’s nothing better than that.
In addition to being Future Of Sex’s New Managing Editor, M.Christian’s contributed four flash fiction stories and continues to add to the 700+ articles they’ve written for them so far.
M.Christian’s most recent books include Horrorsexual: The Queer Erotic Fright Fiction Of M.Christian, Hard Drive: The Best Sci-Fi Erotica of M.Christian–and the anthologies Nine To Eternity and Five To The Future.
Social Media:
M.Christian’s website: http://www.mchristian.com
Future Of Sex articles: https://futureofsex.net/author/m-christian
Twitter: @mchristianzobop
Instagram: @mchristianzobop
Mastodon: @mchristian@mastodon.social
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