Pipe Dream

Pipe Dream is a short novel by Fritz Leiber, written in the late 1950s, that blends science fiction and fantasy. The story follows Simon Grue, an artist in Greenwich Village, who becomes intrigued by his Russian neighbors and their peculiar activities, particularly involving their sister Grushenka. The narrative explores themes of reality, desire, and surrealism, culminating in Simon's discovery of a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub, which leads to unexpected complications.