Warhammer 40k reading suggestion

jaxdasher

Hi Im relatively new to the series, haven't played the board game but played the pc games and I love it. I got Space Marines lately and it just reawakened my curiosity to the series.

I would like suggestions on the story of the 40k universe, comics or novels. Ive seen the wikipedia list and its staggering, hope you guys can narrow down the list for me. The diversity of characters and factions and depth of the universe truly tickles my fancy. Thank you.

Lemming

The Gaunt's Ghosts series are a must-read.

If you like delving back into the annals of history to Games Workshop's first foray into print novels, check out any of the Ian Watson novels. In chronological order:

• Inquisitor
• Space Marine (can be read independent of Inquisitor: has character overlap in the novels below)
• Harlequin
• Chaos Child

Along with the Ian Watson novels, there is also "DeathWing" which was a novel comprised of a series of independent short stories & 'Death Wing' which is the story of how the Dark Angels 1st company got its name & its colours. I believe this book can be picked up very cheap or is a free digital distribution now??

The Space Wolf novels are pretty decent - but then again I'm fan of ye olde space puppies so I may be biased.

Haven't read any of the Cain novels but they come recommended to me, nor have I read any of the Horus Heresy books which again I've heard good things about. Dunno about any other novels.

grugni

Ive not really touched 40k too much but I have read the entire Ciaphas Cain series (6 books) Those are really good they mainly revolve around the (mis) adventures of one of mankind's most notable commissars, good solid stories and great characters. Ive also read the first 3 books of the blood angels omnibus, I got a bit bored on red fury so never finished it. The first two books are totally awesome though
Finally is Titanicus, fantastic book, definitely give it two thumbs up. Revolves around massive titan battles on a forge world!!!

Nody

I'm shocked no one has suggested the Horus Heresey series; excellent starting point if you want more historical background to the current universe.

The BA omnibus is ok, not overly impressed. Done the first Gaunt omnibus so far, it gives a nice idea how it is to be a grunt vs. being a space marine and is basically a set of short stories and novels mixed up.

There's also a nice Ork comic that should be mandatory to read for everyone :P

jaxdasher

Thanks for all your suggestions, I think I'll start with Horus Heresy and then to the Gaunt Omnibus and the rest after. Right now I'm going the the comics. Now its finding the books that's the work. I have also seen the Ultramarines movie, short but gives a good insight on Chaos.

Keep the suggestions coming, thank you.

Gunmonkey

Best two series you can get are either Gaunts Ghosts or the Horus Heresy series, as many have said. Really depends on what your looking for: Gaunts Ghosts is great for giving a humans PoV of the 40k universe plus has some great battle scenes. The HH series focus mainly on Space Marines but delves more into the politics and motivations of factions during the heresy than all out warfare (even though there are a some fantastic fights in it, and often from differingh viewpoints which adds more complexity to the mix). After those Ciaphas Cain is a must, great to see wars in 40k from the view of someone who really, REALLY doesnt want to be there

As for others, hunt down the Eisenhorn trilogy, just a brilliant series. Also the Ravenor spin offs are a good read (deals with the Inquisition and how far is too far when dealing with Chaos......).

Have picked up a copy of the Enforcer (deals with Adeptus Arbites police forces) trilogy for a pittance, was good but didnt finish the first book. May dig it out sometime as not much else to read atm.

Nody wrote: »

There's also a nice Ork comic that should be mandatory to read for everyone :P

You mean "Deff Skwadron"?? Meant to be re-issued soon as a Black Library website only download.

Nody

Gunmonkey wrote: »

You mean "Deff Skwadron"?? Meant to be re-issued soon as a Black Library website only download.

Yes, it's the most orky of all orky books/comics you can find

jaxdasher

This might be a tall order but is there a book that list all the races, factions, important character and terms. Sort of an encyclopedia. Just as reference while im reading the novels. Ive read the wikias but I want something in hand while I read.

jaxdasher

Been reading Horus Rising, quite heavy at the start but now I got the momentum. Love it. Thanks all again.

Lemming

Not a novel (or novels I should say), but if you want books with a flavour for the universe - and IF you can get your hands on copies, either for keeps or a loan - the two 'Realms of Chaos' books are fantastic reading. They're from a much darker, more gothic era of the 40k universe history, rather than the 21st century shine & gloss version of the universe.

Both have rules & game mechanics in them, but also have a staggering amount of background details & stories.

fenris

The Inquisition War series is a great starting point.
It gives you a great view of the Inquisition and why everybody is so scared of them as well as a great background for the politics of the 40K universe.

I could be a little biased as I first read it when out of my skull on morphine in hospital after a motorcycle crash, it made the books very realistic!

jaxdasher

fenris wrote: »

The Inquisition War series is a great starting point.
It gives you a great view of the Inquisition and why everybody is so scared of them as well as a great background for the politics of the 40K universe.

I could be a little biased as I first read it when out of my skull on morphine in hospital after a motorcycle crash, it made the books very realistic!

Im hoping morphine isnt a requirement but thanks for the suggestions, Inquisitors interest me more than Astartes.

fenris

It was much better and completely different when I re-read a few months later and was able to keep the character straight in my head, that being said being bolted together and in traction made for an interesting level of empathy with some of the characters!

There are a good few books about the Inquisitors, the Inquisition War leads on into the Ravenor books which is always a good thing. It reminds me of the feel of Altered Carbon and the other Tak Kovacks books.

I think if you read about the Inquisition before you read about the Space Marines it gives a good viewpoint shift that lets you get how much is thrown away when space marines are expended in the pursuit of politics.

The Grey Knights are worth a look as they are the lads that the Inquisition go to when the need help and make the ordinary Space Marines look like part timers, there is a lot of 40K universe background detail in this book that makes it very atmospheric.

Gaunts Ghosts give a view from the perspective of the grunt just trying to make it through the day without getting shot, eaten or coming to the attentions of the inquisition, there is a touch of the Malazans or Black Company about them.

The Cain series bounces between the two perspectives in a very entertaining manner that seems to sit between Stalingrad and Starship Troopers.

The Space Wolves are also highly entertaining and work to their own rules in a very Klingon manner.