Victor Appleton II never did and never will actually exist, and the same goes double for his father, the original Victor Appleton! However, his very best friend in the world, Thomas Hudson, has existed in various forms for more than 6 decades going from pollywog to fully-formed Toad (his nickname as a fat little baby) and finally to what passes for adulthood in most American males. He lives and tries to keep dry in the great Pacific Northwest of the United States where he dragged his wife after finding life (HA! You call that, life?) in California for over a quarter century had gotten too difficult to bear. As someone who once refused to consider joining MENSA because at a drinks reception for potential new members he found that the only thing those people seemed interested in was, "So, what is your IQ? Mine is 142!" he feels a smugness in knowing where he stands in life. (The only comfort he can take from those encounters is his was usually higher.) One thing he revels in is in placing at least one totally absurd fact or concept in every novel figuring that since this is science FICTION he might as well make something up for the few people out there who just can't let go and feel everything must make perfect sense!