# Red — Short Science Fiction character guide

> Red in Short Science Fiction by Isaac Asimov.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** VI Red

**First appearance:** 0000-the-magnificent-possession

## Snapshot

A boy with hair to match his name, Red lures his new friend into a dawn secret involving a barn, a covered cage, and two creatures no circus has ever seen.

## Who they are

Red is the restless, imaginative son of an Industrialist, quick to name a stranger 'Slim' and quicker to claim a private world before the adults wake. He craves the circus life and believes the strange animals he has trapped can buy his way in, but his secrecy and his petty theft of chopped meat expose a boy testing how far charm can carry him. His friendship with Slim, sealed in the dewy grass before sunrise, sets the whole story in motion.

## Relationships

### [Slim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/slim)

_friendship_

Red and Slim are close companions, likely partners in adventure or crime, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting deep trust.

### [The Industrialist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_industrialist)

_rivalry_

Red and The Industrialist are adversaries, with Red likely opposing the Industrialist's exploitative or authoritarian agenda.

### [The Astronomer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_astronomer)

_friendship_

Red and The Astronomer are allies, with Red likely assisting or protecting the Astronomer in a conflict involving cosmic or scientific threats.

### [Dad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/dad)

_family_

Dad is Red's father, and their relationship is central to Red's personal motivations and backstory.

### [Slim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/slim)

_friendship_

Red and Slim are close companions, likely partners in adventure or crime, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting deep trust.

### [Slim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/slim)

_friendship_

Red and Slim are close companions, likely partners in adventure or crime, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting deep trust.

### [Dad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/dad)

_family_

Dad is Red's father, and their relationship is central to Red's personal motivations and backstory.

### [The Astronomer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_astronomer)

_friendship_

Red and The Astronomer are allies, with Red likely assisting or protecting the Astronomer in a conflict involving cosmic or scientific threats.

### [The Industrialist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_industrialist)

_rivalry_

Red and The Industrialist are adversaries, with Red likely opposing the Industrialist's exploitative or authoritarian agenda.

### [The Astronomer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_astronomer)

_friendship_

Red and The Astronomer are allies, with Red likely assisting or protecting the Astronomer in a conflict involving cosmic or scientific threats.

### [The Industrialist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/the_industrialist)

_rivalry_

Red and The Industrialist are adversaries, with Red likely opposing the Industrialist's exploitative or authoritarian agenda.

## In the story

### [Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/youth)

Presented as a key figure among the youth, embodying curiosity and leadership.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/i)

Wakes Slim early, reveals his secret discovery of two strange animals, and persuades Slim to join his circus plan.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/ii)

The Industrialist's son, mentioned as having sent Slim for animal food and known for bringing home pets.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/iv)

Sneaks ground meat from the house to feed the creatures, lies to his father about the noise, and directs the adults toward the hill.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/vi)

Argues with Slim about the spaceship, skeptical of Slim's claims, and insists on maintaining secrecy about their animals.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/vii)

Steals raw chopped meat from the kitchen to feed his two small animal pets; is confronted by his father and ordered to get rid of them.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/viii)

Frightened by Slim's urgency, confronts him about telling his father about the animals, then learns the truth about the aliens.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/ix)

Struggles with responsibility for the creatures, tries to defend his actions to his mother.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned as having touched and fed the creatures; attempts to speak but is silenced by the Industrialist.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/xiii)

The immature alien who first picked up the Explorer and feels bad about their departure, with a lost opportunity involving a circus.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/chapters/xiv)

Watches the ship leave, his tentacles quivering with regret and eyes filling with crystalline tears.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters/red
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_science_fiction_se/characters