The Perpetual Post

by Isabel J. Kim

Hanna works for the Perpetual Post, the transgalactic delivery service for packages that absolutely have to get there, no matter how long it takes. Guided by her AI Administrator, she travels vast stretches of time at relativistic speeds, delivering messages and objects to the perfect moment to change history. But her latest delivery has less to do with galactic events, and more to do with her own personal history.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2026

About the author

Isabel J. Kim lives near New York City in an apartment filled with books and swords. She is the author of numerous short stories and has won the Nebula, Locus, BSFA and the Shirley Jackson Awards. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and reprinted in multiple best of the year anthologies. When she’s not writing, she’s practicing law or podcasting. Find her at isabel.kim, @isabel.kim on Bluesky, or @isabeljkim on instagram.

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very odd story, about Hanna, an employee of the Perpetual Post, and her AI boss. Hanna travels by relativistic "time travel." Her latest (and last?) assignment brings her to the planet of her birth, to retrieve work that, her boss says, will give humanity FTL travel. But Hanna balks.

I liked this, but never quite twigged to what was going on. I would definitely like to read more by this new-to-me writer. For me, a 3.5 star read, rounded up. Nice art, as is typical of Tor/Reactormag.

Direct story link: https://reactormag.com/the-perpetual-...

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perpetual Post by Isabel J. Kim is Reactor (formerly known as Tor) original short. You can read this story for free on their site: https://reactormag.com/the-perpetual-...

Hanna works for the Perpetual Post, the transgalactic delivery service for packages that absolutely have to get there, no matter how long it takes. Guided by her AI Administrator, she travels vast stretches of time at relativistic speeds, delivering messages and objects to the perfect moment to change history. But her latest delivery has less to do with galactic events, and more to do with her own personal history.

Time travel? I'm in!

My ongoing quest to get current with the Tor short stories.

4 Stars

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/the-perpetual-...

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

This was sweet, and had a good heart. I could see it expanded into a full novel.