MacKinnon is a classic WASP who painstakingly builds huge, rigid structures of words in complete obliviousness to the organic, sensual, and visual.

At the same time, of course, that's part of the international appeal of the character - his complete obliviousness to the rest of society.

Complete obliviousness to the city's dangers, great or small-that was the prerogative of being an officer in the Sacred Brotherhood.