The Junior detective series TKKG is a German series of audio dramas and novels created by "Stefan Wolf", a pseudonym used by Rolf Kalmuczak.
The characters and their creator
In all German-speaking countries they are the most commercially successful series of novels of their type, apart from The Three Investigators. They call themselves TKKG, after the initials of their names: Tarzan (later renamed in Tim due to the name "Tarzan" being trademarked), Karl, Dumpling (in German Klößchen, in Austria called "Klumpling") and Gab(b)y; an unofficial fifth member is Gaby's Cocker Spaniel, called Oskar. Since 1979 they continually solve all sorts of crimes, from thefts and robberies to kidnappings and terrorism.
The books were written by Rolf Kalmuczak, under his nom de plume Stefan Wolf. In June 2004 TKKG changed their publisher from Pelican to CBJ - They published volumes 07, 14, 54, 77 and 84 in January 2005 as a new edition with the CBJ brand name.
Tim
Peter Timotheus Carsten, which is his full name (just called Tim, which is short for Timotheus, after Tarzan had to be replaced) is the leader of the TKKG gang, who are named after the initial letters of their names or nicknames. Tim is 14, but mentally and physically far ahead. A tanned athlete, he particularly enjoys judo (he has a brown belt) and volleyball. For two years (at the beginning of the series) he's been living in a famous boarding school, and is pupil of class 9b. His father, an engineer, had a fatal accident when Tim was only 6 years old. Tim's mother, a book-keeper, works hard to earn enough money for the expensive school money for their son. Tim loves adventure and hates injustice, and has a big crush on Gabby, of whom he is very protective.
Previously, Tim was originally called Tarzan by his friends because of his athletic prowess, but he did not want to be compared with this 'half-finished bodybuilder' after he had seen a very bad movie about him (the change actually came about because the name Tarzan is trademarked).
Karl
The smartest of the quartet, Karl Vierstein is sometimes nicknamed Computer because he has an eidetic memory; whatever he's read he never forgets - perhaps because his father is a professor for Maths at the local university.
He goes into the same class as Tim, but he does not live at the boarding school. He is tall and lanky, but not athletic. He is nearsighted and is virtually helpless without his glasses, which he polishes whenever he's nervous.
Dumpling
(German nickname: "Klößchen", which means "dumpling". Klößchen is called Klumpling in Austrian audio book editions and in the official English translation of the movies. Mostly this is because the K is needed to form the TKKG brand.)
His actual name is Willi Sauerlich. He lives together with Tim at the boarding school, where they share a room. His parents are rich - his father owns a chocolate ware company - but Willi likes to spend more time with his friends.
His nickname is derived from his passion for chocolate; he never can keep his fingers off anything sweet. Therefore, he grows steadily bigger around the hips. Nevertheless, he is a reliable comrade, and having a rich father as an asset has proven useful time and again. Dumpling secretly wishes to be as athletic and sprightly as his friend Tim.
Willi is actually also quite close with his father, mainly because of their common desire to eat well; Mrs. Sauerlich is a very strict vegetarian who makes them eat anything vegetable - and only vegetable. So the two keep a secret stash of the good things in the cellar, where they help themselves whenever they have the chance.
Gaby
Gabriele Glockner (in Australian audio book editions she is called "Gabby" with a double "b") is affectionately nicknamed "Pfote" ("Paw") by her friends because she loves animals and makes every animal - particularly dogs - shake paws with her. She is the daughter of police commissioner Emil Glockner and his wife Margot, who runs a small grocery store. Like Karl, she lives with her parents in town and attends Tim's boarding school only for lessons. She is very good at English and backstroking.
With her golden blonde hair and blue eyes with long eyelashes, she is quite pretty. Actually, she is also quite close to Tim, although she rarely shows it as much as he does.
Oskar
The mascot of the group is Gaby's black and white cocker spaniel. He accompanies the group practically anywhere.
The town with millions of inhabitants / "town of millions"
The homeland of the TKKG gang is a fictitious town with millions of inhabitants somewhere in Germany. There the TKKG gang live and go to school. Tim, however, comes from a city which is a four-hour drive away.
If you consider that as well as, in the novels, the city can only be Munich. There are only four cities with more than a million inhabitants in Germany (Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Munich), the mountains and Austria are near (where the stories often play) and the novels and plays include certain words that belong to Southern German usage, such as "Bussi" (kiss) or "Semmel" (roll or bun). Also, in one TKKG book the city is described as: "In der Ferne, da sah man die Hochhäuser der fernen Landeshauptstadt, jener Millionenstadt, in der Tim zur Schule ging." ("In the distance you could see the skyscrapers of the far capital, the city of millions where Tim went to school"). The only city with more than a million inhabitants that is a capital of a German Bundesland is Munich, if you do not count the City-States of Hamburg or Berlin, which is addressed later. Some people protest because a large port sometimes takes place in the TKKG-City, but this port only appears in two radio dramas but not in the original books, where the stories with the port plays outside of the TKKG-City. It also cannot be Hamburg as in the episode "Bei Anruf Angst" ("panic by phone call") a girl who is kidnapped and searched for by TKKG is said to come from Hamburg - referring to this Tim says that they could not go there as this city "would be too far away" ("...und die Hansestadt ist weit"). Also, Florence is 750 kilometres away ("Horror-Trip im Luxusauto"). Finally, it also cannot be Berlin. In the episode "Banditen im Palasthotel" ("bandits in palace hotel") the kids travel by air to Spain, and it is said that at the airport another flight goes to Berlin.
However, the author has stated in numerous interviews that the "town of millions" is in fact fictitious.
Radio dramas
The series has appeared since 1981 with the radio play label Europa
179 audio books were recorded and released (since 1981).
Actors
Episode list
By 2017 202 audiobooks have appeared, as well as three special episodes (The secret of TKKG (1995, re-issue 2010), Treasure island with seven secrets):
- 001 ... Die Jagd nach den Millionendieben (The hunt for the millionaire- thieves)
- 002 ... Der blinde Hellseher (The blind clairvoyant)
- 003 ... Das leere Grab im Moor (The empty grave in the swamp)
- 004 ... Das Paket mit dem Totenkopf (The skull- labeled package)
- 005 ... Das Phantom auf dem Feuerstuhl (Phantom on the fire- bike)
- 006 ... Angst in der 9a (Fear in class 9a)
- 007 ... Rätsel um die alte Villa (Mystery of the old mansion)
- 008 ... Auf der Spur der Vogeljäger (Tracing the bird- hunters)
- 009 ... Abenteuer im Ferienlager (Adventures in the holiday camp)
- 010 ... Alarm im Zirkus Sarani (Panic at Circus Sarani)
- 011 ... Die Falschmünzer vom Mäuseweg (The forgers from "Mice Way")
- 012 ... Nachts, wenn der Feuerteufel kommt (By night, when the firebug comes)
- 013 ... Die Bettelmönche aus Atlantis (The begging monks from Atlantis)
- 014 ... Der Schlangenmensch (The contortionist)
- 015 ... Ufos in Bad Finkenstein (Ufos in Bad Finkenstein)
- 016 ... X7 antwortet nicht (X7 does not respond)
- 017 ... Die Doppelgängerin (The Doppelganger)
- 018 ... Hexenjagd in Lerchenbach (Witch- hunt in Lerchenbach)
- 019 ... Der Schatz in der Drachenhöhle (The treasure in the Dragon's Lair)
- 020 ... Das Geheimnis der chinesischen Vase (The secret of the Chinese Vase)
- 021 ... Die Rache des Bombenlegers (The revenge of the bomb- planter)
- 022 ... In den Klauen des Tigers (In the grip of the tiger)
- 023 ... Kampf der Spione (Fight of the spies)
- 024 ... Gefährliche Diamanten (Dangerous diamonds)
- 025 ... Die Stunde der schwarzen Maske (The hour of the black mask)
- 026 ... Das Geiseldrama (The hostage drama)
- 027 ... Banditen im Palasthotel (Bandits at Palace Hotel)
- 028 ... Verrat im Höllental (Betrayal in Abyss-Valley)
- 029 ... Hundediebe kennen keine Gnade (Dog- thieves know no mercy)
- 030 ... Die Mafia kommt zur Geisterstunde (Mafia comes at witching hour)
- 031 ... Die Entführung in der Mondscheingasse (Kidnapping at Moonlight Lane)
- 032 ... Wilddiebe im Teufelsmoor (Poacher in "Devils Swamp")
- 033 ... Wer raubte das Millionenpferd? (Who robbed the million-horse?)
- 034 ... Vampir der Autobahn (Vampire of the motorway)
- 035 ... Die Nacht des Überfalls (The night of the assault)
- 036 ... Das Geschenk des Bösen (The gift of evil)
- 037 ... Der letzte Schuss (The last shot)
- 038 ... Die weiße Schmuggler-Yacht (The white smugglers- yacht)
- 039 ... Die Gift-Party (The poison party)
- 040 ... Duell im Morgengrauen (Duel at dawn)
- 041 ... Heißes Gold im Silbersee (Torrid gold in the Silver Lake)
- 042 ... Anschlag auf den Silberpfeil (Assault on Silver Arrow)
- 043 ... Gefangen in der Schreckenskammer (Imprisoned in the Fright- Chamber)
- 044 ... Um Mitternacht am schwarzen Fluss (Midnight at the Black River)
- 045 ... Unternehmen Grüne Hölle (Operation: Green Hell)
- 046 ... Hotel in Flammen (Hotel in flames)
- 047 ... Todesfracht im Jaguar (Death-freight in the Jaguar)
- 048 ... Bestien in der Finsternis (Beasts in the darkness)
- 049 ... Bombe an Bord (Bomb on board)
- 050 ... Spion auf der Flucht (Spy on the run)
- 051 ... Gangster auf der Gartenparty (Gangsters at the garden party)
- 052 ... Überfall im Hafen (Assault at the port)
- 053 ... Schüsse aus der Rosenhecke (Shots from the rose hedge)
- 054 ... Alarm! Klößchen ist verschwunden (Help! Klumpling's missing!)
- 055 ... Der Mörder aus dem Schauerwald (The murderer from awe-forest)
- 056 ... Todesgruß vom Gelben Drachen (Death greetings from the yellow dragon)
- 057 ... Jagt das rote Geisterauto (Chase that red phantom car!)
- 058 ... Der doppelte Pedro (Pedro's Double)
- 059 ... Trickdieb auf Burg Drachenstein (Snatcher at Castle Dragonstone)
- 060 ... Der Teufel vom Waiga-See (The devil at Lake Waiga)
- 061 ... Im Schatten des Dämons (In the Demon's shadow)
- 062 ... Terror aus dem "Pulverfass" (Terror from the "Tinderbox")
- 063 ... Die Falle am Fuchsbach (The trap at fox creek)
- 064 ... Schwarze Pest aus Indien (Black plague from India)
- 065 ... Sklaven für Wutawia (Slaves for Wutawia)
- 066 ... Gauner mit der "Goldenen Hand" (The crook with the "Golden Hands")
- 067 ... Hinterhalt im Eulenforst (Ambush at the owl forest)
- 068 ... Rauschgiftrazzia im Internat (Drug raid at the boarding school)
- 069 ... Achtung! Die "Monsters" kommen (Danger! "Monsters" are coming)
- 070 ... Wer hat Tims Mutter entführt? (Who snatched Tim's mother?)
- 071 ... Stimmen aus der Unterwelt (Voices from the underworld)
- 072 ... Taschengeld für ein Gespenst (Pocket money for a ghost)
- 073 ... Herr der Schlangeninsel (Master of Snake Island)
- 074 ... Im Schattenreich des Dr. Mubase (In the Shadow Realm of Dr.Mubase)
- 075 ... Lösegeld am Henkersberg (Ransom at Henkersberg)
- 076 ... Die Goldgräberbande (The Gold- Diggers Gang)
- 077 ... Der erpresste Erpresser (The extorted Blackmailer)
- 078 ... Heißer Draht nach Paradiso (Hotline to Paradiso)
- 079 ... Ein Toter braucht Hilfe (A dead one needs assistance)
- 080 ... Weißes Gift im Nachtexpress (White poison on the Night Train)
- 081 ... Horror-Trip im Luxusauto (The horror journey in the limousine)
- 082 ... Spuk aus dem Jenseits (Spook from the afterlife)
- 083 ... Hilfe! Gaby in Gefahr (Help! Gaby's in danger!)
- 084 ... Dynamit im Kofferraum (Dynamite in the trunk)
- 085 ... Freiheit für gequälte Tiere (Freedom for tortured animals)
- 086 ... Die Schatzsucher-Mafia schlägt zu (The Treasure- Hunter Mafia strikes)
- 087 ... Der böse Geist vom Waisenhaus (Evil spirit of the orphanage)
- 088 ... Kampf um das Zauberschwert "Drachenauge" (Fight for the magic "Drageoneye" sword)
- 089 ... Feind aus der Vergangenheit (Enemy from the past)
- 090 ... Schmuggler reisen unerkannt (Smugglers travel anonymous)
- 091 ... Crash-Kids riskieren ihr Leben (Crash- Kids risk their lives)
- 092 ... Der grausame Rächer (The cruel avenger)
- 093 ... Die Opfer mit der kühlen Schnauze (The victims with the cool snout)
- 094 ... In dunkler Nacht am Marmorgrab (In darkness at the marble grave)
- 095 ... U-Bahn des Schreckens (Subway of fright)
- 096 ... Die Entführung des Popstars (Kidnap of the popstar)
- 097 ... Die Hand an den Sternen (The Hand at the stars)
- 098 ... Die Haie vom Lotus-Garten (The sharks from the Lotus-Garden)
- 099 ... Hilflos in eisiger Nacht (Helpless in the freezing night)
- 100 ... Fieser Trick mit Nr. 100 (Nasty trick with No. 100)
- 101 ... Opfer fliegen 1. Klasse (Victims fly 1st. Class)
- 102 ... Angst auf der Autobahn (Fear on the motorway)
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- 103 ... Mörderischer Stammbaum (Murderous family tree)
- 104 ... Im Wettbüro des Teufels (In the devils' betting office)
- 105 ... Vermisste Kids und Killerpflanzen (Missing Kids and killer plants)
- 106 ... Mädchenraub im Ferienhaus (Kidnapped girl at Holiday House)
- 107 ... Lösegeld für einen Irrtum (Ransom for a fallacy)
- 108 ... Das Konzert bei den Ratten (Concert with the rats)
- 109 ... Mörderspiel im Burghotel (Murder- play at the castle Hotel)
- 110 ... Das Phantom im Schokoladen-Museum (Phantom in the Chocolate Museum)
- 111 ... Die tödliche Falle (The deadly trap)
- 112 ... Bombenspaß bei Kies & Knete ('Bombing-spree' at "Dosh & Brass")
- 113 ... Mit heißer Nadel Jagd auf Kids (With hot needle- hunt on kids)
- 114 ... Die Sekte Satans (Satans' Sect)
- 115 ... Der Diamant im Bauch der Kobra (The Diamond in the belly of the cobra)
- 116 ... Klassenfahrt zur Hexenburg (Class trip to "Witch Castle")
- 117 ... Im Schloss der schlafenden Vampire (In the castle of the sleeping vampires)
- 118 ... Im Kaufhaus ist der Teufel los (In the department store all hell breaks loose)
- 119 ... Frische Spur nach 70 Jahren (Fresh trace after 70 years)
- 120 ... Bei Anruf Angst (Dial 'F' for Fear)
- 121 ... Ein cooler Typ aus der Hölle (A cool guy out of Hell)
- 122 ... Der Goldschatz, der vom Himmel fiel (The treasure, which fell from the sky)
- 123 ... Mordkomplott im Luxus-Klo (Conspiracy in the luxury loo)
- 124 ... Vergebliche Suche nach Gaby (Futile search for Gaby)
- 125 ... Der Mörder aus einer anderen Zeit (The murderer from another time)
- 126 ... Teddy Talers Höllenfahrt (Teddy Talers' trip to Hell)
- 127 ... Im Schlauchboot durch die Unterwelt (In a rubber raft through the Underworld)
- 128 ... Die Gehilfen des Terrors (The Assistants of Terror)
- 129 ... Der Erpresser fährt bis Endstation (Last Exit for Blackmailers)
- 130 ... Die gefährliche Zeugin verschwindet (The disappearance of the dangerous witness)
- 131 ... Stundenlohn für flotte Gangster (Hourly wages for quick gangsters)
- 132 ... Homejacker machen Überstunden (Homejackers do overtime)
- 133 ... Auf vier Pfoten zur Millionenbeute (On four paws to the million-bounty)
- 134 ... Wer stoppt die Weihnachts-Gangster? (Who'll stop the Christmas- Gangsters?)
- 135 ... Der Meisterdieb und seine Feinde (The Master Thief and his enemies)
- 136 ... Argentinische Entführung (Argentine kidnapping)
- 137 ... Verschleppt ins Tal Diabolo (Kidnapped into "Valley Diabolo")
- 138 ... Raubzug mit Bumerang (Raid with boomerang)
- 139 ... Oskar jagt die Drogendealer (Oskar hunts the dealer)
- 140 ... Draculas Erben (Dracula's heirs)
- 141 ... Todesbiss der schwarzen Mamba (Death- bite of the Black Mamba)
- 142 ... Bankräuber mit Supertrick (Bank- robber with the Super-Trick)
- 143 ... Das unheimliche Haus (The uncanny House)
- 144 ... Schreckensnacht im Schlangenmaul (Fright night in the queue muzzle)
- 145 ... Hinterhalt am schwarzen Fels (Ambush at the black rock)
- 146 ... Nonstop in die Raketenfalle (Non-stop into the rocket-trap)
- 147 ... Hölle ohne Hintertür (Hell without a back door)
- 148 ... Fieser Trick beim Finale (Nasty trick at the Endgame)
- 149 ... Tims gefährlichster Gegner (Tim's most dangerous opponent)
- 150 ... Heiße Nächte im Dezember (Torrid nights in December)
- 151 ... Gekauftes Spiel (Paid Game)
- 152 ... Max und Anna, ein diebisches Paar (Max & Anna, a larcenous couple)
- 153 ... Es geschah in einer Regennacht (It happened on a rainy night)
- 154 ... Das Geheimnis der Burgruine (The secret of the castle ruins)
- 155 ... Gefangen im Spukhaus (Imprisoned in the haunted house)
- 156 ... Erpresser fahren Achterbahn (Blackmailers ride rollercoasters)
- 157 ... Oskar und die sieben Zwerge (Oskar and the seven dwarves)
- 158 ... Trainer unter Verdacht (Coach under suspicion)
- 159 ... Böses Spiel im Sommercamp (Bad game at the summercamp)
- 160 ... Das Grauen naht um Zwölf (Dread approaches at twelve)
- 161 ... Ein Yeti in der Millionenstadt (A Yeti in the town of millions)
- 162 ... Gefahr für Oskar! (Oskar in danger!)
- 163 ... Die Makler-Mafia (Broker-Mafia)
- 164 ... Operation Hexen-Graffiti (Operation: Witch-Graffiti)
- 165 ... Advent mit Knalleffekt (Advent with a big bang)
- 166 ... Das Mädchen mit der Kristallkugel (The girl with the Crystal Ball)
- 167 ... Der Unsichtbare (The Invisible)
- 168 ... Millioncoup im Stadtion (Millions-coup at the stadium)
- 169 ... Tatort Dschungel (Crime Scene: Jungle)
- 170 ... Schock im Schnee (Shock in the snow)
- 171 ... Das lebende Gemälde (The living painting)
- 172 ... Das Geheimnis der Moorleiche (The secret of the body in the Moors)
- 173 ... Die Skelettbande (The Skeleton Gang)
- 174 ... Doppelgänger auf der Rennbahn
- 175 ... Nachtwanderung mit Schrecken
- 176 ... Verbrechen im Rampenlicht (Crimes in the footlight)
- 177 ... Die Spur der Wölfin
- 178 ... Hai-Alarm im Aqua-Park (Shark alert in water park)
- 179 ... Abzocke im Online-Chat
- 180 ... Alarm im Raubtierhaus
- 181 ... Der vertauschte Koffer
- 182 ... Im Bann des Übersinnlichen
- 183 ... Blindgänger im Villenviertel
- 184 ... Die ewige Finsternis
- 185 ... Der unsichtbare Dieb (The invisible thief)
- 186 ... Die schlafende Chinesin (The sleeping chinese)
- 187 ... Ausspioniert! (Spied on!)
- 188 ... Die blauen Schafe von Artelsbach (The blue sheep from Artelsbach)
- 189 ... Iwan, der Schreckliche (Iwan, the terrible)
- 190 ... Der eiskalte Clown (The ice-cold clown)
- 191 ... Nord-Nordwest zum Hexenplatz
- 192 ... Feuer auf Gut Ribbeck
- 193 ... Das Weihnachts-Phantom (The Christmas-Phantom)
- 194 ... Der Friedhof der Namenlosen (The graveyard of the nameless)
- 195 ... Dem Sonnenkönig auf der Spur
- 196 ... Tatort Wagenburg
- 197 ... Bei Anpfiff Übergabe
- 198 ... Der Golem vom Dunkelsee
- 199 ... Verfolgungsjagd vor Mitternacht (Chase before midnight)
- 200 ... Der große Coup (The great coup)
- 201 ... Vom Goldschatz besessen (Obsessed by the goldtreasure)
- 202 ... Ein Paradies für Diebe (A paradise for thieves)
- 203 ... Der Räuber mit der Weihnachtsmaske (The robber with the christmasmask)
- 204 ... Verschwörung auf Hoher See (Conspiracy on high sea)
- 205 ... Teuflische Kaffeefahrt
- 206 ... Achtung,Ufo-Kult! (Watch out, Ufo-Cult!)
- 207 ... Doppelte Entführung
- 208 ... Geheimnis im Tresor (Secret in the vault)
- 209 ... Drohbriefe von Unbekannt
- 210 ... Raubzug im Casino
- 211 ... Geiselnahme im Villenviertel
- 212 ... Tyrannei Kommando Eins
- 213 ... Das unheimliche Dorf (The unsettling village)
- 214 ... Diamantenrausch auf der A9
- 215 ... Verbrechen im Moorsteiner Wald
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TKKG on television and in cinema
- see Ein Fall für TKKG
Between 1985 and 1987 TKKG was developed for ZDF a twelve episode TV cartoon serial. The first six episodes were shown between 7 November 1985 and 12 December 1985 on ZDF. Episodes 7 - 12 had also been broadcast on ZDF two years later between 22 October 1987 and 26 November 1987 for the first time. Afterwards all episodes in irregular order were broadcast on ZDF and on KI.KA. (There. among other things. in the context of the broadcast "TKKG - Der Club der Detektive"). In the main roles, Fabian Harloff started from episode 7 as Tim, Christian Pfaff as Karl, Kai Maahs as Doughnut and Jessica Gast as Gaby.
- Das leere Grab im Moor
- Angst in der 9 A
- Die Jagd nach den Millionendieben
- Der Schlangenmensch
- Das Geheimnis der chinesischen Vase
- Der blinde Hellseher
- Überfall im Hafen
- Bestien in der Finternis
- Spion auf der Flucht
- Gangster auf der Gartenparty
- Haie an Bord
- Todesfracht im Jaguar
Movies in Cinema
- Drachenauge (The Dragon's Eye) (1992)
- TKKG- The Mysterious Mind-Machine (German title: TKKG und das Geheimnis um die rätselhafte Mind Machine) (2006)
The 2006 movie about the mysterious mind machine was produced by Constantin Film and was directed by Tomy Wigand.
Comics
1987–1989 appeared in Ehapa publishing house of 17 booklets with TKKG Comics (expenditure 1-2/1987, 1-12/1988 and 1-3/1989). The Comics was produced by the studio Comicon, a draughtsman was Josep Marti, who also among other things for YPS drew.
TKKG in other countries
In France, thirteen TKKG books have been published in French from 1981 to 1985. The names of the main characters have been slightly changed : Tarzan, Karl, Klaus, Gaby.
In Indonesia, TKKG books are translated to Indonesian. The names of all the main characters have been changed to facilitate the locals to pronounce the names. The series is known as "STOP", which represents the acronym of the altered names of the main characters:
- Sporty (Tim in the original version)
- Thomas (Karl in the original version)
- Oskar (Klößchen in the original version)
- Petra (Gaby in the original version)
The first 9 computer games were translated into English (the first 3 were sold in English-speaking countries; the last 6 were not and were translated for educational reasons). TKKG was kept as the names, but changed;
- Tim became Tiger, or Peter Carsten.
- Karl became Kevin Forestone or the Computer.
- Gaby became Katy Crocker, or the Paw.
- Klößchen became Grunter, or Basil Sowerby.
Websites (in German)