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TekWar #3
Tek Lab
Investigator Jake Cardigan enters the blasted ruins of twenty-first century London to search for his missing son and invades the underground turf of the TekLords. Reprint.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 11, 1991
About the author
William Shatner
118 books833 followersWilliam Shatner is the author of nine Star Trek novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Ashes of Eden and The Return. He is also the author of several nonfiction books, including Get a Life! and I'm Working on That. In addition to his role as Captain James T. Kirk, he stars as Denny Crane in the hit television series from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal -- a role for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 26, 2013
From what I understand, William Shatner outlines the stories for the Tek novels, but then a ghost writer actually writes everything. Well, if that's the case, Shatner needs a better ghost writer!
I keep reading these because the core ideas are good, and I keep hoping to see them realized. I like the concept of a detective story in a science fiction setting. The problem that I keep coming up against, though, is the poor quality of the writing itself. The exposition is clunky, the world-building is weak, and the dialogue is usually horrendous. The dialogue really gets to me whenever the character of Gomez speaks. I've known several people who spoke English as a second language. None of those people randomly used words from their native language when speaking in English. Gomez, however, can't seem to get through a single sentence without throwing in a random "amigo" or "chiquita." I think that the author was trying to use that to give Gomez some uniqueness, but it feels so forced and unnatural that it made me dread the sections of the book that focused on him.
Another thing that bothers me is how everything in the world is made up of some sort of plastic, and the author can't shut up about it. I suppose that this is a techique to remind us that we're in a futuristic science fiction setting, but after a while it gets kind of ridiculous. Windows are made of plastisteel, buildings are made of plazbrix, couches are made from plazfoam. Is this world completely devoid of wood, glass, and metal? If this had been mentioned a few times it would have added to the setting, but every single time an object is referenced, we're told that it's made up of some futuristic plastic. It reeks of trying too hard.
As far as what I like, and I guess what keeps me coming back, is that the plot is interesting and the action comes fast and furious. There were also some fun side characters like Natalie Dent and her cameraman android, Sidebar. I also liked the idea in this book that the great English monuments like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey have become war-torn ruins crawling with gangs of telekinetic children. That was a neat idea. I wish that he had spent more time there, though, instead of just glossing over it.
I suppose I'll keep trying these, hoping that the potential is finally realized. They're entertaining enough for popcorn science fiction, I suppose, but I just keep feeling like they could be so much more.
I keep reading these because the core ideas are good, and I keep hoping to see them realized. I like the concept of a detective story in a science fiction setting. The problem that I keep coming up against, though, is the poor quality of the writing itself. The exposition is clunky, the world-building is weak, and the dialogue is usually horrendous. The dialogue really gets to me whenever the character of Gomez speaks. I've known several people who spoke English as a second language. None of those people randomly used words from their native language when speaking in English. Gomez, however, can't seem to get through a single sentence without throwing in a random "amigo" or "chiquita." I think that the author was trying to use that to give Gomez some uniqueness, but it feels so forced and unnatural that it made me dread the sections of the book that focused on him.
Another thing that bothers me is how everything in the world is made up of some sort of plastic, and the author can't shut up about it. I suppose that this is a techique to remind us that we're in a futuristic science fiction setting, but after a while it gets kind of ridiculous. Windows are made of plastisteel, buildings are made of plazbrix, couches are made from plazfoam. Is this world completely devoid of wood, glass, and metal? If this had been mentioned a few times it would have added to the setting, but every single time an object is referenced, we're told that it's made up of some futuristic plastic. It reeks of trying too hard.
As far as what I like, and I guess what keeps me coming back, is that the plot is interesting and the action comes fast and furious. There were also some fun side characters like Natalie Dent and her cameraman android, Sidebar. I also liked the idea in this book that the great English monuments like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey have become war-torn ruins crawling with gangs of telekinetic children. That was a neat idea. I wish that he had spent more time there, though, instead of just glossing over it.
I suppose I'll keep trying these, hoping that the potential is finally realized. They're entertaining enough for popcorn science fiction, I suppose, but I just keep feeling like they could be so much more.
October 26, 2018
More shenanigans by Shatner's sleuth Jake Cardigan and his sidekick Gomez who, unlike the previous two novels, pretty well gets co-star billing in this one. Like the first two in the series, it is uncanny how, everywhere they go, they know people. I swear, between the two of them they know the entire population of the world! It takes away a certain amount of realism from the story. Still, lots of action and drama in this book making it somewhat enjoyable. As I've lamented before, the science aspect of this science fiction is lame, but the dystopian aspect actually got better. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, but as Goodreads makes me choose, I can't go 4, so 3 stars it is.
March 26, 2025
This one had less of the Jake knows everyone syndrome and was a culmination of the various storylines set up in the first and second books.
There was a serial killer subplot but it's a bit weak. Again fine but not great.
There was a serial killer subplot but it's a bit weak. Again fine but not great.
January 13, 2016
I thought I had read this book previously; I think I was wrong. It was okay. It moves at a mildly reasonable pace. The character development [such as it is] is so-so. Nothing in the novel really makes it stand out and say "read me again!" The plot was okay; it is "funny" , but that could just be me misinterpreting the ending.
I think one of the biggest weaknesses is speaking habits of some of the characters. Other than having a Hispanic name and occasionally referencing the emotional traits of his Hispanic bloodline, the author [be it Shatner or Goulart] continually throw in some Spanish word or phrase to help remind the reader that Gomez is Hispanic/Spanish. It might have been more effective if entire sentences were in Spanish, or a mix of Spanish and English words. The occasional si, Senor or hombre or es verdad is annoying and seems somehow demeaning; it also comes across as poor writing and a weak imagination. Not only that, but part of the book takes place in Paris, so of course there are French androids and human characters who are written as interjecting the occasional French word of phrase in an otherwise completely-English paragraph. It was especially noticeable in this book, and it did not work well at all.
I get the feeling the author[s] want this series to seem to be a 'hard-boiled' look at the future; I say this based on how children [and teenagers] are treated and presented. I think they must have some issues with children, considering how poorly children [and teenagers] are presented and treated in the novel.
The odd mix of high-tech/low-tech dystopia continues in this novel, what with the excessive backdrop of child abuse, child abandonment, and child prostitutes intermixed with pornographic locations/stores and brothels. London has apparently been devastated due to some kind of revolution that occurred; neither has London recovered from the fighting [it would seem].
This book was rather depressing. I am not sure if I will go on with the series, at this point. We'll see. Neither can I say I am glad I read this book; I seem to remember watching the TV movie based on the book, so perhaps I remembered that more than the book itself.
I think one of the biggest weaknesses is speaking habits of some of the characters. Other than having a Hispanic name and occasionally referencing the emotional traits of his Hispanic bloodline, the author [be it Shatner or Goulart] continually throw in some Spanish word or phrase to help remind the reader that Gomez is Hispanic/Spanish. It might have been more effective if entire sentences were in Spanish, or a mix of Spanish and English words. The occasional si, Senor or hombre or es verdad is annoying and seems somehow demeaning; it also comes across as poor writing and a weak imagination. Not only that, but part of the book takes place in Paris, so of course there are French androids and human characters who are written as interjecting the occasional French word of phrase in an otherwise completely-English paragraph. It was especially noticeable in this book, and it did not work well at all.
I get the feeling the author[s] want this series to seem to be a 'hard-boiled' look at the future; I say this based on how children [and teenagers] are treated and presented. I think they must have some issues with children, considering how poorly children [and teenagers] are presented and treated in the novel.
The odd mix of high-tech/low-tech dystopia continues in this novel, what with the excessive backdrop of child abuse, child abandonment, and child prostitutes intermixed with pornographic locations/stores and brothels. London has apparently been devastated due to some kind of revolution that occurred; neither has London recovered from the fighting [it would seem].
This book was rather depressing. I am not sure if I will go on with the series, at this point. We'll see. Neither can I say I am glad I read this book; I seem to remember watching the TV movie based on the book, so perhaps I remembered that more than the book itself.
May 14, 2015
The writing style is too simple and the story filled with clichés. I read it quickly but won't remember a thing about it.
July 23, 2024
The accents. Good God, the accents.
Also, at this point, the UK engaging in a civil war over abolishing the monarchy would be like the US having a civil war over Punxsutawney Phil.
Also, at this point, the UK engaging in a civil war over abolishing the monarchy would be like the US having a civil war over Punxsutawney Phil.
June 29, 2013
Its always fun for me to go back and reread books I haven't read in ages and this one was no exception. The third book in Shatner's Tek series has us globe trotting to futuristic versions of Paris and London on the trail of a serial killer that has an agenda only he knows. Shatner begins to tie up some plot threads in this book, with the death of a major "villain" and the incarceration of another. Progress is made on relationships of our main character, Jake Cardigan, seeing him get closer to his son in this book, though not much progress is made on the romantic relationship front. This is to be somewhat expected with the aforementioned globe trotting aspect of the book. After this book, it begins to go downhill for me, so I'm not looking forward to reading the next book so much. I just wish that the entire series was available to purchase for the Kindle and not just the first 5 books!
May 24, 2015
I received this book in a contest at a Star Trek convention many years ago. It was a door prize and I felt so lucky to get an autographed copy. After finally reading it I fell the William Shatner autograph is worth far more than the book. It is a guilty pleasure read and okay to pass the time but the writing is clunky and predictable. Not terrible just expected more from the author
May 17, 2016
So...
This series reminds me of old B movies - low production quality and cheesy dialogue. Easy read but I was confused on whether Jake had physical relations with Marj. It wasn't made the most clear and if he did, then there was no foreshadowing or consequences given he is supposed to be with Beth.
This series reminds me of old B movies - low production quality and cheesy dialogue. Easy read but I was confused on whether Jake had physical relations with Marj. It wasn't made the most clear and if he did, then there was no foreshadowing or consequences given he is supposed to be with Beth.
April 1, 2012
The third book in the Tek series...
I absolutely love these books! I first read them in high school in the '90's and loved them then too!
They are a bit campy and over the top...but so much fun :c)
I absolutely love these books! I first read them in high school in the '90's and loved them then too!
They are a bit campy and over the top...but so much fun :c)
Want to Read
August 30, 2007I would be very interested in reading this book. I love the tech part of Star Trek and have heard this is a good read.
October 13, 2007
I liked all of Shatner's Tek books. He's a very competent writer, turning out fun Detective/Sci Fi books. Who woulda thunk it?
October 7, 2011
William Shatner does it again! WOOO! I loved this book, it was another amazing addition to the TEK series! Fast paced and original! WOOOO! :D
May 28, 2012
You know, these books are more of a guilty pleasure read. I like reading them (as a whole), but I will never admit it to my friends.
January 25, 2013
This was much better than the movie version. Though someone should have explained the concept of constitutional monarchy to Shatner.
July 1, 2020
Definitely a series of diminishing returns, and so badly written, I can almost imagine Shatner actually writing them.
Great world building: "Wearing a two-piece medsuit... with a plazmug of nearcaf clutched in both hands."
The predictable formula of the last two books continues here: characters meet some forgettable informant, who gives them some tidbit of information. Jack Cardigan seems particular tired and going-through-the-motions this outing, so other POVs are recruited to carry the narrative forward (no heavy lifting, that). The one with the most personality is Garcia, and that's only because he peppers his words with a nauseating amount of "amigos" and "chiquetas." Yeah, that's his personality. Description of characters is right out of that game Guess Who? though the future seems to favor plump blonde people. Too many people have "B" names (Bascom, Bairnhouse, Bozwell) and they're all fat slobs and I'd almost think they're part of an inside joke if this sort of laziness wasn't par for this book.
Is Tek really so bad? I need a refresher on what it even does. It doesn't play heavily into the book, and I don't remember the other two books doing a good job showing its negative effects.
SPOILER: Jack cheats on his girlfriend (who is conveniently absent from the whole book) with some scientist lady who it's revealed created an android of her brother, who was killed shortly after serving in the "Brazil wars" years ago, to kill bad people. Androids are literally everywhere in these books, and have as much personality as human beings. Why wouldn't everyone's first guess be that the young killer dressed like a veteran from a way decades old is an android? And why is Jack trying to stop her from her plans for revenge? Don't his plans for revenge sort of overlap? Why can't they work together?
Shatner must have been angry with his ex-wife over some custody battle when this book came out. God forbid you read it,but you'll know what I mean.
There's a great, godawful surveillance scene where there people being bugged literally say stuff like "and they don't know that Kitteridge has managed to pass on to us, through you, a method for manufacturing a new SuperTek that will be immune to this chip-destroying system." But everyone's an exposition machine in this novel, anyway.
Now, I don't feel like I read especially high-fallutin literature, but these books seemed especially dumb to me, and there's nothing memorable about them except Walliam Shitner is tied to them.
I ain't gonna be reading any more but I might check out the junky movies.
Great world building: "Wearing a two-piece medsuit... with a plazmug of nearcaf clutched in both hands."
The predictable formula of the last two books continues here: characters meet some forgettable informant, who gives them some tidbit of information. Jack Cardigan seems particular tired and going-through-the-motions this outing, so other POVs are recruited to carry the narrative forward (no heavy lifting, that). The one with the most personality is Garcia, and that's only because he peppers his words with a nauseating amount of "amigos" and "chiquetas." Yeah, that's his personality. Description of characters is right out of that game Guess Who? though the future seems to favor plump blonde people. Too many people have "B" names (Bascom, Bairnhouse, Bozwell) and they're all fat slobs and I'd almost think they're part of an inside joke if this sort of laziness wasn't par for this book.
Is Tek really so bad? I need a refresher on what it even does. It doesn't play heavily into the book, and I don't remember the other two books doing a good job showing its negative effects.
SPOILER: Jack cheats on his girlfriend (who is conveniently absent from the whole book) with some scientist lady who it's revealed created an android of her brother, who was killed shortly after serving in the "Brazil wars" years ago, to kill bad people. Androids are literally everywhere in these books, and have as much personality as human beings. Why wouldn't everyone's first guess be that the young killer dressed like a veteran from a way decades old is an android? And why is Jack trying to stop her from her plans for revenge? Don't his plans for revenge sort of overlap? Why can't they work together?
Shatner must have been angry with his ex-wife over some custody battle when this book came out. God forbid you read it,but you'll know what I mean.
There's a great, godawful surveillance scene where there people being bugged literally say stuff like "and they don't know that Kitteridge has managed to pass on to us, through you, a method for manufacturing a new SuperTek that will be immune to this chip-destroying system." But everyone's an exposition machine in this novel, anyway.
Now, I don't feel like I read especially high-fallutin literature, but these books seemed especially dumb to me, and there's nothing memorable about them except Walliam Shitner is tied to them.
I ain't gonna be reading any more but I might check out the junky movies.
September 2, 2026
The third book in the Tek series, continuing to follow Cardigan and the Cosmos detective agency through the cyberpunk future exploits often connected to the addictive and deadly Tek and those who peddle it.
These continue to be fun re-reads. Which is nice, as I read them as a kid while they were coming out and who knows if they would've aged this well. The cyberpunk elements are fun, but mostly window dressing for a story that could've easily just been a period piece hardboiled detective story with some tweaks.
I don't know whether to credit shatner with intent, because as much as I love him I'm not sure he's this excellent a craftsman, but on this re-read something really struck me. Surface level, a lot of Tek feels a little less dystopian, or at least a lot less street level, than a lot of cyberpunk near its time. Even the not so well off folks often seem to be getting by somewhat okay (minus the weird walled off part of london full of child gangs?). But what stood out on the re-read, when I got to this point, was how much of the future was artificial. Neo-wood this, faux stone that (someone with a real wood desk is treated as an extreme oddity). Even huge amounts of plants, landscapes, environments, rooms being literally just substance-less holograms. Everyone lives in those artificial environments and acts as if everything is real and normal, but everyone knows if the power is shut off a huge portion of what's around them every day (even the rich people) just...disappears. And that *feels* crazily dystopian, and still topical.
These continue to be fun re-reads. Which is nice, as I read them as a kid while they were coming out and who knows if they would've aged this well. The cyberpunk elements are fun, but mostly window dressing for a story that could've easily just been a period piece hardboiled detective story with some tweaks.
I don't know whether to credit shatner with intent, because as much as I love him I'm not sure he's this excellent a craftsman, but on this re-read something really struck me. Surface level, a lot of Tek feels a little less dystopian, or at least a lot less street level, than a lot of cyberpunk near its time. Even the not so well off folks often seem to be getting by somewhat okay (minus the weird walled off part of london full of child gangs?). But what stood out on the re-read, when I got to this point, was how much of the future was artificial. Neo-wood this, faux stone that (someone with a real wood desk is treated as an extreme oddity). Even huge amounts of plants, landscapes, environments, rooms being literally just substance-less holograms. Everyone lives in those artificial environments and acts as if everything is real and normal, but everyone knows if the power is shut off a huge portion of what's around them every day (even the rich people) just...disappears. And that *feels* crazily dystopian, and still topical.
January 26, 2025
Three stars, barely.
This is another of my "my daughter saw this book and bought it for me because she thought I'd like it books". I so love that I get these books from my daughter and they always fly to the top of my TBR list because it's from her.
Onto the book.
I have heard that Shatner writes books like James Patterson - he completes a detailed outline and then pays a ghost writer to actually write the book. So the part that Shatner did is done really well, the premise, the characters and the world are all top notch. The actual book, the prose, not very good.
We've got Jake trying to save his son from the blasted out ruins of 21st century London in territory controlled by gangs and Tek Lords all while trying to solve a mystery given to him from his P.I. firm.
Rounded this up to three stars for Shatner's contributions but the writing is pretty poor so be warned if you pick this up.
This is another of my "my daughter saw this book and bought it for me because she thought I'd like it books". I so love that I get these books from my daughter and they always fly to the top of my TBR list because it's from her.
Onto the book.
I have heard that Shatner writes books like James Patterson - he completes a detailed outline and then pays a ghost writer to actually write the book. So the part that Shatner did is done really well, the premise, the characters and the world are all top notch. The actual book, the prose, not very good.
We've got Jake trying to save his son from the blasted out ruins of 21st century London in territory controlled by gangs and Tek Lords all while trying to solve a mystery given to him from his P.I. firm.
Rounded this up to three stars for Shatner's contributions but the writing is pretty poor so be warned if you pick this up.
July 15, 2023
TekLab by William Shatner
The third in the series and I gave it two ⭐️⭐️ out of five.
Jake and Gomez are sent to Paris then England to investigate the murder of a connected and wealthy man. Murdered by "the Unknown Soldier."
There's a lot going on here. Bennett Sands makes his return, his daughter goes missing, Dan (Jake's son) runs off looking for her. Everybody's kidnapped, lots of folks getting killed and everything ties back to Tek and a secret lab.
The story was ok, just no "umpfh." No suspense. Just kinda going through the motion.
I'm still going to finish the series because I like the characters. I like the premise. But this one fell flat.
The third in the series and I gave it two ⭐️⭐️ out of five.
Jake and Gomez are sent to Paris then England to investigate the murder of a connected and wealthy man. Murdered by "the Unknown Soldier."
There's a lot going on here. Bennett Sands makes his return, his daughter goes missing, Dan (Jake's son) runs off looking for her. Everybody's kidnapped, lots of folks getting killed and everything ties back to Tek and a secret lab.
The story was ok, just no "umpfh." No suspense. Just kinda going through the motion.
I'm still going to finish the series because I like the characters. I like the premise. But this one fell flat.
October 31, 2024
Great Book
Another great book in the TekWar series. This book picks up a few months after the last book. All the same characters, building on the character development. We see Jake and his son reunited, and his son having fallen in love with the daughter of the arch villain Bennett Sands. This book brings to a close, the first story arc of the series. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Another great book in the TekWar series. This book picks up a few months after the last book. All the same characters, building on the character development. We see Jake and his son reunited, and his son having fallen in love with the daughter of the arch villain Bennett Sands. This book brings to a close, the first story arc of the series. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 26, 2025
I am finding that I am a fan of Jake Cardigan and Gomez, This series kind of grows on me as I continue to read it. I loved the story going off with Dan, Jakes son as he entered into the danger zone in search of Nancy, there were a few points where the book felt like something jumped, like a skip on a record that is scratched, but the story comes back fast enough, I didn't feel like I missed too much. I love the characters and will continue to read into the next book. This was a Good Read.
March 9, 2022
This is the last one I can manage. I thought I could get through this series but it is killing me.
Just another three quarters where nothing happens, and then the finale is rushed and unsatisfactory. Endless characters with no personality are introduced here. Names get thrown around that you won’t ever remember.
Just don’t bother
Just another three quarters where nothing happens, and then the finale is rushed and unsatisfactory. Endless characters with no personality are introduced here. Names get thrown around that you won’t ever remember.
Just don’t bother
May 18, 2026
Had the ending not been as good as I expected, I wouldn't have liked the book all that much. So far, of the first 3 in the series, this is my least favorite. But I'm hoping the next one is really good! Not sure how it can be as good as TekWar, but hopefully along the same lines and similarly as good!
May 18, 2026
I found this book at a thrift store and because I'm a Star Trek / William Shatner fan, thought I would give it a try. I didn't realize it's book 3 of the series so maybe that's why I didn't like it at all. I gave it 50 pages to change my mind, but sadly it didn't.
May 17, 2017
Honestly, a whole lot better than I expected.
April 23, 2019
Pretty good Cops & Robbers story set in the future. Shatner is good, but no Doyle or Christie. Heinlein and Asimov have nothing to worry about.
May 3, 2019
The Tek War series has always been a guilty pleasure. Really enjoyed this one like the ones before it. On to the next one.
December 21, 2019
his writing has, dare i say, improved? still calling chinese people 'the chinese in the coat' tho
January 28, 2023
Very disappointed with Cardigan in this one, but I liked the Gomez parts. So evened out.
June 29, 2024
Save us from idiot teenagers. Sci-fi noir with a couple of ‘hardboiled’ detectives. Silly fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews