Forget the binary of inspiration through fiction vs. guides; travel guides are often the pragmatic starting point that anchors the dream in reality.
It's the third way that no one asked for, because it is where you find the concrete details that decide if a trip is even possible.
How many times has a beautiful travel idea born from a movie faced mandatory vaccines, real budgets, or visa complexities mentioned in a guide?
For example, dreaming of a trek in the Amazon after an adventure novel, but it is the guide that reveals the need for antimalarial prophylaxis and hidden costs, long before departure.