Tek Lab [Paperback]

William Shatner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

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. LJ. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In their third adventure (after Teklords ) set in the 22nd century, private detective Jack Cardigan and sidekick Sid Gomez are once again fighting the evil and omnipotent Teklords. A serial killer who calls himself the Unknown Soldier is stalking and executing people whom he perceives as war criminals. The wife of the latest victim thinks her husband was murdered by a copycat assassin at Teklord command, and she hires the detectives to find the Teklord killer. The story goes rapidly downhill as the villains, miraculously aware of the detectives' plans, calmly kill off the witnesses but only try to scare Cardigan away. Nor is the reader distracted from the flaws in the plot by the depiction of earth in 2120: a sprinkling of buzzwords does not paint a foreign culture. There are so many cameo appearances and short sidetracks that all tension is drained from the main story line. What little resolution there is comes not from the efforts of the heroes but from unmotivated mistakes on the part of the Teklords.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A serial killer's choice of victims leads Jake Cardigan once more into a showdown with the cartel of infamous druglords responsible for the manufacture of "Tek," the world's deadliest drug. Hard-boiled Cardigan and his easygoing Latino partner Gomez are an engaging, if stereotyped, duo who deserve a wider scope for their adventures. Shatner's serviceable style of fast-paced action and his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the 22nd century make this a pleasant albeit uncomplicated read. Purchase only where author popularity demands.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ace (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441800114
• ISBN-13: 978-0441800117
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,870,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another quick, enjoyable read in "Tek" world, July 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tek Lab (Paperback)

Yes, I bought the first Tek book, TekWar because it was written by William "Captain Kirk" Shatner. But I've continued buying the rest of the series because I actually enjoy the novels. They are fun to read, interesting characters, enough plot twists to keep interest but also simplistic enough to not lose you. They are also very quick reads which are always nice. I always feel like I'm sucked in quickly, experience the book at high speed, and then finish it off feeling resolved and pleased to have enjoyed it so quickly. Some people might feel ripped off for going through it so quickly, but not me. I enjoy it and will continue to buy all of Shatner's future Tek books. This is the third novel in the series.

3.0 out of 5 stars A book made to be read late at night, September 20, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tek Lab (Hardcover)

This is the third novel in Shatner's Tek series and while the specific actions of the main characters are a bit different, the plot is rather similar. Jake Cardigan and his partner Sid Gomez are hired to investigate a brutal murder. The victim was carved into four pieces by the murderer using a laser gun to draw an X on his body.
Their investigations lead them to Europe and a series of adventures through the dark underside of the societies. There is a bit of social comment, the government of England now is led by a president and the members of the royal family are just common people. However, there is a group that would like to restore the monarchy, but they are rather inept and inconsequential.
Shatner paints a bleak picture of the future; the Tek drug is powerful and generates enormous profits. It is a poison that permeates all societies. Entire sections of major cities are lawless, controlled by rival gangs that engage in brutal and deadly raids against each other. Cardigan's son Dan enters one of those sectors searching for a girlfriend and Jake and Gomez follow the trail. Of course, they manage to free Dan and solve the crimes.
This is not high-minded science fiction, the plot moves from action to action involving shoot-outs where even though Jake and Sid have only stun guns and the enemy has killing weapons, they always manage to emerge victorious in the gun battles. This is one of those books that you read late at night when you are not yet tired enough to sleep yet don't want to read anything that will get your brain excited and keep you awake.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cardboard  Smardboard This stuff is fun and fast Paced., June 29, 2003

By 

JediMack (VALRICO, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tek Lab (Hardcover)

This is book 3 of the series that became a TV show for a short time. If you read and enjoyed the first 2 (Tekwar and Tek Lords) you will probably like this one also. This is as formulaic as a hit TV series, but you gotta love Jake and his friends as written by Shatner and his friends.

You might laugh about the plot idea for restoring the English monarchy, but I work with a salesman once who had a PHD in medieval history who felt the world would be better off under a single monarchy. He was serious. Votes straight dem to.

Anyway, I think Plots are like eating a food preparation for the first time. I don't mind trying it as it was intended to be eaten. A plot should be allowed to be developed, and only if it trips all over itself do I conclude that it was stupid in the context of the story being told. Of course the plot is stupid. That is why it must be stopped.