Why "Get Solo"? Why Not?

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Title:	Why "Get Solo"? Why Not?
Creator:	Carolyn Golledge
Date(s):	1993
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Star Wars
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Why "Get Solo"? Why Not? is a 1993 Star Wars essay by Carolyn Golledge.

The topic was Han Solo in fanworks and the genre of get 'ems and trashing characters.

The essay was printed in Bright Center of the Universe #3.

The author knows that her nickname is "Queen of Trash Solo," something she finds "both amusing and flattering."

The first time Golledge was asked to address this topic was in 1990 when she was asked to be a panelist at MediaWest*Con:

I was happy to oblige, and even happier when a fellow member. Ken Kiesel agreed to play a thoroughly trashed Han for me! My friends and I covered him in bandages plus fake blood. I borrowed a whip and chains, and he preceded me, limping, into the room. The resulting laughter was deafening! Unfortunately, the panel itself was rather a failure as it degenerated into a discussion of Alien Nation. So, I'm happy to have the opportunity now to answer in print.

From the Essay

Coincidentally, I had decided some months ago that "Gathering Darkness" would be my last ever "trash" Solo story. The reason that I've decided to quit giving Solo a rough time, has absolutely nothing to do with fandom, nor with my future plans for my writing. I'm afraid I can't tell you what that reason is, because

you'd never believe it, I'm having a hard time believing it myself! In any case, from now on, "my" Solo will not suffer so much as hangnail!

When I began writing Star Wars in 1984, it was the first time I'd ever tried to write anything since High School. (Which is further back than I care to think about!) So, I suppose. I subconsciously chose to write the style of story I'd always preferred to read. And that was fast-paced action/adventure. I began that taste with a diet of Alistair Maclean and Desmond Bagley, among others. I also preferred to watch the same thing on TV, and here I also noted a preference for adventure centering around a deep bond of friendship, usually between two men. (Alias Smith and Jones, Starsky and Hutch, Simon and Simon, and earlier, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.)

Star Wars caught my complete devotion because, to my way of thinking, it combined these two elements perfectly. I was more intrigued by the Han/Leia relationship than the Han/Luke, as AT LAST we had a strong, independent, intelligent, capable FEMALE lead and a man who was both completely masculine yet displayed vulnerability. Essentially, however, it was the interaction between the Big Four that I wanted

to write about in an action context, as I find them all equally fascinating, equally valid characters. In many of the stories I'd read, the hero was often trashed, and yet still managed, in seemingly "superhuman" fashion to be victorious. Television stations always seem to make a point of promoting "trash" scenes. Why? Because they know their interest to the viewer, and the potential for better than average ratings.

Let's see.

We care/feel for the hero, so maybe, we like to see him being cared for.

We like to see the hero truly tested.

[Another reason] why are our heroes always being "trashed"? Because they constantly confront VILLAINS! And villains are NOT nice people!!

We want to see the hero and his friends forced to reveal some of the depth of feeling they have for one another.

I like to think of this last [one] as an expression of spiritual love, rather than sexual, and I propose that it is this quality that we find so attractive. Spirituality is not something that is normally expounded on prime time TV!! I like to think that the genuine caring we witness in a properly handled "trash" sequence also puts us in touch with out inner most selves and with those values we hold most important. It is only in the face of death and/or extreme suffering that our priorities are made clear, and we are reminded that it is not a bonding of the flesh that will forever link us to those we love. Oh, my gosh! Where did all that come from? It almost sounds religious!

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not that! I like to claim to be Corellian by nature! But I do believe I am also a spiritual person, and I honestly believe that's what I'm trying to express through all the suffering I inflict on poor ol' Hansikins! Now, we come to a point that is probably going to leave you all with jaws agape! The truth is that in my early stories at least, I never intentionally set out to write a "trash" story! My primary aim was, and is, to create a gripping action/adventure which also explores 1. some moral or what if? point of interest to me, and 2. the dynamics of emotional relationships.

Some years back, I received letters from a couple of readers who told me or implied that I was sadistic. At the time those remarks cut deeply, and I even considered quitting writing. But now I've come to realize that those few who perceived my stories as "sadistic" are they who have the problem with their psyches. That problem being that they are unable or unwilling to separate the actor, Harrison Ford, from the characters he portrays. I don't know how these individuals made it through a viewing of "Regarding Henry!" (Oddly enough, except for one or two moments, I found it decidedly lacking in emotional intensity.) Anyway, to explore the motives for the various stories I've written would require tackling them individually. I must plead guilty to possessing a wicked sense of humor, and that was the reason for much of the trashing (particularly the opening nightmare sequence) in "Gathering Darkness." It was sort of retaliation for all the teasing I'd received in my Queen of Trash capacity! The nightmare scene was deliberately laid on thick, as in, so, you 'think I trash Solo? Well, hey, you ain't seen nothin' yet!'

Sorry about that. I couldn't resist! Some of my SW fan friends and I had a good giggle over those opening sentences!!! How did that go again? "Suffering horribly, screaming mindlessly!" C'mon, admit it, some of you must have recognized a send up! But, beyond that, the real purpose of the story was (as one astute LOCer noted) to explore the characters of Doctor Tarrant and Jerrod, the clone, both good guys in the wrong uniforms, that theme is very appealing to me, and recurs in several of my stories, (see False Friends, What Price Peace? and others.)

In fact I have taken that theme as the centerpiece for the pro novel I have just completed and am groveling to Del Rey in the hopes of having it published. (Hey, I warned ya that I have a Corellian personality, egotistic, opportunistic, and optimistic!)

The other purposes of "Gathering Darkness" are also represented in other stories, those being, to explore the psychic quality of the friendship between Han and Luke, and to place Leia's roles as lover, wife, and political leader, in conflict. The final reason why I write "get" stories? Hey, it's habit forming! It's easy enough to write in the same format, and since it's proven popular (THANK YOU!) I had little motive to change. I agree with the LOCer from NY however, in that I too feel it's time for me to move on to something different, because even I've become bored with trashing, and I think I've finally done it every way there is! (Besides, Solo just broke free of his chains and is holding a blaster to my head!)

I'd like to see the other side of the coin explored, i.e., why do some people have such a problem with "get" or "trash" stories? They're certainly common enough in mainstream fiction, and usually far more graphic!

Fan Comments

It's a shame Carolyn had to write "Why Get Solo? Why Not?". All of her work is tastefully done, even her "trashing". Readers can just skip the story if anyone if offended by it I get fed up with people who try to tell me what to watch on TV because of the violence. Just turn the channel/turn the page.

As to Carolyn's decision not to trash Han anymore]]: Does this mean our intrepid Hero isn't going to get so much as a cut finger in further stories? After all Carolyn's put him through, I would find that rather unbelievable. Okay, so she may have over done it a little sometimes, but strangely enough, some of us love to see our favourite characters suffer, later to be helped and given love by those around him. And aren't those the main ingredients of a good story? Love, friendship, pain and suffering, good v evil. So please reconsider your decision Carolyn. Your trash Han stories were always so wonderfully expressive,

showing the depth of love Leia, Luke and Chewie had for him.

"Why "Get" Solo? Why Not?" - I agree with your reasons, Carolyn. I like your stories. Keep up the good work (Please write another). Good luck with your book.