User blog comment:Vae Victis/Trivia: Lilac inspirations?/@comment-6042046-20130418154100/@comment-1264592-20130419023735

"I believe you find life such a problem because you think there are the good people and the bad people. You're wrong, of course. There are, always and only, the bad people..." Lord H. Vetinari

Well, Ankh-Morpork is London, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's all based on real-life observation. I started noticing the similarities when I ran into the Clay Men - it was like I was transported into Feet of Clay. FL definitely has some Pratchettian feel to it.