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Title: Blind Alley

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Title: Blind Alley Title Record # 41602
Author: Isaac Asimov
Date: 1945-03-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: short story
Series: Foundation Universe
Webpages: Wikipedia-EN
Language: English
Synopsis: After a technologically undeveloped alien race was discovered by the Empire of Trantor and set under protective control on their planet, they respond by ceasing any attempt to reproduce. A project to find the reason and a solution for this is set into motion ...
User Rating: 7.67 (3 votes) Your vote: Not cast VOTE
Current Tags: epistolary (1), bureaucracy (1), alien contact (1), galactic empire (1), journalist (1), correspondence (1), telepathy (1), science fiction (1), NESFA Core Reading List (1), alien culture (1) Add Tags

Other Titles

Translations
Year Language Title
1973Translated by Hilia Brinis and Beata Della Frattina
Italian Vicolo cieco
1975Translated by Ronald Blunden
French Cul-de-sac
1977Translated by Jean Schalekamp
Dutch Doodlopende straat
1984Translated by Joachim Körber; the copyright of the translation is assigned to Hans Joachim Alpers and Harald Pusch
German Sackgasse
1991Translated by Walter Brumm
German Sackgasse
1993Translated by Carlos Gardini.
Spanish Callejón sin salida
1995Translated by 岡部宏之(Okabe Hiroyuki)
Japanese
袋小路?ふくろこうじ
Fukuro Kōji
Fukuro Kouji
[as by ]
1998Translated by Mihai-Dan Pavelescu
Romanian
Fundătura?Fundatura

Awards

Place Year and Award Category
Nominations Below Cutoff 1996 Retro Hugo Best Short Story

Publications

Displaying all variants and translations • Do not display translationsDo not display variants or translations

Title Date Author/Editor Publisher/Pub. Series ISBN/Catalog ID Price Pages Format Type Cover Artist Verif
Astounding Science Fiction, March 1945 1945-03-00 ed. John W. Campbell, Jr. Street & Smith Publications, Inc.  
$0.25?$: US dollar
180
digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125".
mag Timmins Checkmark
The Best of Science Fiction 1946-02-11 ed. Groff Conklin Crown Publishers  
$3.00?$: US dollar
xxvii+
785
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
anth Robert Josephy Checkmark
Best of Science Fiction 1963-00-00 ed. Groff Conklin Crown Publishers  
$1.95?$: US dollar
vii+
440
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
anth Checkmark
Great Stories of Space Travel 1963-07-00 ed. Groff Conklin Tempo Books T39
$0.60?$: US dollar
256
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Checkmark
Great Stories of Space Travel 1965-12-00 ed. Groff Conklin Tempo Books T39
$0.50?$: US dollar
256
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Checkmark
Great Stories of Space Travel 1969-00-00 ed. Groff Conklin Tempo Books 5313
$0.60?$: US dollar
256
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Checkmark
Great Stories of Space Travel 1970-04-00 ed. Groff Conklin Tempo Books / Grosset & Dunlap 5313
$0.60?$: US dollar
256
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying 1972-09-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday 0-385-03979-4
$10.00?$: US dollar
viii+
540
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Barry Kiperman Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying 1972-12-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday & Company / SFBC 5479
$2.98?$: US dollar
568
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Barry Kiperman Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying 1973-10-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday 0-385-03979-4
$10.00?$: US dollar
viii+
540
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Barry Kiperman Checkmark
Urania #630 1973-10-28 ed. Carlo Fruttero, Franco Lucentini Mondadori 630
Lit 350?Lit: Italian lira
168
digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125".
mag Karel Thole Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying Volume 3 1974-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03937-6
£0.35?£: UK pound
192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Chris Foss Checkmark
The Early Asimov: Book Two 1974-12-00 Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest P2323
$1.25?$: US dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Checkmark
The Early Asimov: Book Two 1974-12-00 Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest P2323
C$1.25?C$: Canadian dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying Volume 3 1975-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03937-6
£0.40?£: UK pound
192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Chris Foss Checkmark
La mère des mondes 1975-06-12 Isaac Asimov
Denoël?Denoel
(
Présence du Futur?Presence du Futur
#199)
    181
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll  
De rode koningin: Vroege werken 3: 1941-1948 1977-00-00 Isaac Asimov Bruna (Bruna SF #71) 90-229-9071-0   240
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Karel Thole Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying Volume 3 1978-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther / Granada 0-586-03937-6
£0.75?£: UK pound
192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Chris Foss Checkmark
Asimov Story 1979-03-00 Isaac Asimov Mondadori (Biblioteca di Urania #3)  
Lit 3,500?Lit: Italian lira
588
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
coll Karel Thole  
The Golden Age of Science Fiction 1980-00-00 ed. Groff Conklin Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers 0-517-33486-0   xxvii+
785
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
anth Ray Yeldham Checkmark
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying Volume 3 1981-00-00 Isaac Asimov Granada 0-586-03937-6
£1.25?£: UK pound
192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Chris Foss Checkmark
The Early Asimov: Book Two 1981-05-12 Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest 0-449-23700-1   304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll  
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying Volume 3 1982-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther / Granada 0-586-03937-6
£1.50?£: UK pound
192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Chris Foss Checkmark
The Great Science Fiction Stories Volume 7, 1945 1982-07-00 ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg DAW Books (DAW Collectors #489) 0-87997-746-9 / UE1746
$3.50?$: US dollar
368
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Bernal Checkmark
The Great Science Fiction Stories Volume 7, 1945 1982-07-00 ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg DAW Books / New American Library of Canada 0-87997-746-9
C$3.95?C$: Canadian dollar
368
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Bernal Checkmark
Intergalactic Empires 1983-12-00 ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh Signet / New American Library 0-451-12624-6
$2.95?$: US dollar
303
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Paul Alexander Checkmark
Isaac Asimov — der Tausendjahresplaner 1984-00-00 Hans Joachim Alpers, Harald Pusch Corian (Edition Futurum #2) 3-89048-202-3
DM 19.80?DM: German (Deutsche) mark
199
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
non-fic Bruno Stiegler Checkmark
The Golden Years of Science Fiction: Fourth Series 1984-12-00 ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers 0-517-44735-5
$6.98?$: US dollar
632
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
anth Fernandez Checkmark
The Early Asimov: Book 2 1986-02-00 Isaac Asimov Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-32589-3
$3.95?$: US dollar
301
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll  
The Early Asimov: Book 2 1986-02-00 Isaac Asimov Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-32589-3
C$4.95?C$: Canadian dollar
301
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Don Dixon Checkmark
La mère des mondes?La mere des mondes
1986-07-00 Isaac Asimov
Denoël?Denoel
(
Présence du Futur?Presence du Futur
#199)
2-207-30199-0   181
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Georges Raimondo  
Asimov Story 1987-05-27 Isaac Asimov Mondadori (Oscar #1957) 88-04-30078-7
Lit 8,000?Lit: Italian lira
586
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Atelier Energia  
Intergalactic Empires 1988-07-00 ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh Robinson 0-948164-97-2
£2.95?£: UK pound
303
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Jim Burns Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov 1989-05-00 Isaac Asimov Dark Harvest 0-913165-44-1
$21.95?$: US dollar
678
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Ron Lindahn , Val Lakey Lindahn  
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov 1989-05-00 Isaac Asimov Dark Harvest 0-913165-43-3
$49.00?$: US dollar
678
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Ron Lindahn , Val Lakey Lindahn  
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov!: Volume One 1990-07-00 Isaac Asimov Ace Books 0-441-00011-8
$3.95?$: US dollar
182
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Bob Eggleton Checkmark
Die Asimov-Chronik: Robot ist verloren 1991-00-00 Isaac Asimov Heyne (Heyne Allgemeine Reihe #8199) 3-453-04602-1
DM 14.80?DM: German (Deutsche) mark
475
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Karel Thole Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov! 1991-00-00 Isaac Asimov Legend 0-7126-4690-6
£14.99?£: UK pound
836
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Tony Roberts (artist) Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov: Volume One 1991-10-10 Isaac Asimov Legend 0-7126-4770-8
£8.99?£: UK pound
485
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
coll Tony Roberts (artist)  
The Complete Stories, Volume 2 1992-02-00 Isaac Asimov Foundation / Doubleday 0-385-42078-1
$14.00?$: US dollar
ix+
550
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
coll Barclay Shaw Checkmark
The Complete Stories, Volume 2 1992-05-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday Foundation / SFBC 17907
$7.98?$: US dollar
ix+
635
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll Barclay Shaw Checkmark
Cuentos completos II 1993-00-00 Isaac Asimov Ediciones B (Éxito Internacional #142) 84-406-3787-X    
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll  
The Complete Stories, Volume 2 1994-01-00 Isaac Asimov HarperCollins (UK) 0-00-224150-1
£16.99?£: UK pound
550
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll  
S-Fマガジン 1995年12月号, #474?Esu-Efu Magajin 1995-nen 12-gatsu Gō, #474
Esu-Efu Magajin 1995-nen 12-gatsu Gou, #474
S-F Magajin 1995-nen 12-gatsu Gō, #474
S-F Magajin 1995-nen 12-gatsu Gou, #474
1995-12-00 ed.
Editors of S-Fマガジン?Editors of Esu-Efu Magajin
Editors of S-F Magajin
早川書房?Hayakawa Shobō
Hayakawa Shobo
はやかわしょぼう
ハヤカワショボウ
     
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
mag  
Perioada Campbell 1998-00-00 Isaac Asimov Editura Teora (Sci-Fi (Editura Teora) #27) 973-601-351-0
Lei 35,000?Lei: Romanian leu
416
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
coll  
The Complete Stories, Volume 2 unpublished Isaac Asimov Foundation / Doubleday 0-385-42079-X    
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
coll  
Great Stories of Space Travel date unknown ed. Groff Conklin Tempo Books 0-448-12131-X
$1.25?$: US dollar
256
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Checkmark
Intergalactic Empires date unknown ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh Signet / New American Library 0-451-12624-6
$2.95?$: US dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Paul Alexander Checkmark
Intergalactic Empires date unknown ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh Signet / New American Library 0-451-12624-6
$2.95?$: US dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
anth Paul Alexander Checkmark
The Best of Science Fiction date unknown ed. Groff Conklin Crown Publishers  
$3.50?$: US dollar
xxvii+
785
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
anth Robert Josephy Checkmark
The Best of Science Fiction date unknown ed. Groff Conklin Crown Publishers  
$3.00?$: US dollar
xxvii+
785
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
anth Robert Josephy Checkmark
The Early Asimov: Book Two date unknown Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest 23027
$1.75?$: US dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll  
The Early Asimov: Book Two date unknown Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest Q2584
$1.50?$: US dollar
304
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
coll Checkmark
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