If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light is a collection of seven sci-fi short stories that are thoughtful, emotional, and really well written. Each story explores themes like life, death, identity, and human connection. What I loved most about the book is how unique and imaginative each story felt, while still being grounded in real emotions. It’s the kind of sci-fi that makes you think and feel at the same time.

A book of short stories usually has at least one or two of the collection that falls short for me. I think for the first time ever, it was not the case here. Every idea that this author explored drew my attention, and I was glad that my questions were answered toward the end, even if there was no clear resolution. Sometimes, things just were, and it was up to us, as the reader, to find beauty in the incomplete. There were a lot of thought-provoking themes that made me pause and think about my own mortality and relationship with time, and I absolutely love when books do that.

Translations are generally difficult because certain words don't always have the same impact in a different language, but I feel that Kim Choyeop's writing was strong enough that it still left its mark on me. I would read more collections this author publishes, and also plan on purchasing a hard copy for my husband as well.

A creative, contemplative collection of science fiction stories exploring the existential and emotional costs of technological innovation. Inventive premises are grounded in delicately observed, achingly human characters seeking connection and understanding. The fluid, lucid prose beautifully evokes far-flung galaxies and slightly twisted futures. Some of the stories felt a little under-developed to me, but the book as a whole was a delight to read.

Kim Cho-yeop’s collection is breathtaking in its scope and tenderness. Each story feels like a window into a strange and profoundly human future, where questions of love, memory, grief, and belonging are explored through dazzlingly original sci-fi concepts. From emotions sold as physical objects to the aching loneliness of a woman stranded in space, these tales balance the cosmic with the intimate in a way long after the last page.

The writing (and translation) is graceful and precise, offering just enough wonder while never losing sight of the characters at the heart of each story.

This book is a gift for fans of speculative fiction who want to be challenged, moved, and surprised all at once. Truly one of the most imaginative short story collections I’ve read in years.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The stories in this book are short but leave a lasting impact. They give off slivers of enduring humanity in a time where it is needed most. These stories examine what it means to be human in the universe, regardless of how big or small it will become for us as a species.

"I've worked really hard, you know, despite all of that. I thought everything would be fine if I just did better. But that hasn't made the slightest difference"
(girl, same.)

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light is a collection of sci-fi short stories that straddle the line between hard sci-fi and dystopian fiction. Knowing that the author has a degree in Chemistry makes a lot of sense, because she does provide quite a lot of technical details for the technological advancements that enable humanity to reach the stars in the different stories. For me, this attention to detail in terms of how the technology worked created a better connection with the world because it felt less distant from our own.

Some of the stories are sad, some of them are hopeful, but all of them are powerful studies in interpersonal relationships that question what defines us as human, and analyze the importance of human connection as an integral part of what gives meaning to existence.

"The idea of life makes me feel lonely and afraid. I miss my companions."

The author excels at world building, giving readers just enough detail for each technological advancement to feel real and fully imagined. Because of this, I would have liked for the stories to be connected in a larger narrative arc, since the author did go through all the trouble of world building for all of them. It felt like a missed opportunity, but the stories still stand strong on their own.

Overall, I enjoyed reading these tales of human connection and how distance and technology can and will challenge humanity as a whole. Not just physically, but our connections to love and family and what we define as "human" in our pursuit of the stars.

I give high marks for the ideas behind each of the stories -- I found them interesting and innovative and that they formed the main thrust of the story (rather than a space opera which is set in a sci fi setting but then is a typical dramatic story). I found the writing (or translation) to be fine, but not great. Stories were a little more drawn out than I felt they needed to be and somewhat choppy, but I give 4 stars because it's science fiction and the concepts are the most important!

★★★★ Thoughtful, strange, and quietly powerful

This collection really stuck with me. Each story feels like a little window into a future that’s both alien and deeply human. Kim Choyeop’s writing (beautifully translated by Anton Hur) is subtle and emotional, with themes of grief, identity, and connection woven through sci-fi concepts like emotional commodities and digital afterlives.

Some stories hit harder than others, and a few left me a little confused—but in a way that felt intentional. It’s not flashy sci-fi; it’s quiet, introspective, and often bittersweet. I loved how it centered marginalized voices and asked big questions without shouting.

Definitely worth reading if you like speculative fiction that leans literary and makes you think.

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light is a collection of stories that's part science fiction, part cozy storytelling. I truly cannot think of a better way to describe it.

I'll be honest - I don't normally go for short story collections, I usually like to get into a plot and stay there for a while. This one drew me in partly because I like sci-fi, but largely because of the description, using terms like "a journey into the unknown" and "making the impossible seem not only possible but somehow inevitable". And I did enjoy this! The characters felt real to me, and I was able to get into each story and feel like I was part of it.

More than that, though, I enjoyed how each story had a deeper message about life and death, human emotions, and relationships of all kinds. As with any collection of stories, some resonated with me more than others, but I do think that's a little unavoidable with so many different stories!

This is a collection of sci fi short stories involving space travels etc. I enjoyed each story the last one being my favorite.

What an enjoyable collection of refreshing and light science fiction stories! I really enjoyed it. I’m impressed by the creativity of the stories while still highlighting slightly more serious topics.

What makes this collection stand out is its balance between the cosmic and the intimate. Each story carries the wonder of discovery while never losing sight of what matters most—the fragile, enduring bonds between people. The title story in particular demonstrates Choyeop’s gift: transforming the limitations of physics into a meditation on love, loss, and hope.

Her writing is graceful and precise, inviting readers into worlds that feel futuristic yet achingly familiar. Like Ted Chiang, she uses speculative concepts as a mirror for the human condition, but her voice is distinctly her own—shaped by cultural nuance and an attention to intergenerational ties that add depth and originality to the global conversation in science fiction.

If We Cannot Go At the Speed of Light is not only an important contribution to translated literature, but also a testament to the universality of longing and imagination. It is a collection that lingers, reminding us that even in a universe constrained by limits, the human spirit finds ways to reach beyond them.

Beautifully written and profoundly humane, If We Cannot Go At the Speed of Light proves that even in a universe of limits, the human spirit knows no bounds. A must-read for fans of literary and speculative fiction alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press Books for providing this ARC and allowing me to review it.

Books like this confirm one of my biggest fears, that there are books out there in other languages that I know I would love but will not have the joy of reading. Luckily, this timeline has allowed for this book to be translated, and I have the honor of reading it. I want to clarify that many sites only allow full-star ratings, and I would put this collection as a 4.5. However, you may see it rounded to 5, as I want this book to be seen after truly enjoying this collection. (If a site has half ratings, it will be placed as 4.5.)

My favorite stories in the collection are probably "Symbiosis Theory" and "Archival Loss." They are the stories I connected to the most for similar reasons. "Symbiosis Theory" I really connected to, as I feel it described a story that explains the odd sense of deja vu one feels at random points in their life. When you are in the moment and feel like something about it is so familiar, you have to have lived it before. Other times when you listen to music or see artwork done that makes you feel nostalgic, and you can't put your finger on why that is. "Archival Loss" did seem a little 'on the nose' for me on what was happening and how it would end, but its relatability for a young married woman in her 20s was so strong. It pulled up a mirror to my own thoughts and feelings when it comes to becoming a mother, as well as my own feelings about my mother.

I wasn't a big fan of "The Materiality of Emotions," which I feel a little guilty for after reading the acknowledgements knowing that the author would like to write more about this topic. However, I just did not connect with the story at all. I fully feel like the main character, Jungha, in that I don't know why people were holding these things. Why they cared, and even when it was explained, I still didn't understand. I'm more agitated at myself for not grasping the concept of the 'Emotional Solids.' Maybe there is a disconnect for me, as I was raised in a very individualistic, American household. Emotions in my world are always open and meant to be communicated to prevent misunderstanding. This may be different if you are raised to keep it together for the whole, even if the individual is stifled in the process. Knowing the author wants to write more on this specific theme, I really would like to see if further writing would explain it better to me. (And more English translations would be amazing!)

Overall, I was so enraptured by this collection. I tried to only read one story a night so I was able to prolong the experience. I was anticipating the next story every time I finished another. If this is how it feels to read Kim Choyeop, I truly hope that more of their work is translated. It was a pleasure to read, and the stories felt so real to me.

Holy smokes. What a delightful read! This is a collection of 7 short stories having to do with a variety of science fiction tropes, but is really more of a framework for a lovely literary fiction collection. Each story is so unique and Choyeop does a wonderful job developing characters you can connect with quickly.

It’s hinted at in the preface, but one of the unique aspects of this book is how typical US and UK science fiction has heavy tropes of colonization, exploration, and conquest. These concepts really don’t appear at all in these stories, instead looking at ideas of humanity, memory, purpose, friendship and other more universal elements in a really refreshing way for sci fi.

Out of the 7 stories there was 1 that was a bit more confusing than needed to be, but there’s such a variety that any reader will find 4 or 5 they connect with well.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC!

This collection floored me. It had every SF trope I love: wormholes, genetic engineering, digital afterlives and more. Every story feels like its own standalone novel and oompletely original

My favorites were Spectrum and Archival Loss

If We Can Not Go at the Speed of Light is a solid collection that sits somewhere between a sci‑fi meditation and a clever chat with a well‑read friend. It’s not entirely new in concept, but that’s not a fault, just a steady, enjoyable ride. The stories weave space travel, cutting edge science, and the messy business of living, loving, and grieving in a way that feels intimate without tipping into preachiness. A few stories lean a bit more expository than I’d like, which slows the pace slightly, yet the momentum still carries you along with human recoil, wonder, and a light touch of humor. Characters feel real even with limited page time, and the thread of ordinary emotions in extraordinary settings keeps the collection grounded. A brave, imaginative read with heart, very much worth your time. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. #NetGalley #arcreview #IfWeCanNotGoattheSpeedofLight

This book is a collection of sci-fi short stories that each focus on different issues in society regarding women and marginalized groups. I really enjoyed most of the stories as they pulled me in and I just wanted to keep reading however some of the stories feel a little flat and had me wanting more descriptions or world building. I think the author did a beautiful job capturing the experiences that every woman would know.

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light is an incredibly unique collection of short stories from a truly stupendous imagination. Kim Choyeop crafts seven different short stories, each of which explore a different idea and concept around science fiction. Space travel is a favorite topic. All of the stories have this incredible longing and pathos about them - a longing to see the vast universe we live in, to understand it,, to know what it's truly made of, to find and meet other life out there, which must surely exist.

Some of these stories had a real Waiting for Godot feel to them (bear with me here!) - asking questions that have no real answers but desperate for the knowledge. Waiting for enlightenment. Beautiful and thoughtful.

My favorite story was "Spectrum" but they are all worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

At first when I was reading this book, I didn't like it. I thought it was just another one of those silly collection of short stories that all happened to be about space, but I was wrong. I got about halfway through when I truly understood the message of these stories.

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light is a collection of short stories that talks about the meaning of life and life after death and the craving for human connections through emotions, memories, language and the soul.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A lot of the sci-fi that comes across my e-reader is focused on the technologies of war and expansion, but these seven stories are firmly rooted in how advanced technologies may affect personal experiences of the world.

The main drawback in the reading was a tendency toward straightforwardly spelling out what I found myself wanting to wonder about, but the core ideas are all great to noodle over, particularly the last three.

For fans at the intersection of Black Mirror and cozy fantasy lovers.