Epic: An Anthology of Amazing Science Fiction

A collection of 8 brilliant stories set in science fiction and fantasy.
What happens when 2 interplanetary relic hunters make a discovery of a lifetime, an object with the capability of temporal communication on a remote planet with no life. It seems someone has been trying to relay a message through time, there was abundant life once, and despite millions of wrong timelines only one can restore the planet.
A young boy has lived his entire life with his recluse uncle in a small apartment. Coming of age and desperate to make his jaunt into the world, he is held back by his extremely cautious elder at all turns. But can everything he says be true about the outside world? It appears innocent enough, he must just be a crazy hermit. Only one of them can be right.
Far into the future war is no longer fought by the strongest, toughest and the bravest. It is fought by the quickest, fastest and the best coordinated hands controlling machines from behind a screen.
A young boy rises to be the most feared and accomplished soldier of all time, without equal, one which the most hardened Space Navy Rangers would stand no chance against, just as long as his mom keeps him supplied with the proper amount twinkies.
When virtual reality is perfected to the point of leaving the real world in the dust, what happens when an entire planet of people become so accustomed to VR that they forget the real world altogether? One day real life begins to rear its ugly head when a catastrophic storm renders all technology inoperable planetwide. People must meet one another in actual terms, not with their perfect avatars, and with no knowledge on how to repair the damage, they must bring civilization back or perish.
Jesper Verrios has quite an interesting job. Sending people back in time for a day or two in order avert disaster before it happens. A very sought after service which of course doesn't come cheap. One day a stranger comes by with no money, but with a very desperate plea for help, to preve