TekWar

Tekwar
Creator William Shatner
Original work TekWar (1989)
Print publications
Novels See text.
Comics TekWorld
Films and television
Films See TekWar (TV series)
Television series See See above
Games
Video games William Shatner's TekWar

TekWar is a series of science fiction novels officially authored by William Shatner and co-written by uncredited science-fiction author Ron Goulart,[1] published by Putnam. The novels gave rise to a comic book series, video game and later TV movies and a series, both of the latter featuring Shatner.

Contents

Premise

The 21st century universe is centered around "tek"—an illegal, addictive, mind-altering digital drug in the form of a microchip.[2][3] The drug has the effect of simulated reality (as shown in the films and series), and taps into "the matrix" hyperspace. The protagonist, Jake Cardigan, is framed for dealing in the drug four years before the start of the story. Having been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, he is released early.

Background

Shatner began to write notes that would become the novels on the set of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and is quoted to say that the original book was an attempt to blend elements from Star Trek and T. J. Hooker.[4][5][6] There are strong similarities between the story of the initial Tek novel (and TV pilot) and Ron Goulart's 1985 novel, Brainz Inc., which involves a murder mystery involving an heiress who is presumed dead and her android duplicate, who shares her memories and personality. Unlike the Tek story the earlier novel's plot is played for humor.

Novels

  1. TekWar (1989) ISBN 0-399-13495-6
  2. TekLords (1991) ISBN 0-399-13616-9
  3. TekLab (1991) ISBN 0-399-13736-X
  4. Tek Vengeance (1993) ISBN 0-399-13788-2
  5. Tek Secret (1993) ISBN 0-399-13892-7
  6. Tek Power (1994) ISBN 0-399-13997-4
  7. Tek Money (1995) ISBN 0-399-14109-X
  8. Tek Kill (1996) ISBN 0-399-14202-9
  9. Tek Net (1997) ISBN 0-399-14339-4

Comic book series

Main article: TekWorld

In 1992, Tekwar was adapted in to a comic book series.

A new Tekwar comic book adaptation, entitled Tek War Chronicles, by Shatner and comic book writer Scott Davis was released by Bluewater Productions on June 24, 2009.[7] As of 2010, Tek War Chronicles is available digitally exclusively through Devil's Due Digital.

Trading cards

Trading cards with comic book artwork were published by Cardz in 1993.[8][9]

Television films and series

Main articles: TekWar (TV series) and TekWar: TekLords

The Tekwar novels became a film and television franchise in 1994.

Video game

Main article: William Shatner's TekWar

Tekwar was also made into a 1995 computer game by Capstone Software using the Build engine.

See also

References

  1. ^ Shatner, William; Fisher, David. (2008). Up Till Now: The Autobiography. Thomas Dunne. p. 246. ISBN 978-0312372651. 
  2. ^ "Chemicals, Drugs & Potions > Tek (TekWar)". Tv Acres. http://www.tvacres.com/chemicals_tek.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  3. ^ "Tek Headz". Net.saipan.com. http://net.saipan.com/personal/mac/all4.html. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ "www.retrovisionmag.com". www.retrovisionmag.com. http://www.retrovisionmag.com/tekworld.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  6. ^ "Tekheadz". Net.saipan.com. http://net.saipan.com/personal/mac/book1st.html. Retrieved 2011-10-25. 
  7. ^ "“Tekwar Chronicles” Hits Stores This Week". Sliceofscifi.com. 2009-06-22. http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2009/06/22/Tekwar-chronicles-hits-stores-this-week. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  8. ^ "LEE SULLIVAN ART comics". Leesullivanart.co.uk. http://leesullivanart.co.uk/LEE/tek.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  9. ^ "William Shatner's Tek World Trading Cards". Shatner-store.stores.yahoo.net. http://shatner-store.stores.yahoo.net/wilshattekwo.html. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 

External links