I like all sides of the realism tetrahedron.
People inflating with pumps? Yeah, I'm in.
Scientists getting weird with their inflation related kinks? Shit son, That sounds good to me.
Kaijugirls finding new and mobility reducing ways to destroy cities? Fuck dude, Yes. Yes dude. Yes.
I've always been an advocate for the fact that people need a healthy mix of realism and silliness in their lives. This applies here as well.
I for one prefer the middle ground, leaning slightly to the fantasy side. Although, if it's decent enough material I can ignore the obsurd. However, things that are just too farfetched or I know to be down-right impossible in reality can take me out of even the best fantasies. "Smart" writing is best. I'm complicated, so it's probably not a good idea for anyone to cater to my tastes. What works for one story may not be right for another.
While it’s certainly fun to play in the realm of high fantasy, most of my stories take place in a slightly altered version of the real world. I’ve noticed a similar pattern in my personal favorites and with which of my stories are most popular among my readers.
I believe this has to do with how well the the readers can immerse themselves into the narrative. Inflation fiction is pretty much exclusive to the short story format, so fantasy scenarios have a much steeper hill to climb in terms of world-building.
It’s much easier to relate to the issues of a socially awkward high school student who stumbles upon a means of inflating people than it is to relate to a medieval peasant who discovers an inflation potion in a world where sorcerers and demons and dragons are real.
Various options. The most plausible one is human consciousness uploaded into artificial bodies that can inflate. The trickiest thing is not to explain how it is done, but why? Finding a plausible motive to invest into such bodies and for people to abandon flesh for plastic and air.
For example, in this story:
http://bubbleguy.deviantart.com/art/Right-Man-in-the-Wrong-Time-328746269
http://bubbleguy.deviantart.com/art/Hot-sexy-math-345111964
Otherwise it's just magic with no emphasis on how it is possible, but still trying to be realistic within the premise that people can be inflatable, but still acting with sense, proper motives and consistency. @They just inflate because athor and readers want them to" is a bad motive.
I'm willing to stick with a long story with a lot of world building if there are commensurate payoffs. Well-written and detailed description is what does it for me, so whether or not it's a high-fantasy setting or "realistic" is almost secondary. Now that I think about it, a magical or sci-fi setting can really work to make me suspend my disbelief, because at this point I kind of just roll my eyes at extremely entry level stuff involving bike pumps or Wonka gum.
Gotta say, I agree with you on this. Like almost one hundred percent.
Oops, forgot how this board works.
Re. Reality vs Fantasy, I think this is more a question of how far into cartoon physics a story goes rather than trying to be realistic.
My personal tastes are way over in the cartoon physics end, full body inflation & spherical shape. I prefer the unrealistic idea the inflatee will enjoy the process even if it isn't something they wanted or sought out.
"What does it for you in a story?" Does what? ^_^
In our family we enjoy stories, and not always they have to be oh so very sexual that we must visit bedroom asap, no ^_^ We both like a fine, tasty prose, and a setting that allows us to imagine new inflation fun in the same decorations. It's so much more fun than trying to remember specific situation exactly as pictured in yet another miniature
In which category would you put Inflation Olympics? Or ATG's saga? Or your more "real" stories? That's what we like most
I don't mind magic/"science" provided it has some consistent logic to it. Also, there LVK said,there has to be a reason for the inflation, be it revenge, comeuppance, or even as a sport (albeit a fringe one lke my Racer X stories).
Otherwise, it's just yawnsville. Detailed descriptions of the inflation process and whatver the target is feeling, either physically or emotionally is a MUST.
^ This ^
I don't mind reading stories set in magical worlds but pretty much all my personal fantsies take place in a bigger, better, slightly more futuristic version of today. Not utopian, just better.
At the very minimum, it's important to establish logical rules for the universe in which your story is placed. This let's you create tension in the narrative and between characters. A breaking of the rules can also make for a good story, but you have to set up the situation very carefully and demonstrate the consequences of breaking those rules. Deux-ex-machina stories and tales of "All Powerful Mary Sue Who Is Perfect (and Did I Mention All Powerful?) and Never Fails" are very, very boring.
Coffee
Not sure where to put it - it's too small for an individual thread, and all threads about it are too far in the past
I've read today that coffee slows down absorption of oxygen. Where would that lead in a fantasy world?
So I came here and searched for a word "Coffee", and here's what I've found:
- More coffee = smaller breasts lamenting when will they find how to grow them
- More coffee = expansion fantasizing they've found how to grow them
- Coffee definitely IS related to expansion (in a fantasy), as found by DoubleIntegral in Accidental Research 1 & 2
- Coffee can help you watch Violet in highest resolution possible (watching fantasy in reality)
- Coffee (in reality) encourages gastric emptying letting you contain more, and - above - "you end up feeling like there's a thinner than usual layer between the air inside you and the outside world" (where have you been, PG, carried around the globe by jet stream?)
Summing up, Coffee in reality helps you inflate and boosts immersion into watching a fantasy, while Coffee in a fantasy would likely help you resist inflation and deflate steadfast. Let's find out what that means in a nearest coffeeshop, shall we?
Well.... i love fantasy, but for a fetish story im more into reading about a world that is more realistic.
Dont get me wrong, there are a lot full-fantasy stories that are great. But if i want to read a inflation story i want to hop in fast. To create a new world its to long for just 1 inflation scene. I am intrested in "who are the characters" and "how and why do they inflate". If i first have to read a long part about how this fantasy world exist and works, i start to get in the mood to skip it till the inflation start. This means i would miss a part of the story.
And boom goes the inflatee