Author William Sleator has revealed that all five characters are based upon real people in his own life, including himself. This is no-doubt why every character’s personality was created to such a high detail, making them so relatable and believable, but in no way boring.
The strange setting and title of this ominous novel were taken from House of Stairs by Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher, who created a piece of art featuring endlessly twisting stairs at impossible angles.