In Universes by Emet North

Raffi works in an observational cosmology lab, searching for dark matter and trying to hide how little they understand their own research. Every chance they get, they escape to see Britt, a queer sculptor who fascinates them for reasons they also don’t—or won’t—understand. As Raffi’s carefully constructed life begins to collapse, they become increasingly fixated on the multiverse and the idea that somewhere, there might be a universe where they mean as much to Britt as she does to them…and just like that, Raffi and Britt are thirteen years old, best friends and maybe something more.

In Universes is a mind-bending tour across parallel worlds, each an answer to the question of what life would be like if events had played out just a little differently. The universes grow increasingly strange: women fracture into hordes of animals, alien-infested bears prowl apocalyptic landscapes. But across them all, Raffi—alongside their sometimes-friends, sometimes-lovers Britt, Kay, and Graham—reaches for a life that feels authentically their own.

Blending realism with science fiction, In Universes explores the thirst for genius, the fluidity of gender and identity, and the pull of the past against the desire to lead a meaningful life. Part Ted Chiang, part Carmen Maria Machado, part Everything Everywhere All At Once, In Universes insists on the transgressive power of hope even in the darkest of times.

Published by HarperCollins
on April 30, 2024

Review:

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I know I’ve said before that reading sci-fi books can be hit or miss for me – especially when they are very sci-fi heavy and include planets, races, and languages that I’ve never heard of before. They always take a long time to settle into, and I tend to be impatient, so it’s a struggle. That said, I really enjoy sci-fi TV shows and anything with superheroes. I’m also fascinated by the concept of the multiverse and the thought that somewhere out there are many other me’s making different choices. When I read that this book was about a character in different universes and timelines, I was excited to give it a shot, and I appreciate that Harper Collins was kind enough to send me an ARC ahead of publication.

From the very beginning, readers are thrown into the chaotic world of Raffi, a researcher searching for dark matter and grappling with their own uncertainties. Is this the right career path for them? Did they make the right life choices? Is their reconnection with Britt (a friend from high school) a chance for Raffi to admit they had a crush on her? Did they and Britt wind up together in one of the other universes that Raffi wants to prove exist?

The relationship between Raffi and Britt (and occasionally Raffi and Alice, Raffi and Graham, and Raffi and Kay) is at the heart of this novel, their connections and relationships changing through various parallel worlds. The exploration of love, friendship, and the blurred lines between them is both poignant and thought-provoking. North seamlessly weaves together the complexities of human emotion with the infinite possibilities of the multiverse. Some timelines play out somewhat similarly to others, with only slight differences. In some timelines, Raffi only knew Britt as a child, while in others, they knew each other longer – some in beautiful ways and others more tragic.

This is not just a novel about parallel worlds and scientific theories; it is also an exploration of the human experience. As the synopsis mentions, North delves into the complexities of identity, gender, and the search for meaning in a world that constantly shifts and changes. What I found especially interesting is that in North’s worlds, Raffi and her friends always have the same family members, and most are always the same sexuality. For example, Raffi is always nonbinary, and Britt is always a lesbian.

As Raffi travels through different universes, each one more surreal and twisted than the last (hello, animals possessed by aliens), readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The worlds created by North are both haunting and beautiful in their strangeness. The vivid descriptions and intricate world-building fully immerse you in these alternate realities, and if you have a wild and vivid imagination like me, you’ll find your mind whirling with possibilities. What if there really are multiverses? I hope at least one of my other selves has superpowers.

The writing in the novel is poetic and imaginative. The blend of realism and science fiction creates a unique and compelling narrative that challenges conventional storytelling norms. While I found the writing to be beautiful and thought-provoking, I also struggled to connect with the characters, which was largely due to the fact that I never felt fully settled. Each chapter takes us to a different universe, and just as I started to ease into the rules of this new universe, the chapter would end, and I had to settle into a new universe with new rules over and over again. On one hand, I get what the author was going for, but on the other hand, I wished for a little more continuity between worlds to feel more emotionally invested.

Overall, I found this to be a thought-provoking novel that pushes the boundaries of imagination and storytelling. With its bold and creative approach, Emet North has crafted a novel that often has a mind of its own but will definitely linger long after you’ve finished reading. While I found it difficult to connect with the characters or really settle into the story as a whole, it definitely gave my imagination a workout and is one I would recommend to anyone who loves speculative fiction.