TekWar Created by William Shatner Original work TekWar (1989) Print publications Novel(s) See text. Comics TekWorld Films and television Film(s) See TekWar (TV series) Television series See above Games Video game(s) William Shatner's TekWar

TekWar is a series of science fiction novels created by Canadian actor William Shatner and ghost-written by American writer Ron Goulart,[1] published by Putnam. The novels gave rise to a comic book series, video game, and later television movies and a series, both of the latter featuring Shatner.

Premise [ edit ]

The 22nd century universe is centered on "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 a former police officer who is framed for dealing in the drug four years before the start of the story. Having been sentenced to 15 years' cryo-imprisonment, he is released early. After discovering that Walt Bascom, the powerful head of a private security firm, arranged for the early release, Jake goes to work for Bascom as an investigator dedicated to tracking down the real Tek lords.

Background [ edit ]

Shatner began to write notes that would become the novels on the set of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and has been quoted as saying that the original book was an attempt to blend elements from Star Trek and T. J. Hooker.[4][5][6]

Novels [ edit ]

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

Comic book series [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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

Television films and series [ edit ]

The Tekwar novels became a television franchise with TV movies in 1994 then a series.

TV movies Title[10] USA Release Running Time TekWar January 17, 1994 97 minutes TekLords 20 February 1994 96 minutes TekWar: TekLab 27 February 1994 105 minutes TekWar: TekJustice 14 May 1994 100 minutes

The first three were adaptations of the books, while TekJustice was an original movie.[11]

TekWar TV series Episode Episode Title USA Release 1 Sellout 22 December 1994 2 Unknown Soldier 29 December 1994 3 Tek Posse 5 January 1995 4 Promises to Keep 12 January 1995 5 Stay of Execution 19 January 1995 6 Alter Ego 2 March 1995 7 Killer Instinct 9 March 1995 8 Chill Factor 30 March 1995 9 Deadline 6 April 1995 10 Carlotta's Room 13 April 1995 11 Deep Cover 10 June 1995 12 Cyberhunt 17 June 1995 13 Zero Tolerance 24 June 1995 14 Forget Me Not 1 July 1995 15 The Gate 20 January 1996 16 Skin Deep 27 January 1996 17 Redemption 2 February 1996 18 Betrayal 19 February 1996

Video game [ edit ]

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

References [ edit ]