Mostly Harmless (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #5)

by Douglas Adams

Because of the various sensory protuberances with which the robot was festooned, it couldn’t maneuver inside the towel, and it just twitched back and forth without being able to turn and face its captor.

Being virtually killed by virtual laser in virtual space is just as effective as the real thing, because you are as dead as you think you are.