TekWar
Encyclopedia
Tekwar is a series of science fiction
novel
s officially authored by William Shatner
and co-written by uncredited science-fiction author Ron Goulart
, 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.
in the form of a microchip
. 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.
, and is quoted to say that the original book was an attempt to blend elements from Star Trek
and T. J. Hooker
. 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.
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. As of 2010, Tek War Chronicles is available digitally exclusively through Devil's Due Digital
.
by Capstone Software
using the Build engine
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s officially authored by William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
and co-written by uncredited science-fiction author Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart is an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author.The prolific Goulart wrote many novelizations and other routine work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson , Con Steffanson , Chad Calhoun, R.T...
, published by Putnam
G. P. Putnam's Sons
G. P. Putnam's Sons was a major United States book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group.-History:...
. The novels gave rise to a comic book series
TekWorld
William Shatner's TekWorld was a comic book series published by Epic Comics/Marvel, from 1992 to 1995. It is based on the TekWar novels.-Publication history:...
, video game
William Shatner's TekWar
William Shatner's TekWar is a 1995 first-person shooter computer game, derived from the TekWar series of novels written by William Shatner. It was designed using the Build engine....
and later TV movies and a series
TekWar (TV series)
TekWar is a series of television films and a television series, based on the TekWar novels. Greg Evigan played Cardigan in the television adaptation. The films were produced in 1994 and the TV series produced from 1995 to 1996...
, both of the latter featuring Shatner.
Premise
The 21st century universe is centered around "tek"—an illegal, addictive, mind-altering digital drugDrug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
in the form of a microchip
Microchip
Microchip can also refer to:* Integrated circuit, a set of electronic components on a single unit.* Microchip Technology, a company that makes popular 8, 16 and 32-bit microcontroller lines.* Microchip implant , a microchip implanted into animals....
. The drug has the effect of simulated reality
Simulated reality
Simulated reality is the proposition that reality could be simulated—perhaps by computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation....
(as shown in the films and series), and taps into "the matrix" hyperspace. The protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
, Jake Cardigan, is framed
Frameup
A frame-up or setup is an American term referring to the act of framing someone, that is, providing false evidence or false testimony in order to falsely prove someone guilty of a crime....
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 FrontierStar Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is a 1989 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. It is the fifth feature in the franchise and the penultimate to star the cast of the original Star Trek science fiction television series...
, and is quoted to say that the original book was an attempt to blend elements from Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
and T. J. Hooker
T. J. Hooker
T.J. Hooker is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title role as a 15-year veteran police sergeant. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement on March 13, 1982 on ABC and ran on the network until May 4, 1985...
. 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
- 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
In 1992, Tekwar was adapted in to a comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
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. As of 2010, Tek War Chronicles is available digitally exclusively through Devil's Due Digital
Devil's Due Digital
Devil’s Due Digital Inc. is an American digital publishing company established in 2010 by cofounders Mark Thompson of Checker Book Publishing Group and Josh Blaylock of Devil’s Due Publishing.-History:...
.
Television films and series
The Tekwar novels became a film and television franchise in 1994.Video game
Tekwar was also made into a 1995 computer gameWilliam Shatner's TekWar
William Shatner's TekWar is a 1995 first-person shooter computer game, derived from the TekWar series of novels written by William Shatner. It was designed using the Build engine....
by Capstone Software
Capstone Software
Capstone Software was a subsidiary of IntraCorp, a Miami, Florida-based computer and video game company. Founded in 1984, Capstone created first-person games such as Corridor 7: Alien Invasion, William Shatner's TekWar and Witchaven, and is also known for releasing games based on movie/TV...
using the Build engine
Build engine
The Build engine is a first-person shooter engine created by Ken Silverman for 3D Realms. Like the Doom engine, the Build engine represents its world on a two-dimensional grid using closed 2D shapes called sectors, and uses simple flat objects called sprites to populate the world geometry with...
.
External links
- Tekheadz Central
- Tek War Chronicles digital comic books from Devil's Due DigitalDevil's Due DigitalDevil’s Due Digital Inc. is an American digital publishing company established in 2010 by cofounders Mark Thompson of Checker Book Publishing Group and Josh Blaylock of Devil’s Due Publishing.-History:...
.