Author: John Scalzi
Publication Date: November 3, 2025
Book 1 in Amazon Original Short Stories
Series: The Time Traveler’s Passport
Reading Time: 2 hours (one hour if you listen to Audible or have audio Narration through Kindle)
Format: Amazon Kindle/ Audible
Rating: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
I am a sucker for Amazon Original Short Stories. If you have been following the blog, I have read all the short story collections on Amazon. I enjoy all the Amazon Original short stories because I get to experience different authors’ styles and storytelling without having to invest in a whole series or book. The first book in the Amazon Original Short Stories, “The Time Traveler’s Passport,” starts with the book “3 days, 9 months, 27 years”. The Operator recounts how the machine works and the customers’ shenanigans while time traveling. I am not sure if this book is written in the second or third person, but I love the storytelling. I am leaning toward third person, since the narrator is recounting his experience as an operator and how time travels, the process, and the regulations all work. The Operator explains every aspect of the time-travel experience, how it works, and the differences between 3 days, 9 months, and 27 years.
Temporal Tourism is the phrase coined by the narrator. It can never be used to change history, because that branch of history is now an alternate history with an alternate future. As the operator explains the process, he also talks about the people who use time travel, some for future gains, others to watch historical events. My favorite customer was a woman living her best Outlander moment. Started writing historical fiction, which turned into a more intense visit.
One thing I appreciate is how the operator never judges the clients; he watches, observes, and reports what happens. He never calls them dumb; he just remembers and recounts the experience. Each experience is different. As the story unfolds, we, the readers, find out that the world the operator is a part of is dying. The scientists of this world have not figured out how to stop their civilization’s death. I enjoyed this time-travel perspective; it played with the rules, as if it created a little multiverse along different timelines that never affected the original timeline. There are protocols in place for travelers, and training for how to manage when travelers go off plan.
In all, this book took me about 2 hours to read, and just one day of stolen moments. I did not have a chance to pair a drink with this book. Still, if I were to think about the different time periods the travelers visited, they were the Middle Ages, the Battle of Hastings, or even earlier, the Battle of Zama with Hannibal. I would suggest an excellent quality, Mead. It is extremely sweet, but during the travel period within the story, Mead feels the most appropriate drink to pair with this form of Time Travel. I would suggest trying Maryland Meadworks; you can get traditional Mead for up to 16% ABV if you want a traditional feel. Now, if you are more of an IPA person, you may want to try Bitter Bee, made more like a Belgian IPA with the sweetness of mead. The final one is Zanzibar, with less alcohol, more fruit notes, and only 5% ABV.
The biggest lesson I learned from this book is to enjoy your life. Travel, see the world. You cannot change the past, but you can enjoy your life and live it to the fullest. Pause. You may be wondering how I arrived at that conclusion. While the narrator describes the clients and their adventures, successes, or failures, there is a moment when these people get to enjoy the freedom and free will that, for better or worse, satisfy their curiosity. All I could think about was enjoying my life in the present while I can. This short story has heart, humor, wittiness, and great storytelling. You should check this book out, it is amazing.
Until Next Time,
Che Michelle
Che-Michelle Tales 
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