Ruben Reyes Jr. returns with a stunning sophomore novel, Archive of Unknown Universes, that transcends the boundaries of historical fiction, science fiction, and magical realism. Following his acclaimed short story collection There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven, which garnered recognition as a finalist for the Story Prize and the Aspen Words Literary Prize, Reyes Jr. delivers an ambitious and deeply moving exploration of how the past echoes through generations, and how love persists even when history tears it apart.
A Tale of Two Timelines
Archive of Unknown Universes weaves together two distinct yet interconnected narratives across time and space. In 2018 Cambridge, we follow Ana and Luis, two Harvard students whose relationship is crumbling despite their shared heritage as children of Salvadoran immigrants. When Ana discovers The Defractor—a mysterious device that allows users to glimpse alternate versions of their lives—their search for answers leads them through Havana and San Salvador, uncovering family secrets that have remained buried for decades.
Parallel to this contemporary story runs the heartrending romance between Neto and Rafael, two revolutionary lovers in 1978 Cuba and El Salvador. Neto, a skilled forger of government documents, and Rafael, a Sandinista revolutionary, meet during the brewing Salvadoran civil war and embark on an intense, forbidden love affair conducted through coded letters and stolen moments between dangerous missions.
The genius of Reyes Jr.’s structure lies in how these two timelines mirror and illuminate each other. Ana and Luis’s modern relationship struggles pale in comparison to the life-and-death stakes that Neto and Rafael face, yet both couples grapple with fundamental questions about commitment, sacrifice, and the courage required to love fully in an imperfect world.
The Revolutionary Heart of Historical Fiction
Reyes Jr. demonstrates remarkable skill in bringing the Salvadoran civil war to vivid life without overwhelming readers with historical exposition. The author’s research is evident in every detail, from the revolutionary safe houses of San Salvador to the coded language of resistance fighters. The historical backdrop doesn’t merely provide context—it becomes a living, breathing character that shapes every relationship and decision in the novel.
The portrayal of Neto and Rafael’s relationship stands as one of the most authentic and moving depictions of queer love during wartime in recent literature. Their romance unfolds against a backdrop of constant danger, where expressing their love could mean death not just from government forces, but from their own revolutionary comrades. The letters they exchange, written in biblical code and smuggled across borders, serve as both intimate love letters and historical documents that bridge the gap between personal and political resistance.
Science Fiction Elements and The Defractor
The Defractor device serves as more than a plot mechanism—it becomes a meditation on choice, regret, and the human tendency to believe that alternate paths might have led to greater happiness. Reyes Jr. handles the science fiction elements with remarkable restraint, never allowing the technology to overshadow the deeply human story at the novel’s core.
The glimpses into alternate universes that Ana and Luis experience feel genuinely unsettling and profound. Rather than offering easy answers or wish fulfillment, these visions complicate their understanding of their own lives and relationships. The author skillfully uses this speculative element to explore themes of determinism versus free will, suggesting that perhaps our choices matter less than our willingness to fully embrace the lives we’re actually living.
Language and Literary Craft
Reyes Jr.’s prose moves seamlessly between lyrical beauty and stark realism. His descriptions of war-torn El Salvador carry the weight of lived experience, while his rendering of contemporary Harvard captures the particular anxieties of young people trying to understand their place in a world shaped by their parents’ trauma. The author’s bilingual background enriches the text, with Spanish phrases and cultural references that feel organic rather than performative.
The novel’s structure, alternating between timelines and perspectives, could have felt gimmicky in less capable hands. Instead, Reyes Jr. creates a symphony of voices that build toward a devastating yet ultimately hopeful crescendo. The coded letters between Neto and Rafael, in particular, represent some of the most moving writing in contemporary LGBTQ+ literature.
Strengths and Minor Reservations
The novel succeeds brilliantly in several key areas:
- Character Development: Each protagonist feels fully realized, with distinct voices and believable motivations
- Historical Authenticity: The Salvadoran civil war backdrop is rendered with both accuracy and emotional truth
- Innovative Structure: The alternating timelines enhance rather than distract from the central narratives
- Cultural Specificity: The immigrant experience is portrayed with nuance and avoiding stereotypes
However, some readers may find certain elements challenging:
- Pacing Issues: The contemporary storyline occasionally feels less urgent than the historical narrative
- Complexity: The multiple timelines and large cast of characters require careful attention from readers
- Emotional Weight: The historical sections, particularly Neto’s imprisonment and torture, are genuinely difficult to read
Thematic Resonance
At its heart, Archive of Unknown Universes asks profound questions about memory, inheritance, and the ways trauma passes between generations. Ana and Luis carry the weight of their parents’ silence about the war, just as many children of immigrants struggle to understand histories that have been deliberately obscured. The novel suggests that healing requires not just uncovering the past, but finding the courage to face it honestly.
The book also serves as a powerful meditation on the nature of revolutionary love—both political and personal. Neto and Rafael’s relationship embodies the idea that true love requires constant choice, constant recommitment, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
A Worthy Addition to Contemporary Literature
Archive of Unknown Universes establishes Reyes Jr. as a major voice in contemporary American literature. The novel successfully bridges multiple genres while never losing sight of its emotional core. It stands alongside recent works like Ingrid Rojas Contreras’s The Man Who Could Move Clouds and Angie Cruz’s Dominicana as essential reading for understanding the Latino experience in America.
This is ambitious literary fiction that respects its readers’ intelligence while delivering genuine emotional impact. Reyes Jr. has crafted a novel that works on multiple levels—as a love story, a historical epic, a science fiction exploration, and a meditation on the persistence of hope in dark times.
Similar Reads for Further Exploration
Readers drawn to Archive of Unknown Universes might also enjoy:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for its exploration of love across different eras
- The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer – for its wartime romance and historical scope
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamid – for its blend of realism and speculative elements
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – for its multigenerational immigrant narrative
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – for its innovative approach to love across time
Archive of Unknown Universes stands as a remarkable achievement—a novel that honors the complexity of history while celebrating the enduring power of love to transcend even the most devastating circumstances. It confirms Reyes Jr.’s place among the most important emerging voices in American literature.