Tek Secret [Paperback]

William Shatner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Searching for the missing daughter of the world's wealthiest robotics industrialist, Jake Cardigan locates his target at the Mentor Psych Center where she has been brainwashed to prevent her from telling about a murderous plot. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fifth entry in Star Trek veteran Shatner's science fiction detective series ( TekLab ; Tek Vengeance ) features all the elements that have made the other episodes so successful and so eminently forgettable: cardboard characters, an unlikely, action-heavy plot and futuristic trappings as tired as an old boot. Jake Cardigan and his goofy sidekick/partner Sid Gomez are investigating the disappearance of Alicia Bower, heiress to the Mechanix International robotics fortune. Her family believes she is off on another of her promiscuous adventures, but her current boyfriend, Barry Zangerly, remains convinced her absence is more sinister and hires Cardigan and Gomez to find out. Of course, the villains make their presence known, roughing up Zangerly and trying to kill Cardigan. And of course Cardigan and Gomez sidestep all major threats and get to the heart of the conspiracy, which features such twists as an android duplicate of Alicia Bower, a sadistic brain surgeon and such bits of predictable dialogue as, "The odds are very much against our nearly getting killed every time we investigate something together." Readers who have found something enjoyable in previous Jake Cardigan adventures will likely find it here as well.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the fifth installment of this popular sf detective series, private investigator Jake Cardigan again takes on the notorious Tek drug lords in his attempt to rescue a kidnapping victim. A TV movie based on the series should increase demand.
Copyright 1993 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: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ace (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044100119X
• ISBN-13: 978-0441001194
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,644,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Plot is repetitive if you have read other books in the Shatner "Tek" series, August 19, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tek Secret (Hardcover)

The Tek series of books by Shatner tend to be repetitive in plotline. Jake Cardigan and Sid Gomez are private detectives employed by the Bascom Agency. In this episode, Alicia Bower, the daughter of the owner of the world's largest company that manufactures androids and robots has disappeared. Since she has a reputation for being wildly promiscuous, the common opinion is that she has run off with another man.
However, her current boyfriend believes that this is not true and when he tries to find her, he receives a vicious beating and is given a warning not to pursue it further. This brings the Bascom Agency into the case and Jake and Sid go their separate ways searching for Alicia. In action that is typical of that in the other Tek books, there are stungun battles, fistfights, con games, slinky women, quality androids, sin palaces, tough women and evil government operatives. Jake and Sid are often captured by the evil side, only to be freed in a manner similar to the way it is done in the other books. Fortunately, in this installment, Jake stays away from the Tek brainbox and Gomez can concentrate on solving the case rather than rescuing Jake.
As science fiction goes, this is largely opera; there is no great and complicated plot that must be followed in order to arrive at the unmasking of the villains. It all moves in a predictable manner with Jake and Sid solving the case over the bodies (virtual and real) of an assortment of typical evildoers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shatner's Cyber-Tech Crime World, March 1, 2009

By 

Orville B. Jenkins "Research Guy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tek Secret (Paperback)

This is one of the books in the Tek War series developed by Shatner, and made into a movie and TV series. I was aware of only three books in this series, but this book is the 6th Tek book. These books are mystery novels, along the line of murder mysteries. But the focus is not murder, though sometimes that occurs and adds to the mystery to be revealed.

The events revolve around the 22nd century problem of addiction to an electrical ecstasy called Tek (from "technology"). This has been criminalized in the future era, and there is a special Tek police force that attempts to enforce the ban, deal with the victims, and ferret out the criminal syndicates that manage the trade in Tek instruments. This is a somewhat complicated plot that maintains the reader's interest and keeps the story moving.

The details of the future world in which the story takes place transports the reader into that future world and the events unfolding. Suspense is maintained even as the mystery unfolds.

3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read in the world of "Tek", July 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tek Secret (Paperback)

This is another of Shatner's Tek novels and like his previous ones, it too is enjoyable. We continue the adventures of Jake Cardigan and Sid Gomez and the rest of the continuing characters. Since this novel takes place after Tek Vengeance, we have Jake dealing with the death of his lover. This was handled quite nicely and was not dwelled upon. New readers will understand what has happened and longtime readers will see the continued natural progression and growth of the character. In fact, all readers will be able to see the growth of all the characters, including a few new ones that are added to the array. Shatner has built up a world that is believable, interesting and populated with a wide array of characters. This is the fifth novel in the series.