I'm looking for a book I read 10 or 15 years ago. There were several short stories that stood out for me:
-Firstly, a story where a man (who's family is dead) purchases a machine which forms any type of metal object that is keyed into it. The man wants to return the machine for some reason so figures he'll get it to make something impossible. He keys in a 'devil's pitchfork', which to his surprise it creates. He looks into the impossible space and see's his dead family. The story ends with him keying in a larger version so he can crawl through the space.
-The next one I recall is about a man who lives in a massive rubbish dump. There is no vegetation or life. He spends his time searching for soil to sustain a seed which he found. I think the story ends with the seed growing into a poisonous orange which he eats.
-I was pretty certain the collection included the story 'It's such a beautiful day' (Asimov) but i cannot find a collection which includes this and the other stories i remember. May be mixing things up a bit.
Any help appreciated.
-Firstly, a story where a man (who's family is dead) purchases a machine which forms any type of metal object that is keyed into it. The man wants to return the machine for some reason so figures he'll get it to make something impossible. He keys in a 'devil's pitchfork', which to his surprise it creates. He looks into the impossible space and see's his dead family. The story ends with him keying in a larger version so he can crawl through the space.
-The next one I recall is about a man who lives in a massive rubbish dump. There is no vegetation or life. He spends his time searching for soil to sustain a seed which he found. I think the story ends with the seed growing into a poisonous orange which he eats.
-I was pretty certain the collection included the story 'It's such a beautiful day' (Asimov) but i cannot find a collection which includes this and the other stories i remember. May be mixing things up a bit.
Any help appreciated.