Maria Reva, escritora ucraniana: de las “novias por correspondencia” a la guerra

The author Maria Reva spent four years writing her novel, *Últimos especímenes antes de la extinción*, while experiencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which prompted changes to the book's structure to incorporate this reality. The novel explores two main themes: romantic tours attracting Western men seeking Slavic wives and the psychological toll on those working with animal species, specifically caterpillars, observing their perceived extinction. Reva structured the work in an operatic format, using solos, arias, duets, trios, and a chorus to frame these subjects. Following the invasion, Reva reflected on how to create art from suffering and the role of fiction in rapidly changing realities. The narrative features three female protagonists who attempt to expose the misogyny within the arranged dating business but their plan is disrupted by the war. The author also noted the tension between perceived security in Canada and the actual scope of the conflict, reflecting on how quickly global events can alter perceptions of stability. Furthermore, Reva used humor as a defense mechanism, influenced by dark humor from those in Ukraine, as a response to the trauma.

*Últimos especímenes antes de la extinción* was written while Maria Reva experienced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The novel includes themes of romantic tours seeking Slavic wives and the psychological impact on those working with animal species like caterpillars. Reva structured the work in an operatic form. The three female protagonists plan to expose misogyny in a dating agency business, but the plan is interrupted by the conflict. Reva considered using fiction as a means to process the reality of suffering caused by the war. A change in tone occurred when friends and family from Ukraine shared dark humor during wartime.

The narrative pivots around the tension between deeply personal, observed realities—the extinction of species and the upheaval of personal safety—and the constructed framework used to process them. The shift to an operatic structure suggests an attempt to organize chaos into a discernible, albeit heightened, form, which mirrors the experience of living through overwhelming trauma. Reva's exploration of art arising from pain suggests that fiction serves as a necessary space for grappling with existential uncertainty when external reality seems uncontrollable. The juxtaposition of personal observation (caterpillars) with large-scale geopolitical events (the invasion) highlights how individuals attempt to find meaning and control within vast, indifferent systems. The reflection on the shifting perception of borders between Canada and the US versus Russia reflects a broader pattern where established certainties dissolve under external pressure, leading to acute awareness of fragility. The use of humor as a defense mechanism reveals an instinctual strategy for maintaining agency when faced with overwhelming forces. When observing how easily narratives can shift context (from personal observation to geopolitical fear), it prompts questions about which forms of reality—the concrete and the constructed—hold more immediate weight in shaping human experience during crises.