You don't know whether it's "not just fiction" nor would you if they published this citizens name. What you do know is that the author, the publication, and its

You don't know whether it's "not just fiction" nor would you if they published this citizens name. What you do know is that the author, the publication, and its editor are all willing to put their professional reputation on the line to guarantee the correctness of their reporting. That's kind of how journalism works.