Ruby: The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe

by Thomas Lopez, ZBS Foundation

The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe is fast-paced and funny intergalactic entertainment the Marx Brothers would be proud of, with slick, splashy high-tech music and effects created by Tim Clark. The music and sound effects are stunning.

On the planet Summa Nulla (the "high point of nothing") someone is manipulating the media. And Ruby, our hip, tough-talking detective is hired to track down the malefactors.

The Android Sisters perform their satirical speak-songs as Ruby, the galactic gumshoe, encounters some pretty weird planetary inhabitants on her quest for truth and the intergalactic The Tookah, with four tentacles, three eyes, a blue mustache and red fez, TJ Teru the archaeologist, Chief Molierre of the Mole People, sneaky little Rodant Kapoor, Angel Lips (the femme fatale of androids) and the Slimeys, genetically engineered assassins.

Originally broadcast around the world in 23 foreign including the CBC, Canada, BBC, England and ABC, Australia.

The Mark Time Award for Best Science Fiction of the Year.

Ruby officially entered Science Fiction's Audio Hall of Fame for Best Science Fiction of 1982.

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Jaylia3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created as a radio series in 1982, this humor filled, fast paced, outer space, sci-fi adventure really jazzed up my daily commute. Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe is hired to find out who’s been manipulating the media on the 6-mooned planet Summa Nulla (crossroads of the galaxy, highpoint of nothing), and she’s just the dame for the job. Savvy, tough, and with a well developed sense of irony, none of the weird planetary inhabitants faze her--not the mustachioed informant with tentacle appendages who wants to shake “hands”, not the pun-loving mole creatures who excavate ancient underground cities that keep caving in whenever she’s around, and not the sexy android who sicced slimey genetically engineered assassins on her. Actually Angel Lips (the sexy android) and the slime assassins do exasperate Ruby, but Ruby handles them all with her usual sharp witted determination.

There’s about three hours of audio story with very cool high-tech sound effects, stunning other-world “visuals”, occasional musical interludes by the Android Sisters, and witty repartee worthy of a movie comedy from the 1930’s-40’s. It’s broken up into 3 or 4 minute sections and there’s sometimes a little repetition of plot points since it was originally broadcast in a serial format, but if you also have to keep your mind on something else--like driving--that’s actually an advantage. The Adventures of Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe and its nine or so sequels(!) are available on the ZBS website and Audible.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished listening to this this morning. I have to say the ending was a bit abrupt, but I suspect/hope some of the lose ends are taken up in subsequent volumes. There seems to be quite a few of them. The voice acting, music, and mood was wonderful for the whole series. I really enjoyed the journey. In particular I like the Android Sisters segments. At first I was a bit thrown off by them, but by the end they were my favorite part. I kind of just want to collect all their parts and string them together.

[Sarah Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this radio program series. This was the first one and I first heard it in HS on local college station eons ago. It was wonderfully creative and campy. It's like Sam Spade meets Blade Runner with puns and foolishness. It's been around for 40 years or so, but still works brilliantly. I found they've done a lot with it and made a series and I really enjoy it. ZBS.com puts out some really great stuff. The Jack Flander's series is also fabulous.

[Audrey Maran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! Loved the interplay between the voice acting and music. I look forward to listening to more of Ruby's adventures.

[Judy Cyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe is not a book, but a vibrant, entertaining, absorbing, laugh-out-loud radio series with sound effects and the perfect voice for a "Han Solo" type of star-crossing private detective, complete with Godzilla blaster for "Slimies, biogenetically engineered assassins out for the hunt." I can't tell you how many times I've enjoyed these scenes and stories. Ruby's one of my heroes. The background music, quirky characters (TJ Teru, archeologist; Molierre, chief of the Mole People, Rodant Kapoor ["Ro-DANT, not rodent!"]; and Angel Lips, an android built for pleasure with a mind of her own) will pull you into cosmic mysteries and danger and entertainment.

These characters, and many others, with the scenes of solar-sailing, betting with lives at stake, and of course, the Slimies and how to eradicate their hidden nest, while solving Ruby's original job--to find out who's manipulating reality ("the media, Ruby, the media...")--will keep you hopping with Ruby. Funny. And through it all, wise-cracking, tough Ruby, who can slow time and blasts anything she considers a threat. ("I let them hear the sound of my blaster being set. 'Here's a kiss for you!'") Tesla even makes a cameo appearance. I used to quote from Ruby at staff meetings to the amusement of my coworkers, and frustration of my boss!

Definitely settle back and let Ruby lead you on a unique adventure. ("My name is Ruby. I'm a galactic gumshoe. A good one.")

Most definitely!

[Jj Queenmomcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let me know if we're going through any short doors!" Wonderful to have a science fiction serial with a tough heroine.

[Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the far out, free-wheeling creativity, but the use of the microphones is so amateurish that, too often, I just don't know what's happening. The scenes change without warning, too.
Still, it's good. Aggravating but good.