# Mac — Short Fiction character guide

> Mac in Short Fiction by Frederik Pohl.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0000-asteroid-of-the-damned

## Snapshot

A hard-luck gambler on Pallas whose pocket is picked by a glowing asterite, Mac turns one small theft into a full-scale brawl and total ruin.

## Who they are

MacCauley—Mac—is a man whose luck runs bad and then worse, and the Kiddie's theft of his pocket is only the beginning. He chases the thief into a crowded street, collides with a drunk, and triggers a free-for-all that leaves him gassed, beaten, and penniless outside the casino. His reflexive, escalating pursuit of a small wrong makes him the story's engine of comic and costly momentum.

## Relationships

### [the Kiddie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/the_kiddie)

_friendship_

Mac and the Kiddie share a close, protective bond, possibly as an older and younger companion navigating a harsh world.

### [Kittrell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/kittrell)

_friendship_

Kittrell and Mac are loyal companions, often working together or supporting each other in difficult circumstances.

### [Kittrell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/kittrell)

_friendship_

Kittrell and Mac are loyal companions, often working together or supporting each other in difficult circumstances.

### [the Kiddie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/the_kiddie)

_friendship_

Mac and the Kiddie share a close, protective bond, possibly as an older and younger companion navigating a harsh world.

### [Kittrell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/kittrell)

_friendship_

Kittrell and Mac are loyal companions, often working together or supporting each other in difficult circumstances.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/mac
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters