Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe is a science fiction radio drama series by the ZBS Foundation, written by Thomas Lopez. The first series, Ruby: Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe, was created in 1982, and was broadcast on about 500 public radio stations. In each story, the title character Ruby is hired to solve a metaphysical problem. New series have been released every few years, reaching Ruby 15 in 2025. Ruby is played by actress Laura Esterman.
Description Ruby is a comic science fiction treatment of the hardboiled detective genre; the original series took place on the planet of Summa Nulla ("the high point of nothing") although later series took Ruby to other planets and solar systems.
Laura Esterman starred as Ruby in the first series and Karen Young starred in the second series as "Ruby Too", another version of the protagonist, while Esterman, as Ruby, had a cameo part in this series. Esterman returned to the lead role from Ruby 3 onwards, credited as Blanche Blackwell.
The series was originally syndicated to air on the radio in episodes of approximately three to four minutes long, but later released as half-hour episodes to radio stations. To date, thirteen Ruby adventures have been released, the most recent in 2019.
Ruby has been broadcast in 23 countries, including Canada (on CBC), England (on BBC), Australia (on ABC) and the US (originally on PBS, more recently on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio). Ruby entered Science Fiction's Audio Hall of Fame for Best Science Fiction of 1982.Mark Time Award
Series Ruby: The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe (1982) This story was the very first cyberpunk radio drama. In it, Ruby is hired by Rodant Kapoor to find out who is manipulating the media on Summa Nulla. Ruby: Laura Esterman T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Angel Lips: Robin Karfo And/Or, Rodant Kapoor, and Mother Kapoor: Tom Stewart The Android Sisters: Ruth Breuer & Valeria Vasilevski Chief , the Tookah: Fred Neuman Onoffon and Moleena Mole: Honora Ferguson Offonoff: Valeria Vasilevski Monet: Count Stovall Moonbeam: Elaine Graham Toots Mutant: Cara Duff-McCormick Harold Matisse: Chris McCaan The Vocoder Chorus: Tim Clark The Announcer: Dave Herman Executive Producer & Director: Thomas Manuel Lopez Author: Meatball Fulton Music: Original score for Ruby, composed and performed by Tim Clark
Ruby 2: The Further Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe (1985) Ruby Two is hired to find out who's "windowing" the Bulldada. Ruby 2: Karen Young Ruby: Laura Esterman Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Tom Stewart T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond The Tookah, the Booger Man & Dr. Frank-n-furter: Fred Neuman Sam the Bardroid, Pisaro & Count Velcro: Peter Freedman "Big Money": Phoenix Sal the Robot: Eve Benton-Gordon The Bulldada, the Native Robot Guide & the Minotaur: Walter Cotton Mother Koan: Ellen MacLeDuff Julio "Hot Stuff" Sanchez: Gregorio Rosenblum Horace Wimpy: David Brisbane Ozymandias: John Wynn-Evans The Digital Dentist: Skip Pink Betty & Teddy: Phoenix & Tom Stewart The Chorus of Tykes: Jacob Fruchter The Announcer: Dave Herman with assistance from Tom Stewart Executive Producer & Director: Thomas Lopez Written by Meatball Fulton (in deep collaboration with Phoenix) Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 3: The Underworld / The Invisible World (1990–1991) Part One: The Underworld: Ruby is hired by the Aurorian Man Ray to trace a dark force entering Summa Nulla through the walls of Magnifico – City of Malls. Meanwhile, "techno-anthropologist" Inanna undertakes a quest to the dark and hellish Underworld to discover the meaning behind the mysterious "Seven Gates".
Part Two: The Invisible World: Ruby, Inanna and Kapoor find themselves stranded in the Invisible World, where each of them is forced to confront the dark force in their own way.
Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Inanna: Jona Harris Manray & Mustapha: Willy B Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Father Mojo: Dave Adams Sister Hoolooopoo: Gretel Junior Kapoor: Nebadon Adams Imogene Kapoor: Dalia Schneier Maharini: Valeria Vasilevski The Inky: Felix Avocado Mister Concertina: Andre Adler Molet the Mole & Tookah 2: Gregorio Rosenblum The Android Sisters: Ruth Maleczech (previously credited as Ruth Breuer) & Valeria Vasilevski The Big Scuzz: Greg Merton Toadface: Terry O'Reilly Clay People and Punishing Stones: Terry O'Reilly, Greg Merton & Felix Avocado Zumzammim: Remly Hodgekiss Ringmaster: John McDonough Bartender: Ruth Maleczech Roger Robot: Hoopy Lewis Dr. Lazer: Leslie Blanford Monet: Karras Berlin Narrator: Kirby Airs Executive Producer & Director: Thomas Manuel Lopez Story by Thomas Lopez & Marcia Dale Lopez Script by Meatball Fulton Music Composed and Performed by Tim Clark
Ruby 4: The Moon Coins of Sonto Lore (1994–1995) Part One: The Moon Coins of Sonto Lore Ruby is hired by Marimba Mambo to find the four Moon Coins of Sonto Lore - the mythical fourth moon of Summa Nulla. The investigation accidentally uncovers a planned invasion by extra-dimensional Reptoids.
Part Two: The Turban of El Morya And/Or attempts to build an invisible "light machine" on the orders of Nikola Tesla (who may have a hidden agenda of his own), while Teru is held prisoner on the Reptoid planet.
Part Three: Dark Night of the Reptoids Ruby returns to the Reptoid planet in an attempt to rescue Teru.
Part Four: Mad Moon for Rubina Summa Nulla is pulled into the fifth dimension... with cataclysmic consequences!
Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Nikola Tesla, François the Robot, Zandero, E. Gad (Man in Café): Jim Cantell Rubina: Katja Frazier Toots Mutant: Ruth Maleczech Marimba Mambo: Gregorio Rosenblum Reppies: Rob Harari Mino Loonga: Leslie Blandford The Creeper: Felix Avocado Father Mojo: Dave Adams Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Story: Tom & Marcia Dale Lopez (Part 1), Meatball Fulton (Parts 2–4) Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 5: The Land of Zoots (1998) Ruby is hired by President Koonstar Bootstah to find out who created the Land of Zoots, a fantasy land that has stated to be made real by the inhabitants of the Awakening Archipelago. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Hamilton Dobbs (Bill Raymond) Toots Mutant: Ruth Maleczech Rodant Kapoor, And/Or, Mother Kapoor, Mr. Bubble & Big Teddy: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) François, Freddie Foo Foo, Prof Magnolia Warbler, Little Teddy, Palsy Walsy Panda, Prof Toto LeToe: Jim Cantell Angel Eyes, Coonstar Boostah, Barbie Bazooms: Rene Augesen Mr. Mollusk, The Wizard of Zoots: Bill Hufnagle The Android Sisters: Ruth Maleczech & Valeria Vasilevski The Balluka: Ida Faiella Narrator: Kirby Airs Director: Tom Lopez Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 6: The Illusionati (2001) Ruby is hired by Oop Boop, an Illuboo from the planet Illuboo Roi, to uncover members of the Illuboo secret society, the Illusionati. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Angel Babe & Lady Bassoon: Shelley Williams Boom-Boom Bassoon: Bill Westonberg Sue Foo: Leslie Blandford Cream Puff & Yummy Yaszoom: Nathan Robbins Ambassador Woogie & Ringmaster: Neu Fredmann Narrator: Kirby Airs Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Writer: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 6.5: Far Flung Farouk (2004) Ruby, Teru, Kapoor, and And/Or are hired to investigate the royal tomb of Far Flung Farouk. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Wop Wop Bop: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Captain Laconic & Prince Haw Hee Bop: Bill Blechingberg Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Writer: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 7: Dream Weaver, Dream Deceiver (2006) The Morpheusians are experiencing fear for the first time in their lives, and Ruby is hired to find out who, how and why. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Angel Cheeks: Cheyenne Casebier & the Tookah: Neu Fredmann Moo, Ringmaster, Talking Loo, Alien & Clown: Nathan Robbins The Android Sisters: Ruth Maleczech & Valeria Vasilevski Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 7.5: The Tookah's Tales (2008) Ruby entices the Tookah to tell his strange tales of what it is like to live on other planets. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) The Tookah: John McDonough Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Story and Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 8: The Good King Kapoor (2009) Ruby is hired by Mother Kapoor to bring home her son Rodant, who is hiding out in another universe. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Art Fairbain (Tom Stewart) Onoffon: Ruth Maleczech Offonoff & Woman: Leslie Geraci Wazir & Reptoids: Tom Robbins The Narrator: Dave Herman Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Story & Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 9: Masque of the Red Moon (2012) Two preview chapters of Ruby 9 were posted on the ZBS website in July 2012. The two chapters, "The City of Lost Illusions" and "The Hoochie Coochie Club" feature the series' main cast (Laura Esterman as Ruby, Bill Raymond as T.J. Teru and Tom Stewart as And/Or and Rodant Kapoor). The story involves the four characters going undercover on a steampunk-inspired planet.
Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Tom Stewart Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Story & Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 9.5: Who Knows How This Ends? (2015) Deep in the jungles of the Great Zeezeeboos, on the planet of Summa Nulla, is the spiral city of Oroboros, once known as The City of the Future. But the future has passed, and Oroboros has been abandoned, or so everyone believed. Ruby: Blanche Blackwell (Laura Esterman) T.J. Teru: Bill Raymond Rodant Kapoor, And/Or & Mother Kapoor: Tom Stewart Producer/Director: Tom Lopez Story & Script: Meatball Fulton Music: Tim Clark
Ruby 10: The Black Star of Summa Nulla (2018) 60 minutes Ruby is back, and this time she’s out looking to twist Kapoor’s little neck. Yes, the Rodent has gotten her into yet another mess. How this came about – Kapoor started his own detective agency. He doesn’t call himself a P.I. (Private Investigator), he calls himself a P.S. (Private Snoop). But then he accepts a case that’s way over his head. It’s about a gemstone called The Black Star of Summa Nulla, a stone some people believe can predict the future.
Moliere, Chief of the Mole People, dug up the stone on one of his digs. Moliere believes the Black Star is not from this planet, in fact it’s so dangerous, it was meant to be buried away forever. And when Kapoor gets his little paws on the priceless gemstone, everyone is out looking for him!
But he’s hiding. And where is Rodant hiding? He’s somewhere in “The Big Boohoos,” a sector of Summa Nulla where the rains never cease.
Ruby 11: Little Fritzi and the Wonder Game (2023) 74 minutes Ruby is hired to find a little girl who has disappeared into Siddhi Infini, an ancient oasis city in the Great Summa Nulla desert. The girl is a Fritzoid, she can stop her growth and appear to be a child, though she may be decades older.
When Ruby gathers her group together – And/Or, Rodant Kapoor, and T.J. Teru – she discovers T.J. has retired, he has sold his excavation business to Seymour Sneel, a fellow archaeologist who was tossed out of Siddhi Infini for wanting to activate the Wonder Game.
The Wonder Game is an ancient Nullian game that no one knows to how to play … and those who try, may find the game is playing them.
Ruby 12: Can We Ever Turn Into Light? (2024) 70 minutes