Summary
Youth by Isaac Asimov is a classic science fiction short story first published in 1952. Unlike Asimov's more technical robot or space epics, this story stands out for its twist ending and moral perspective, delivered through the lens of innocence and misunderstanding.
The plot centers on two boys—Red and Slim—who discover and secretly keep a pair of strange animals they believe to be exotic creatures.
Meanwhile, their fathers—one a powerful businessman, the other a visiting alien ambassador—are deep in negotiations that will decide the future of interstellar cooperation.
Told with parallel perspectives and subtle clues, the story slowly reveals that what the children think they’ve found are not animals at all—but something much more important and sentient. The boys’ naïve assumptions contrast with the serious diplomatic stakes, leading to a surprising and ironic twist that flips reader expectations about who is alien and who is native.
At its core, Youth explores themes of innocence, perspective, interplanetary diplomacy, and the unintended consequences of misunderstanding.
It’s a short but powerful example of Asimov’s talent for blending science fiction with ethical reflection and clever narrative structure.