McAnally, usually called Mac, is the owner of McAnally's Pub. He first appears in Storm Front.
Description
He is a tall, gangly man with a shaved head. His actual age is indeterminate; "somewhere between thirty and fifty."[1] He is a man of few words and few overt expressions, but when he says or emotes something, it is generally noteworthy. When he works, he wears black pants, a white shirt, and a white apron that is always spotless. He seems to be generally very wise and imperturbable. He makes the best ale in Chicago, and gets irritated if one wants it served cold, as that would ruin its flavor. After he brought out his private stash, Harry Dresden calls Mac a "beeromancer".[2] He also makes lemon ice-cubes to go with his lemonade, so that it doesn't get watered down. He specializes in steak and steak sandwiches.[3]
He is something of an unsolved mystery throughout the series. By all appearances, he's nothing but human, yet he knows an enormous amount about the supernatural community, has managed to designate his bar as neutral territory under the Unseelie Accords,[4] and he seems to be on first-name basis with both of the Faerie Ladies and Fix[3], as well as with Anastasia Luccio and Donald Morgan.[5] Furthermore, in Cold Days, the Outsider, Sharkface, knew who Mac was, calling him "Watcher".[6] In Skin Game, Mab shows Mac much more respect than she shows Nicodemus Archleone.[7]
He drives a white '89 Trans Am—Mac, that he loans to Dresden in Storm Front.[8] He speaks at least a little Japanese.[4]
In the series
Fool Moon
- Main article: Fool Moon
Death Masks
- Main article: Death Masks
In Death Masks, when Harry entered the bar, Mac caught his eye then nodded to a sign on the wall that said: "ACCORDED NEUTRAL TERRITORY". Then he pulled out a shotgun from under the bar and said, "Got it?", Harry responds, "No problem". This was just before the meeting of the seconds with the emissary to establish weapons for the duel between Harry and Paolo Ortega.[4]
Changes
- Main article: Changes
In Changes, he is the first personHarry Dresden talks to about his daughter. Mac listens intently as Harry tells him about Susan Rodriguez, what happened and about being an orphan and that he will not let that happen to his little girl. Mac then says some profoundly, and somewhat prophetic, wise words.[9]
Cold Days
- Main article: Cold Days
In Cold Days, when the Outsider, Sharkface, demanded that Harry be sent out to him under threat of attack on his pub, Harry offered to take it outside under the Accords. Mac chose to defend Harry instead. Sharkface recognized Mac and called "Watcher" and "empty" and said that Mac chose his road a long time ago. Mac, Harry and Thomas fought off Sharkface until he left. Harry pressed Mac for what he knows about this Outsider but Mac insisted that he'll stay out of it. Just before Harry left, Mac covertly passed information to him using three beer bottle to symbolically say that there of three of them (meaning three Walkers as Harry later finds out).[6]
Later, Mac, along with Harry's other friends—Butters, Andi, Justine—were kidnapped by the Redcap.[10] Unlike Harry's other friends however, Mac is either not tied up or able to heal so quickly that no marks are left on his wrists.[11]
Skin Game
- Main article: Skin Game
In Skin Game, Mac closes down his pub for a private meeting between Harry and Kringle. Mab bows her head to him deeply, greeting him respectfully. Mac acknowledges the gesture and returns her compliment, making Mab smile and refer to him as a "flatterer."
Word of Butcher
According to Jim Butcher, more will be revealed about Mac later on the series. He's not a god, nor the scion of a god.[12] He is dangerous, however.[13]
References
- ↑ Heorot
- ↑ Small Favor, ch. 17
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Proven Guilty, ch. 19
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Death Masks, ch. 17
- ↑ Dead Beat, ch. 30
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cold Days, ch. 22
- ↑ Skin Game, ch. 44
- ↑ Storm Front, ch. 24
- ↑ Changes, ch. 01: "Something like this will test you like nothing else. You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find out which principles you'll cross. You're heading into the badlands. It'll be easy to get lost."
- ↑ Cold Days, ch. 35
- ↑ Cold Days, ch. 37
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNPzHhdyVNE&feature=related
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wKr8UERpto