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Summary: if you like thrillers...
Review: ..buy all of Rucka's Atticus Kodiak books. And I don't say that about a lot of genre writers -- just the best ones.
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Summary: Atticus Stays in Shape
Review: And then some in this very well plotted continuation of the series. High marks to Rucka for pulling off another tour de force with this work a la "Shooting at Midnight." Once again he is able to absolutely turn the work on a dime, take the reader in an unexpected direction and not lose a step. The only knock that I can think of is that the next excursion of Atticus Kodiak and company is going to have a very, very long way to go to keep the series moving upward. It will be very interesting to find out.
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Summary: In case you want to be a bodyguard---
Review: Atticus Kodiak is a bodyguard of the highest moral and professional standing. Up to a point, that is. His present job is, to protect Lady Antonia Ainsley-Hunter on her lecturing circuit in the US. He does just that, but only barely and with the help of his associates and a good dose of luck. His nemesis is Drama, one of the world's top assassins. And Drama almost always gets what she is after: the kidnapping of Lady Ainsley-Hunter in this particular case. She meets with success - and then turns the whole story around. Can't give away the plot now. Suffice it to say that we learn a lot about bodyguarding and assassining.This is a mystery with an intelligent plot, well defined characters and tightly written. Most recommendable!
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Summary: Changes
Review: Atticus transformed. At the end, is he still a bodyguard? And does ballet change everything? The author is taking chances and keeping this series interesting.
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Summary: Atticus Kodiak Continued: Critcal Space by Greg Rucka
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay
Review: I picked up (and stayed with the book) because I am a huge Greg Rucka fan. But as stated in my review of HCFB, I truly think that his best work is in mainstream comics. And after reading Critical Space that opinion has not changed. The story involves Atticus Kodiak a proffessional body guard. In this story he ends up providing protection to a proffessional assasin by the name of Drama. Who had previously tried to kill him, and the things that ensue. The book gets too bogged down in bodyguard proceedures and a long elaborate hunt near the beggining. I found it tedious and boring. I also found Atticus's interaction with his on and off girlfriend Bridgette annoying. It was clear she had serious anger problems and it was beyond me why Atticus put up with her. What I did like in the book was Atticus' interaction with Drama herself. And the elaborate training he went through. I don't think that it is a coincidence that Alena has many similarities to Huntress and Elektra --two comic book heroines whom were also trained to be assassins. Both of whom Rucka wrote about (both available in trade paper back form-higly reccomended). Like Huntress and Elektra...Alena is much more likable even as a villain. Than the supposedly "good women" in the book. This is an okay book. But I truly did not find it to be that much of an intriguing plot. Once you figure out who is out to get Drama, then you can pretty much figure out how the story will progress. I would much rather recommend Rucka's work on Elektra and Huntress.
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Summary: One of the Best in the Series
Review: I still feel that the best in the Atticus Kodiak series is Keeper, the second installation, but Critical Space has enough suspence and twists (and good ones at that) to keep the reader interested. This novel brings back the character Drama, one of the deadliest assassins in the world. The same assassin that Atticus saved his client from in Smoker. For the first third to first half of the novel, Rucka does a wonderful job making us worry and wonder about what Drama wants with Atticus. Once she makes contact with him is where Rucka pulls off the feat of making the story believable. Other writers would have dropped the ball handling this delicate relationship. I do not want to give too much of the plot away, as I was surprised at what Drama needed with our beloved body guard. I'm sure others provide spoilers here, but I do not wish to be one of them. If you are a fan of this series and have not yet read this book, let me say that it might leave you upset- QUASI-SPOILER ALERT: a certain character leaves the series. The book ends on an unhappy note for Atticus, he struggles with his morals, but (hopefully) leaves the door open for another installment. This sure would be an abrupt way to end the series.
Rating:
Summary: a good read
Review: i've never read any of the books in the atticus kodiak series before, i'm not one for thrillers and i only picked up critical space becuase it was the only book in english i could find while on vacation in italy. it turned out to be exciting, intriging, and suspenseful. i think it would've been helpful to have some background info on the characters, but the references to past events were explained enough so i never felt lost. while the plot is a little far-fetched rukka makes it all believable. i recommend it to anyone who likes to be very into a book, i.e. not want to put it down until its over, though i think it would be wise to check out some of the earlier books before you delve into this one. overall a good read.
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Summary: Making the Preposterous into the Believable
Review: This book shouldn't work. The plot is a lot less realistic than those in previous Rucka works, but somehow Rucka pieces it together in a way that you can almost for how ridiculous some of the story in. In this installment, Atticus Kodiak is now famous and his adventures involve a starlet, an activist heiress from England, and the shadowy world of assassins. Much of the work is about a series of life-altering experiences for Atticus that shouldn't rign true at all, as they border on the preposterous. But I turned the pages, my doubts were shoved aside and the action took off. Rucka brings a lot of what he's used as a novelist and as a writer of rather down-to-earth comic books into every page and every plot twist. When the book ends, the reader is left in shock at what's become of Atticus, and can't wait to see what Rucka does next with him.
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Summary: Fast Paced Thriller
Review: This is the 5th book in the Atticus Kodiak and once again Greg Rucka has managed to extend his characters further as they wage a thrilling fight to the death against the most deadly of assassins. Basing a series around a professional bodyguard could have led to a one-dimensional plot being repeated book after book, but this is far from the case and each book has pushed the boundaries of both interest and excitement and this one is definitely no exception. The story starts out as business as usual for Kodiak and his partners as they go about the job of providing protection for their clients. They have been fortunate of late, guarding some high profile clients and the result has been plenty of publicity which has then generated even more business. The downside is that they have now lost the anonymity they would prefer to perform their job. Adding to their raised profile is the release of a book which roars up the best-seller lists. The book is about the events that took place in one of Rucka's earlier book (SMOKER) when Kodiak fought off repeated attacks by an assassin known as Drama. Kodiak receives news that Drama is on the move again, making her way towards New York City. Thinking that the release of the book has prompted Drama to strike, this news chills everyone to the core. The thought that Drama could strike at any time should she choose sets everyone on edge and provides for tension packed operations. From this point on the story becomes packed with unexpected surprises and twists that would be ruined if I attempted to describe them here. Suffice to say, I enjoyed every moment of where the story of Atticus Kodiak headed providing a fast-paced thriller that is compelling reading.
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