Book Review: Squirrel Girl: Universe - by Tristan Palmgren

Aconyte’s range of Marvel novels continues to expand, and we can cut right to the chase on this topic! They’re more than just good. They serve a purpose far higher than to linger on the periphery of comics, TV shows and movies. They are in fact an engaging and formidable piece of media in their own right, proving title after title that the translation of the classic and not so classic superheroes of the Marvel universe into novel format works superbly, provided the right brain is working the controls. It’s no understatement to say that Tristan Palmgren’s Squirrel Girl: Universe takes things up a notch in a way you probably wouldn’t expect.

Proudly ranking among the Marvel Heroines range by Aconyte Books, Squirrel Girl: Universe tells the story of Doreen Green who, along with her teammates of the animal, human and brain-in-a-jar variety, must use her squirrel-based superpowers to uncover the mystery behind a strange dimensional disturbance afflicting New York City. Her discovery brings about a chaotic journey towards a space station in a distant corner of the galaxy, where war rages, creativity is prohibited, and the lives of billions are at stake. A plentiful dose of imagination, and a high measure of teamwork might be the only things capable of saving the day. Thus, Squirrel Girl’s abilities and her endurance levels are pushed to the absolute limit.

In the great tradition of Aconyte novels, Squirrel Girl: Universe is an adventure which builds steadily upon itself toward a satisfactory explosive conclusion. Along the way, there is no shortage of surprises, action, wit and drama, all of which is neatly distributed to ensure a smooth and lively experience for the reader. Alas, the writer of this review must confess that the only mildly tiresome element came in the form of the numerous footnotes, which in themselves often serve as an extra comedic tangent but also tend to break up the flow of the story in a way that can be a little frustrating at times, especially when the footnote consists of a large paragraph which may as well have been inserted into the proper text… 

However, and with the only real, marginally subjective, complaint out of the way, we can now talk about the many good things this novel has to offer. There are lots. Alongside weaving a wonderful story, writer and veteran of science fiction and superhero novels, Tristan Palmgren, displays a knowledge of the more quantum-based elements of science and physics, which may seem a surprising addition at first glance, but actually finds a wholly appropriate home in this book. It is also in perfect keeping with the lifestyle and academic characteristics of Doreen Green and her crew, many of whom are science students in their daily non-galaxy-saving lives. This is a space adventure after all, and just because it’s wacky, doesn’t mean it can't be peppered with scientific plausibility at the same time. A wonderful balance of strange and realistic is struck, resulting in one of the many keys to success Squirrel Girl: Universe possesses.

Also markedly clever (and a little light treading is needed here, as not to spoil too much of the book) is the recognition of the conventions of storytelling, creative writing, and narrative structuring which are further utilised within the story itself. Basically, Squirrel Girl: Universe can sometimes read as a book within a book. Not much more can be said without giving the game away, suffice to say that Tristan Palmgren is extremely adept at demonstrating how good and knowledgeable a writer they are, and the skill they apply in putting the power of storytelling at the heart of their own narrative creates a fiendishly rewarding end result for the reader. Want to know more? You’ll have to read the book!

All of the above works entirely due to the quantity of heart and feel-good emotion Tristan Palmgren injects into this novel. It’s entirely reasonable that you may never have heard of Squirrel Girl, even if you have traversed the realms of the Marvel universe in the past, but Squirrel Girl: Universe goes to superb lengths to ensure that seeing the cosmos through the eyes of this ever hopeful and boundless heroine will render Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl, one of your favourites by the end of the adventure. The same will surely go for her misfit band of friends, the new and suitably bizarre colleagues she picks up along the way and… perhaps even the odd villain too. 

With almost no strain, but a staggering amount of skill and flair, Squirrel Girl: Universe emerges as a fun, entertaining and wholly unmissable title that should not be excluded from the reading list of any superhero fan. It’s wild, thoughtful, exciting, and of course, hilarious. The journey it invites you on contains the same level of cosmic wonder as virtually any Marvel movie, and whilst it might occupy one of the more outlandish segments of the Marvel universe, this novel is no less substantial for it. The book is a triumph for the franchise, the publisher, and Tristan Palmgren’s already formidable catalogue. To risk an old cliche… it really has to be read to be believed.