Blind Alley

Blind Alley (1945) is a short story by Isaac Asimov set in the Foundation universe, during the times of the Galactic Empire. It is about the discovery of an alien race, herded to a planet to use as a combination zoo, laboratory, and reservation. Interestingly, it is the only story set in the Foundation universe to feature an intelligence not of human origin.

The short story can be found in the third volume of The Early Asimov collection. It is often regarded as one of Asimov's strongest short stories.