Critical Space [Paperback]

Greg Rucka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2002

Critical space: it's all that stands between you and death...Code-named Drama, she is a lightning-fast death machine - a hit-woman sought by intelligence agencies around the world. Drama kills as easily as she breathes...And the last time she met Atticus Kodiak, they barely escaped each other alive. Atticus has a reputation as one of the toughest bodyguards in the business, and is used to calling the shots. But all that changes when he is forced to take on Drama as a client. From New York's Russian enclaves to the Swiss Alps and the Carribean, Atticus becomes Drama's only hope for survival as she tries to outrun her bloody past. But once immersed in Drama's high-stakes, covert world, Atticus breaks a cardinal rule - he gets to know Drama as a woman rather than as a client - and it's a bond that could cost them both their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Penzler Pick, September 2001: Greg Rucka has created a remarkable character named Atticus Kodiak, a bodyguard who, together with assorted friends and associates, has appeared in four previous books. Before reading Critical Space, it's not necessary to know the sometimes complicated history of Atticus and his professional and personal relationships, but it helps.

It helps, for instance, to know that Atticus has been romantically involved with Bridget and Natalie, both of whom have worked on cases with him. It helps to know that Bridget has a very complicated past, which Rucka chronicled in his fourth book, Shooting at Midnight. And it helps to know that he has already had a run-in with one of the most deadly international assassins working--a beautiful woman who goes by the name of Drama.

It is Drama who takes center stage in this latest tale. After quitting a high-profile case as bodyguard to spoiled movie star Skye Van Brandt, Kodiak is approached by an old friend from England who is bringing the famous abused children's advocate, Lady Antonia Ainsley-Hunter, to the States for some appearances. After one near-miss with Lady Antonia, another attempt to abduct her is successful. But it is not a ransom or publicity that the kidnapper wants--she is merely bait for the real target: Atticus. A game of cat and mouse leads through the subways of New York, out to Staten Island, and back over to New Jersey, where Atticus is once again in the presence of Drama, who now needs his help. She has become a target of an assassin named Oxford, who is every bit as good as she is. Drama, who has some idea who might have put the hit on her, needs backup to combat this elite killer.

What is remarkable about this book, and the series as a whole, is not only the writing, which is crisp and concise, but the inside information from Rucka about what it takes to be a bodyguard, what the training is like, and how certain situations are defused. Rucka knows his stuff and deserves a wider audience. --Otto Penzler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

The trouble with the old Tom and Jerry cartoons was that the mouse had all the moves. In Rucka's new thriller (after Shooting at Midnight), best read with a bag of popcorn in hand, the cat has learned a lot. The mice (so to speak) are the KTMH Security team, headed by Atticus Kodiak, renowned as the only security operative ever to outmaneuver a young female assassin know as Drama, one of the deadliest members of The Ten, an international group of stone-cold killers. Kodiak is not an arrogant man. He realizes that his escape was pure luck, and he isn't surprised when Drama turns up again. This time her target seems to be KTMH's lucrative new client, 23-year-old heiress and child rights activist Lady Ainsley-Hunter, but at the height of the chase she turns the tables: she wants to hire Kodiak as her personal bodyguard. Seduced by the complicated, surprisingly fragile killer, Kodiak can't help but take the job, even if it means going up against an even deadlier assassin, the FBI and his own best friends and colleagues. Rucka's suspense is based not on violent confrontation but on "what happens next?" The action tends to be a bit drawn-out, but the pace is good and the plot compelling. Best of all, Rucka's protagonists are well-rounded and sympathetic, convincingly resourceful and refreshingly low-key. Solidarity and friendship are as important as weaponry and tactics in this satisfying, character-driven thriller. Agent, David Hale Smith.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749933275
• ISBN-13: 978-0749933272
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,373,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The author of four novels about professional bodyguard Atticus Kodiak -- Keeper (nominated for a Shamus Award by the Private Eye Writers of America), Finder, Smoker, and Shooting at Midnight, Greg Rucka has been writing since he was eight years old, and hopefully is improving with age. A longtime comics fan, his first graphic novel series was the suspense thriller Whiteout, published by Oni Press and nominated for three Eisner Awards in 1999. Since that time he has been a contributing writer for DC Comics and an active participant in the Batman series of titles.
Born and raised in California, he earned his undergraduate degree at Vassar College and his MFA at the University of Southern California. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Rucka has two tattoos, and rides a motorcycle.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best in the Series, November 11, 2001

By 

Mary Jo Paine (Laureldale, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Critical Space (Hardcover)

Every book featuring Atticus Kodiak gets better and better and it's hard to imagine Mr Rucka could write another book any better than this one. I couldn't put this book down but at the same time that I was staying up late into the night reading, didn't want the adventure to end. This installment puts the reader on a roller coaster of emotions . . . alternately cheering for Atticus and agonizing over some of the decisions he is making that appear to be turning him into the type of person he is usually hired to protect against! I strongly suggest that a person read the previous books in the Atticus Kodiak series to truly appreciate the characters that surround Atticus.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars, October 23, 2001

By 

Konrad Kern (OFallon, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Critical Space (Hardcover)

Atticus Kodiak, a name you wont soon forget after reading this fast moving thriller from the mind of Greg Rucka.

The pursuer becomes the pursued and the assassin becomes the target. Drama is the code name of one of the top assassins in the world belonging to a group known as The Ten. Atticus Kodiak is the only man alive that has bested her. Now Drama is being targeted by another dangerous assassin known as Oxford, and would like Atticus to protect her. Her scheme to get Atticuss help is no less than genius. Once he relents and decides to help, she trains him and teaches him everything she knows about survival in the world of assassins. Training he will need to survive.

I really liked this book. It was fast paced with adventures in international locales. It had likeable characters with depth. The story gave you a good idea about the job of bodyguard as well as some secrets of the assassins. A thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Atticus Kodiak Continued: Critcal Space by Greg Rucka, March 14, 2004

By 

Kevin Tipple (Plano, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Critical Space (Hardcover)

Greg Rucka is one of those special authors that weaves intriguing characters, witty dialogue and plenty of action into a first rate story. If you have not had the pleasure of reading him, then you are in for a real treat. However, this is one of those series that it is vital to read them in order and this review will unfortunately, by necessity, give away some details. The characters change tremendously in this series and this particular novel ties up quite a lot from the proceeding books. The earlier novels are Keeper, Finder, Smoker and Shooting at Midnight and should be available at almost any bookstore and of course, your local library, either in its collection or through the Inter-Library Loan Program.

Atticus is virtually at the top of success in the professional bodyguard world. His company, KTMH Security, is doing very well especially after the success of stopping Drama in his last book. (See, I told you to read the others.) Drama, a world-renowned assassin in intelligence circles as well as the underworld had a violent encounter with Atticus and both were very lucky to escape with their respective lives. After a year and no retaliation by Drama, Atticus believes the threat has lessened and that one and all should breath easy. He believes that even though she was thwarted in her assignment at great personal cost, she has moved on to other targets.

But, a book has been released, featuring reporting on the incident and there has been a resultant wave of publicity. While that has been good for business, it has brought the shallow celebrity style clients that Atticus does not want. But, there are clients that he does want and adores, such as Lady Ainsley-Hunter from England. Atticus agrees to protect her while her ladyship is in the United States and soon things begin to go wrong.

Lady Ainsley-Hunter is in definite danger and it may all trace back to Drama. Drama has her own problems and is not through with either KTMH or its most famous owner and employee, Atticus Kodiak. She violently makes her presence known and with so much at stake, both professionally and personally, Atticus has no choice but to accede to her demands.

This is a tough, action filled and well written book that will keep you turning the page. In writing there is an old axiom that admonishes writers to "show, don't tell." Greg Rucka is one of the best at that and uses dialogue wonderfully to paint a picture. The pictures he paints through words are complicated and multi layered and full of emotion. Simply put, his books are very good and I would strongly recommend him to anyone.