The idea of a robot or automaton built for romantic or sexual purposes in science fiction has deep roots, but pinpointing the first example is tricky due to varying interpretations of what qualifies as a "robot sex doll"
Here are some notable early examples that could fit the bill:
1.
E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Sandman (1816)- While not strictly "science fiction," this gothic tale features Olimpia, an automaton who is romantically pursued by the protagonist. While Olimpia isn't explicitly a "sex doll," her creation and use reflect early ideas of artificial companions.
2.
Villiers de l'Isle-Adam's Tomorrow's Eve (1886)- This novel introduces Hadaly, an android created by a scientist to serve as a perfect female companion. The philosophical exploration of artificial love and perfection makes it one of the earliest explicit depictions of a humanoid designed for romantic or potentially sexual purposes.
3.
Karel Čapek's R.U.R. (1920)- Čapek’s play coined the term "robot," and while it focuses more on robots as laborers and revolutionaries, there are discussions about robots as romantic partners. However, there’s no explicit focus on them being sex dolls.
4.
Philip José Farmer's The Lovers (1952)- This story delves into human-alien romance and features concepts of artificial beings built for intimacy, blending themes of desire and science fiction.
Why It’s Complicated
Many early works avoid outright sexualizing robots or automatons, instead leaning into themes of idealized companionship, servitude, or philosophical dilemmas about humanity and artificial life. Explicit "sex dolls" as we think of them today—intended purely for sexual purposes—become more common in modern science fiction, particularly from the mid-20th century onward.
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