Name: Lawrence McLaren
Alias/Title: Grand Dimaj McLaren
Affiliation: Temple of Marilyn
First Full Name Mentioned: Suicide Run
Known For: Awkward leadership in the Temple of Marilyn; appearances in Chasing Eternity and Suicide Run
Grand Dimaj Lawrence “Larry” McLaren is the head of the Temple of Marilyn whose first major appearance is in Chasing Eternity. Known for his florid ceremonial mannerisms and sycophantic enthusiasm, McLaren exemplifies the Temple’s blend of sexual ritualism and bureaucratic absurdity. Despite holding one of the highest ranks in the faith, his demeanor is often bumbling, and his presence typically invites discomfort or mockery from outsiders.
In Chasing Eternity, McLaren’s interactions with Douglas Best are marked by an awkward tension. Best, reluctantly serving as a prophetic figure within the Temple, finds McLaren’s exaggerated deference both irritating and embarrassing. Their exchanges are punctuated by McLaren’s eagerness to please and his complete lack of self-awareness.
The most pointed dismissal of McLaren comes from Grand Normaj Jayne, who—after assuming the role of Grand Normaj—declares emphatically that she will never have to “bless” McLaren again. The line references the Temple’s euphemistic terminology for sexual rites of induction and promotion, hinting at a deeply awkward prior encounter that neither party wishes to repeat.
McLaren’s full name, Lawrence, is not revealed until Suicide Run, when he is identified more formally during an interrogation by JT Austin and Mitsuko Yamato. The use of the informal “Larry” during this encounter strips away his cultivated mystique and underscores his fallibility within both religious and political spheres.
Appearances: Chasing Eternity, Suicide Run