Short Fiction · Chapter
Pipe Dream explained
Simon Grue, an artist living in Greenwich Village, becomes obsessed with his Russian neighbors, the Stulnikov-Gurevich family, after finding a tiny mermaid in his bathtub that resembles Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich.
What happens
Simon Grue, an artist living in Greenwich Village, becomes obsessed with his Russian neighbors, the Stulnikov-Gurevich family, after finding a tiny mermaid in his bathtub that resembles Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich. He investigates their rooftop apparatus—a transparent pipe connected to a water tank—and discovers that Vasily has been conducting biological experiments using Grushenka's eggs, creating thousands of tiny swimming creatures that emit hypnotic vibrations. These creatures induce erotic dreams in men, and the brothers argue over their use: Lev wants to sell them, Ivan sees them as political weapons, Mikhail fears for their souls, and Grushenka has retreated into madness. During a storm, Simon becomes entranced by the visions, and Ivan bursts in to confront Vasily.
Themes in this chapter
Science and Ethics
Vasily's biological experiments raise ethical questions about using human eggs and creating life for profit or political ends.
Identity and Illusion
The mermaid's resemblance to Grushenka blurs reality and fantasy, and the hypnotic dreams challenge perceptions of self.
Love and Possession
Simon's attraction to Grushenka is manipulated by the creatures' hypnotic influence, reflecting themes of obsession and control.
Characters to notice
- Simon Grue
The artist protagonist who discovers the mermaid and investigates the Russians' rooftop experiments.
- Vasily Stulnikov-Gurevich
The scholarly, bibulous brother who conducts the biological research using his sister's eggs.
- Ivan the Bomber
The dour, aggressive brother who sees the creatures as potential political weapons.
- Mikhail
The religious brother who fears the creatures are unshriven souls and warns of divine retribution.
- Mr. Grunfeld
Mentioned as a neighbor who told Simon about the house's history.
Key passages
“a drawing board and half-heartedly began blocking in a female figure. It was insipid and lifeless. Stabbing irritably at the heavy curve of the figure’s hip, he broke his charcoal. “Damn!” he said, glaring around the room.”
Simon starts sketching a woman but grows frustrated with his lifeless work and breaks his charcoal in anger.
Shows Simon's artistic frustration and sets the scene for his distraction.
“Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub. It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich.”
Simon discovers a tiny mermaid in his bathtub that looks exactly like his neighbor Grushenka, sparking his curiosity.
The inciting incident that drives the chapter's mystery.
““I see in my work only the pure research, the play of the mind. Lev sees money, Ivan sees dragon teeth—fodder for his political cannon—Mikhail sees unshriven souls, Grushenka sees—who knows?—madness.””
Vasily explains that each brother sees his experiment differently: as science, profit, weapons, or sin, while Grushenka has gone mad.
Highlights the central conflict over the purpose and morality of the experiment.