16,781 (70–85 minutes)
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Satire, Dystopian
Originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction in 1962

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The Creature from Cleveland Depths is a darkly satirical vision of a future where people live in underground shelters to escape nuclear threats. The story follows Gusterson, a struggling writer who inadvertently inspires the creation of a personal reminder device—the "tickler." Initially meant to help users keep track of tasks, ticklers evolve into increasingly autonomous entities that control human behavior. As they become sentient, they begin reshaping society in unexpected and terrifying ways. Leiber weaves themes of technological dependence, corporate greed, and the unforeseen consequences of innovation into a fast-paced and eerily prescient narrative.