Fandom History: Get ‘ems

Before “hurt/comfort” became the more widely-used term, “Get” or “Get ‘em” stories featured gratuitous whumping of a specific character who is injured, mistreated, and otherwise tormented throughout the story. 

“Get" stories were frequently gen, and often light on the comfort. The Star Trek zine Contact contained both “Get-” style and “Hurt/comfort” style stories, as well as both friendship and slash stories between Kirk and Spock. Some early examples include Star Trek: TOS stories The Logical Conclusion, Spock Enslaved!, and The Rack.

In a 1976 article on the genre, Becca Oroukin and Connie Faddis, offer several possible explanation for “Get ‘ems” appeal, “Creators of “get-em” tales sometimes equate them selves subconsciously with God. The STAR TREK characters are ours to mold or mangle. We direct their fates. We exercise control over the lives of our fictional heroes as an expression of our wish to exert greater control over our own lives and the lives of those we love… Ultimately, good tragedy and drama are not usually concerned with the suffering itself, but with the dignity with which it is endured, or the strength with which it is conquered. Through suffering, one can reach reflective self-consciousness and an awareness of human limitations.”