Third in a--series?--begun with the paperback Streetlethal and Gorgon Child, whose central character is Aubry Knight, raised and trained as an assassin for organized crime. About 40 years from now, after a great earthquake has devastated the core of Los Angeles, Knight founds the Scavengers, a group dedicated to rebuilding ``Mazetown''--whereupon various power groups decide that it's about time that they assassinated Knight. Fans of futuristic martial-arts yarns (Ö la Eric van Lustbader) should do well here: Barnes's efforts are relatively accessible to newcomers, though best begun at the beginning.
