[Report This]Date: March 19 2022 7:47 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
In terms of storyline this has to my favourite in terms of being able to tie all other storylines together in such an intriguing way.
Well done 😊
Date: May 14 2016 10:43 PM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
Very happy reading this ending, now that ive read a little blackmail 5's ending
Author's Response: Glad to hear it!
Date: August 06 2015 2:24 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
Short Weekend is succinct enough that, on its own, I can see why you have the interpretation you do of the characters. Future stories will show things aren't half as ominous as they are in TimeOut, though. Abby doesn't actually favor a child, she just takes the consequences for wrongful actions at a level of seriousness akin to most others in this world (meaning shrinking as a suitable punishment).
You're right that it's only a window of a few hours we see of the their lives. Ackbar does that on purpose, leaves a lot open for different interpretations. I take your word for it, because you know the characters a lot better than me. It would never escalate in a Time-Out. I called it Time-out light, but maybe that is even too much.
If this is a one time only situation, than there is little harm done to Corey. Does Abby understand the potential consequences if she put Corey through that kind of punishment again and again? What size she chooses for Corey also says a lot. Not 2 foot or 1 foot where he is easy to manage for Claire, not even 12 inches or 7 inches so he fits in a dollhouse and where his face is still cleary visible and he can still somewhat communicate. But 1 inch. To make him feel so totally vulnerable, so insignificant and so full of fear. Every animal or clumsy behaviour of Claire and her friends could kill Corey.
Author's Response:
Good point to bring up: Short Weekend is an exceptionally rare occasion for Corey. Unlike Scott in TimeOut, it's made to be an extreme example rather than the norm. In TimeOut, a lot of the problems you've wondered about (favoritism, sibling power trips, personality defects) are all things Scott does have to deal with, because it happens so often, but for Corey it's essentially a one-time. That vulnerability issue is just another thing people in this world have learned to accept after shrinking has been around for so long.
Date: August 04 2015 11:44 PM Title: Report 5: The Lindon Family, Interview 1: Professor Abby Lindon
@Jack. I already feel that I live in a somewhat pre-dystopic society. ;)
But your answer is spot on with the difference in type of society that the two stories exist in. I always wonder how I would react in a similar situation as the Corey in Shrink Act Files and Oversight. Taken into account the setting of the world and Corey's age. In Shrink Act Files I wouldn't know. Corey did something terrible and someone died. I would feel so bad and accept a harsh punishment. I would accept being shrunken even. But there is little information on what really happened in that year and if they would do it again for light offences. I don't get that feeling from Abby. So I won't hold it against her or Claire. If I suspect a certain degree of malicious intentions, than I would make plans to leave the house as soon as possible and break off contact with Claire and Abby forever.
Abby's intentions in Oversight give me a totall different feeling.
Abby's mention of Corey possibly earning punishment in Short Weekend is with the inherent understanding that Claire won't actually do anything to mistreat him.
"Well," Abigail added, giving him a slight smile, "not unless you give her a reason to, anyway."
Her answer and her actions in the rest of the story says it all. Like she knows Claire will mistreat him anyway and that Abby finds that amusing.
We can conclude by her actions and words that she favours Claire over Corey. That she always believe her words over his. Abby has just betrayed Corey in a terrible way. That very good relationship he has with his sister is in danger.
"Oversight" will probably turn into Time-Out light. Every familie member vs Corey.
Author's Response:
Short Weekend is succinct enough that, on its own, I can see why you have the interpretation you do of the characters. Future stories will show things aren't half as ominous as they are in TimeOut, though. Abby doesn't actually favor a child, she just takes the consequences for wrongful actions at a level of seriousness akin to most others in this world (meaning shrinking as a suitable punishment).
Date: August 04 2015 5:38 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
A difference of opinion. 16 year or older sibling taking care of a younger one is not a problem, much younger sibling taking care of an older one's punishment session with the consent of both parents and that they give her full autonomy over him/her?
Abby (in oversight)
"No more of that. Just because you're small doesn't mean you have to act as such," she exclaimed with narrow eyes. "Claire is your sister, Corey. She's not going to hurt you, she's not going to mistreat you. She's not even going to punish you."
"Well," Abigail added, giving him a slight smile, "not unless you give her a reason to, anyway." Corey had to fight down another shudder as he continued to stand frozen underneath her gaze. "But you're such a wonderful boy...most of the time, anyway. So I don't see that happening."
"It's also the lightest punishment I can imagine giving you for what you did," Abigail explained to him, her voice taking on a certain chill. "You should count yourself thankful that I'm simply letting Claire watch over you for the weekend. That I don't believe in more...corporeal forms of punishment at home. Like some parents do. Because we both know you wouldn't care for that. "
What kind of corporeal punishment could be worse than that humiliation? I can't think of any. And to give a young girl such a taste of absolute power over someone. Corrupting the daughter in the process. Because you can just feel by al those words, this won't be only this weekend. He will be punished in that way for everything light or even if Claire lies about stuff.
Maybe a misinterpretation in what's to come next in Oversight. But the Abby in The Shrink Act Files seems more sincere about helping Corey.
Abby, "Yes. All we want is to teach a lesson and change the behavior, not change Corey. We would never want that.
Author's Response: It's a fair concern you have. What has to be understood here is the context of the world. There's enough of a divide from reality here to put it more into pre-dystopic society territory. Attitudes of this population are universally more relaxed about responsibility with shrunken individuals, which ties into their views of power, right vs wrong, and placement in the social ladder. And the segment in Shrink Act Files does show a Corey impacted somewhat by the time he's spent in his family's care. More docile and willing to submit to Claire's style of conversation, even if she's totally unaware of it. Abby's mention of Corey possibly earning punishment in Short Weekend is with the inherent understanding that Claire won't actually do anything to mistreat him. Still, I definitely won't say you're wrong to wonder about the potential unhealthy side effects of characters being given reign over tiny people. That's an issue my TimeOut stories explore, to a certain extent.
Date: August 03 2015 10:26 PM Title: Report 5: The Lindon Family, Interview 1: Professor Abby Lindon
@Jacksmith. I don't mean the Omega version of them, but a version that looked like this story of "The shrink act files",
"Oversight: Short Weekend"
http://www.giantessworld.net/viewstory.php?sid=4380
They're interesting to compare. Many people don't see the little things that can have a huge impact.
"Ackbar is actually continuing this version of the characters in some other stories."
You mean "Oversight: Short Weekend"?
An interesting story, because there is some subtle disturbing stuff in it. It lookes like this story, but the differences make Abby and Howard somewhat cruel in my eyes and unlikable.
Author's Response:
Oh I see. Yes, I meant Short Weekend (and an upcoming one). This is another case where we're just reading the characters differently, I guess. Short Weekend isn't meant to be ominous. It exists in a world where shrinking has been around for a long time and many parents are perfectly content leaving their kids in the care of siblings.
[Report This]Date: August 03 2015 9:33 AM Title: Report 5: The Lindon Family, Interview 1: Professor Abby Lindon
Your Lindon story is different than that of Ackbar. In this case Corey did something really bad and the punishment seem not to bad. Although I would never let a younger sibling discipline an older one(but that's the fun for us size difference fans) and not shrink him too small where it becomes life threatening. They seem to genuinly care about Corey's wellbeing and that the punishment stops after a year.
Abby, "Yes. All we want is to teach a lesson and change the behavior, not change Corey. We would never want that.
In Ackbar's version Abby actions will change Corey and not for the better. What difference.
Like this shrink act.
Author's Response:
The Lindons are a little more grounded in this version than the world they inhabit in Omega, so their reactions hopefully reflect that here. Ackbar is actually continuing this version of the characters in some other stories. Thanks for reviewing!
Date: October 05 2014 6:19 AM Title: Report 3: South Hanenrow University, Interview 1: Professor Ellen Taggert
cool stuff. ilike the dialogue
Date: July 28 2014 5:18 PM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
I avoided reading comments until midstory after I noticed that someone was commenting on the surprising finale (in the first chapter!), so no problem... except that, err, this Julia Mack, and that Jack A., they remind me of something (mostly words like "Goddess" and "worship").
Many of us congratulated you about this story - I've postponed reading Dilbertaco's comeback to read it. 'Nuff said
Author's Response:
I appreciate your comments on this one. I'd have to agree that those are fairly relevant words to use for Julia and Jack. Thanks for reading!
Date: July 26 2014 9:15 AM Title: Report 6: Cambralart Financials, Interview 3: Daniel Jackson and Karine Templeton
Quoting Dr House, "men are pigs" - no matter how much I try I can't stop thinking that there's someone, somewhere, who got in trouble when it was discovered that he didn't consiider his punishment, well, punishment (the day I finally put the details down I'll probably request a custom video).
The only thing I don't understand is, if it worked so well for Ms Beakman, why don't they use the PRMD at Techilogic as well... I bet TC would be much more productive, and I'm 100% sure he would receive fewer complaints.
Oh, by the way: the actual content fell into your hands somehow, I hope that doesn't imply a nyrhing about how the story ends ;)
Author's Response:
They actually do use the PMRD in certain departments of Techilogic, and the problem is that the very people complaining to Howard are the ones who would probably have the ability to use it as a punishment if desired. I won't spoil the ending, though if you read far enough down in the reviews, you would probably figure it out... Thanks for reading!
Date: July 17 2014 9:19 AM Title: Report 4: The Williams Family, Interview 2: Ruby Williams and Trish Reed
That someone eventually would be kind to their tinies was more or less expected, but I was 100% sure it would have been someone's mom, not a sibling - and definitely not a stepsister!
It was sort of hinted in the previous chapter, but I'm surprised anyway (I need to take longer breaks between chapters; thinking wtf is the clue to defeat Julia is going to help :)
Author's Response:
Glad I was able to surprise you. And keep your eyes peeled; there really is a hint about it in there somewhere!
[Report This]Date: July 15 2014 8:21 AM Title: Report 3: South Hanenrow University, Interview 1: Professor Ellen Taggert
Great, great, great! Even if, gIven how good you are at keeping a story going with the same characters for hundreds of pages, I think changing characters every two chapters makes it too easy ;)
For some reason I totally love when the punishment is (at least formally) "reasonable", "for their own sake" - and even more the few cases where the tinies actually have some way out, at least in theory.
I'd write more, but I think I'll go on reading instead...
(compulsory picture reference: "teacher's pet", from the cobburt collection)
PS
Glad to hear that it's still unknown how long Scott will have to stay shrunken!
But until you write otherwise, I'll still assume that he really wasn't listening and doesn't know how long he's going to stay like that...
Author's Response: Glad you're liking it so far!
Date: July 10 2014 8:23 PM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
Reread this and the line of " A lot of her to cover up" intrigues me. What, did Techilogic grow someone and they're hiding her in the valley because its too dangerous to shrink her down?
Author's Response:
We'll just have to wait and see won't we? ;)
[Report This]Date: July 10 2014 5:42 PM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
Great read, I take it Avalon is where Carly and/or Julia was residing.
Also I wonder how much of other stories like The Freshman or Family Reunion tie into this whole mess even if it's a small bit. Excellent crafting of your own Smithverse.
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading/reviewing! Family Reunion probably could take place in this world, albeit prior to Blackmail, since no one in that story had heard of people being able to shrink. Freshman I would be more inclined to say exists on its own, since Peter is acknowledged as a complete anomaly, but who knows?
[Report This]Date: July 10 2014 7:44 AM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
You did a great job, Jack! Not only at telling a non-raunchy story. But, at showing that changing a corrupt system from within is always easier said than done. Because how can you do that when those who make the same rules they demand you play by, consistently break them? And, not only with impunity, but with complete anonymity?
Answer: you can't.
Which is why most civil rights' martyrs had to act like outlaws before those powerful enough to make laws started changing them...from bad to good.
Author's Response:
Thanks for this and all your reviews on this story. That conflict of morals and systematic rules was really what I hoped to illustrate here.
[Report This]Date: July 10 2014 7:41 AM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
I wonder if the people that took june work here.
Author's Response:
;)
Date: July 10 2014 7:11 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
For me too, this unexpected ending, I thought that Howard was going toi get killed or captured by his former employer. I hope that there'll be a sequel of that. Also looking for your debut omega universe!
Author's Response:
Thanks very much for reading. Glad I could surprise with the ending.
[Report This]Date: July 10 2014 6:23 AM Title: Report 8: Closing Thoughts and Relevant Notes
This is not the ending I predicted, but it's still good. It makes for a fine sequel hook, with Howard still able to work. This story in general has been good for worldbuilding, by providing hints of things that can be blown up into their own stories, and there are many opportunities to explore moral and social issues.
Author's Response:
I've appreciated your commentary on this one, man. Glad you think it was effective at worldbuilding.
[Report This]Date: July 10 2014 5:29 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
A perfect ending that also allows you to come back if you need. Jack A. is probably the most significant victim of shrinking.
Author's Response:
That's an understatement on Jack...
Thanks for reading/reviewing!
Date: July 07 2014 11:16 AM Title: Report 1: Preliminary Findings
it's interesting chapter even if I did not read stories related to this one. I also hope 18th chapter will be here very soon!
Author's Response: Glad to hear it. Thanks for reading!