History Literature / TekWar

[[caption-width-right:304:None of the cover relates to the book.]]

''[=TekWar=]'' began as an idea of Creator/WilliamShatner’s. He turned to Ron Goulart, who took this idea and ghost-wrote nine ''[=TekWar=]'' novels. It was later adapted into four television movies, a video game, comic books, and a [[Series/TekWar television series]].

The 22nd century universe is centered on "Tek"—an illegal, addictive, mind-altering digital drug in the form of a microchip. The drug creates a simulated reality (and in the films and TV series taps into "the matrix" hyperspace). The protagonist, Jake Cardigan, is a former police officer framed for dealing the drug four years prior to the start of the first novel. Having been sentenced to 15 years' cryo-imprisonment, his release is brought forward by Walt Bascom, the head of private investigation agency Cosmos, who has uncovered the framed charges and exonerates him. In return Bascom wishes to employ him as an expert in a series of Tek-related crimes, mostly in Greater Los Angeles, referred to as "GLA". In the first few novels Cardigan is portrayed as a recovering Tek-user with several lapses, but this aspect diminishes as the novels progress - it is implied in later novels that to break the addiction for even a light user is impossible.

Partnered with the good-natured and charismatic Mexican Sid Gomez, the two make up a good cop/bad cop partnership with Cardigan's past continually being brought up as a foil for his new career - most honest people he meets distrust him, and most dishonest people attempt to kill him for perceived slights in the drug trade. However, the two prove an effective team and stay a core duo throughout the series, with input from a comprehensive list of informants, employees of both Cosmos, other detective agencies and Cardigan's son Dan and his girlfriend Molly - both of whom are enrolled in the GLA police academy and as such have access through an informant to police files.

Each novel covers a specific case, all are Tek-related, but most include sub-plots which involve non-Tek issues and travel out of the GLA, occasionally to other countries or as far as orbiting satellites. A shadowy government agency known as OCO - the Office of Clandestine Operations - is a frequent antagonist in the novels, albeit usually keeping to the background and supporting the particular novel's villain.

* ChristmasCake: A rare male example. Jake Cardigan says that a man who isn't married by 38 is probably not going to ever marry and was glad he is.

* HumanPopsicle: Jake was frozen for four years in cryogenic storage. It was meant to be much longer.

* SuicideAttack: "Kamikaze" robots are methods for the TekLords to eliminate their enemies.

* XMeetsY: Described by Shatner as ''Franchise/StarTrek'' meets ''Series/TJHooker''.

* NewNeoCity: The book takes place in the future Los Angeles but the word "Sector" has been added in front of every district.

[=TekWar=] began as an idea of Creator/WilliamShatner’s. He turned to Ron Goulart, who took this idea and ghost-wrote nine [=TekWar=] novels. It was later adapted into four television movies, a video game, comic books, and a [[Series/TekWar television series]].

* ThinkingAloud: Jake actually speaks most of his PrivateEyeMonologue aloud or at least parts of it. For example, talking to himself about how he's having a good day on his second day awake.

* PurpleProse: The book series makes use of a lot of this with a deliberate invocation of PrivateEyeMonologues with future things.

* RidiculouslyHumanRobot: Averted. They are chrome and more like C3PO than androids. They are, strangely, very human in behavior like a racist cabbie.

* {{Zeerust}}: In the future, fax machines are in every home and eery robot has a machine that allows them to print out paper receipts.

* DidIJustSayThatOutAloud: Jake has a weird habit of saying his thoughts aloud that would otherwise be internal dialogue. This is first noticed on the cab ride from prison where the taxi driver comments on his saying everything is different and Jake is surprised.

TekWar began as an idea of Creator/WilliamShatner’s. He turned to Ron Goulart, who took this idea and ghost-wrote nine TekWar novels. It was later adapted into four television movies, a video game, comic books, and a [[Series/TekWar television series]].