BookBrowse Reviews Archive of Unknown Universes by Ruben Reyes

BookBrowse:

A speculative dual-timeline exploration of the Salvadoran Civil War examining family histories, secrets, technology, love, and the impact of war.

This review is available to non-members for a limited time. For access to our digital magazine, free books,and other benefits, become a member today.

Archive of Unknown Universes by Ruben Reyes Jr. examines two families across two timelines: one in 2018 starting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the other covering 1978–1980 in El Salvador. The story explores the impact of the Salvadoran Civil War through alternate history.

In 2018, we are introduced to Ana Flores and Luis Guzmán, two Salvadoran American Harvard students facing relationship issues despite their similarities—"neither had a relationship with their biological fathers, a civil war loomed in the background of their families' arrival in the United States, they both felt unequipped and out of place at an institution that valorized wealth." Ana, feeling lost in her research and life, turns to the Defractor, a widely accessible technology that allows users to explore alternative versions of their lives by posing a specific question. The device communicates through a chatbot and offers visual or textual renderings from parallel universes, presenting different possibilities. However, the Defractor is strictly forbidden for personal use and meant for academic or professional purposes, which Ana ignores. What she discovers sparks a journey that Luis joins, and they search for answers to their family histories, hoping that visits to Havana and San Salvador will bring them clarity.

The other timeline begins in 1978. We meet Neto, a Salvadoran revolutionary, and Rafael, a Nicaraguan revolutionary, who share an intense, forbidden love. Separated by their roles as document forgers for their respective countries, they communicate through letters until the Salvadoran War, along with growing fears and threats, ultimately tears them apart. We see how the war's outcome affects Neto and Rafael's lives, and how their stories intertwine with Ana and Luis's. An alternate universe set in 2018 where the Salvadoran government was victorious adds depth.

What-ifs are common reflections, but in reality, we never truly see the different possible paths our lives could take. The role of the Defractor, both embraced and challenged by the characters, echoes sentiments about modern technology that are relevant in our world: "At best, it'd be a waste of time and money. At worst, society would suffer, seeking salvation in another distraction from the Anthropocene's failures." It also allows for exploration of questions both personal to the characters and about Salvadoran history. Why wasn't El Salvador another Guatemala? What would life be like if the revolution failed?

The brutality of the war is revealed through the emotional reality of Salvadorans. Ana and Luis's mothers immigrated to America, and their trauma has translated into overprotectiveness and secrecy in their parenting, which their children do not understand. "Ana had no idea why her mother was overly cautious, had been all her life…Felicia's overprotectiveness was an offshoot of her love. Whatever she'd gone through, whatever she'd lost, had created a force field between her and the world, one Ana couldn't escape." The war has instilled a fear within them that they haven't been able to release or shake. Similar fears are reflected in the romantic relationship between Neto and Rafael, as their sexuality as gay men is not accepted, and they are not only hiding their work as forgers but also their relationship: "...it didn't matter that the revolutionary government they risked everything for would also treat their love as a disease to be weeded out." Despite their efforts to stay connected through their letters, it is difficult to imagine a world where they can be happy together. "Neto was scared by the unshakeable feeling that he and Rafael would never be able to establish the sort of life they wanted — no matter which way the war shifted." As Ana and Luis learn more about Neto and Rafael and their relationship, they are compelled to question their own relationship and whether it is worth trying to fix something that is broken, driven by a fear of the alternative. Their situation illustrates how comfort and stability can make it hard to notice when two people are no longer compatible.

Archive of Unknown Universes explores themes of queer love, family secrets, and the impact of war through the connections between characters and events across time. The letters between Neto and Rafael are especially meaningful, as the details of their personal experiences during the war influence their families. By following the characters' journeys between 2018 and 1978, readers see how past lives shape future possibilities. Imagining how history might have turned out differently emphasizes the tough realities of the immigrant experience—what life could have been if not for the need to leave home due to war, with fewer deaths and secrets, less trauma and family separation. The narrative considers the complex circumstances countless immigrants in America and elsewhere face. Archive of Unknown Universes is a love story and a historical novel that vividly portrays the realities of war, survival, and destiny. It's perfect for fans of magical realism and historical fiction eager to uncover hidden truths about the lives we forge for ourselves.

This review first ran in the July 30, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.