There are some things it may be easier to absorb as kids, which may be why some parents go “OMG I can’t let my kid read this it’s too scary and/or complicated!!”

Recently confirmed a half-remembered factoid that Bigwig was based on a paratrooper colleague of Adams—specifically Captain Desmond “Paddy” Kavanagh, who was killed in combat during Operation Market Garden; but also that Hazel was based on Adams’ commanding officer, Major John Gifford. Which sort of leaves Fiver as a possible self-portrait.