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I'm a big fan of Dan Abnett's writing, particularly the Eisenhorn trilogy. I often comment to my friends that this series would be great sci-fi fantasy novels even without the association to 40k. So, I decided to put my theory to the test by having someone who knew nothing about 40k, but was a fan of fantasy novels read the book. My grandfather is one such person. He has always been a fan of fantasy novels and a voracious reader. He's probably read any major fantasy series that you can think of. Back in August I gave him the Eisenhorn Omnibus and said that he might like it. I told him it was sci-fi fantasy, but fantasy nonetheless. When I was visiting him during Christmas, I asked him if he had read the book and what he though of it.

Let me preface my grandfather's reaction to the book by reiterating that he knows nothing about 40k or the 40k universe. He doesn't know that it's a miniature game and he sure as hell doesn't know that I play it. He's too old school to handle the thought of his 23 year old grandson still playing with toys.

Anyway, my grandfather said about the Eisenhorn Omnibus: "I liked it. I really did. That Dan Abnett guy has one hell of an imagination." He also further added "you know, it's British Science-Fiction." He liked it so much in fact that he wanted to read Ravenor. I happened to be reading the book during the break and upon hearing that I was willing to leave it with him if I finished he must have asked me 20 times how much more reading I had left in it. I did end up finishing it and he's currently delving into the Ravenor series now.

Dan Abnett's writing is quality. I think the fact that my grandfather was able to enjoy the Eisenhorn novels independent of any knowledge of the 40k game goes to show how good his stories are. If you haven't already read the Eisenhorn series, I strongly recommend them. They're just plain well written, compelling stories and I think that the Black Library is lucky to have Dan Abnett on their staff.

I got the omnibus for xmas and am looking forward to diving in to it. Abnett's writing is always solid and his books are a safe bet if you are thinking of reading something from the black library. Fingers crossed he gets to write the final climax book in the horus heresy series too.

I devoured the Eisenhorn Omnibus a few months ago. i actually missed my train stop a few times. Its a great set of books. still have to read the Ravenor series.

I read the eisenhorn trilogy about once a year, it has great re-readable value. Great series.

Ravenor series is just as good, if not better as Abnett has been able to learn how to *ahem* not finish so abruptly and hurriedly.

If there is one set of stories that could be made into a movie for 40Kbased genre, it should be eisenhorn.

I haven't read it, but I've read the Gaunts Ghosts books and can confirm his work is good.
With Gaunt's Ghosts he realises that the Imperial Guard are actually a military force, not the butt to every alien and SM joke, the meat to be beaten in for every alien and SM propoganda piece.

He makes it clear that SM's are this aloof, rare creature that the Guardsmen see's from afar, or from the burning wreckage they leave behind. Rather than SM's being on every street corner, helping old ladies across the road, then killing a hundred Cultists with a sneeze.

Eisenhorn is probalby my fave BL series to date.

legoburner wrote: Fingers crossed he gets to write the final climax book in the horus heresy series too.

I agree, and the good news is I'm pretty sure we've already been assured that he WILL write the final book in the HH series.

Of course, with how well they're doing currently, that might be a long time from now...

Aye, we've got to see the Horus Heresy from the Point of View of Roboute, then the Emperor's Toilet Cleaner, Horus' butler, the numberless tax collectors, etc, et. Each is worthy of it's own profit....I mean books.

You must be referring to Descent of Angels.

That trilogy is written well. In my opinion it is the one of the best black library books produced. He renewed my interest in sci-fi after years of reading non-fiction for my job in the IRS.

I don't suppose there would happen to be a list of all the books in chronological order?

I find it easiest to start with the first...

If you get the Eisenhorn Omnibus you should be good.

Oops.... hit "quote" instead of "edit"

Hellfury wrote:

TragicNut wrote:I don't suppose there would happen to be a list of all the books in chronological order?

I find it easiest to start with the first...

You wont be able to find the books separately anymore, as they are condensed into an omnibus form. [edit] According to Amazon, the Omnibus also includes 2 twenty page short stories connecting Xenos to malleus, and malleus to hereticus. These are not found outside of the omnibus.[/edit]

The separate books are long out of print since 2002.

But for the sake of completeness, here is the order they are written in:

1st) Xenos

2nd) Malleus

3rd) Hereticus

While I'm not that big a fan of the Ravenor follow-ups, the Eisenhorn triology is beyond a doubt
some of the best books Black Library have published. I read it for the third time about 6 months
ago, and with the 'Dark Heresy' RPG coming in February, I guess I'll have to read it again

In summary, great read!

al-Majid Agandhjin bin Ahfal al-Rashid

The good thing is if your G-pa truly likes Abnett you can turn him on to a whole slew of books because he has been prolific in the last few years.

you could take the chance and introduce him to your hobby....

Yeah, I'm thinking about getting him into the Horus Heresy series, but that means he'd have to read two books written by Grahm McNeil. That guy's writing would probably turn him off to the whole universe of books.

As for introducing him to my hobby I say "ha." This man thinks anyone who plays video games is a moron. I like sharing this aspect of the hobby with him and I think I'll leave it at that.

Has anyone ever gotten a friend not into 40k to read a 40k novel?

No. I can't bring myself to read a 40k novel after reading
Farseer.

mal, what's that avatar? looks like a bag of some sort...

It's my murse.

a manly purse?

Exactly that.

omg that's funny. murse.

... I never realized that was a bag of some sort. I thought it was some sort of helmeted head, like from a mal-formed Tau or something. Of course, now that you told me, I see the hand in the picture and feel like a slow.

Now to find out what Iorek's avatar is, and I will be complete. Then I will kill myself.

Iorek's avatar is exactly that, the bear "Iorek".



You may now die an honourable death by committing 切腹 "Seppuku".

malfred wrote:No. I can't bring myself to read a 40k novel after reading
Farseer.

You didnt like it? I thought it was one of the more underrated 40K books out.

Nah. I guess I have trouble suspending disbelief when
a novel uses too many anachronisms.

Of course, I have the same trouble when a novel goes to
great lengths being "sci-fi," so maybe I'm just picky.

Iorek's avatar is Iorek. Huh. I should have known.

Wehrkind wrote:... I never realized that was a bag of some sort. I thought it was some sort of helmeted head, like from a mal-formed Tau or something. Of course, now that you told me, I see the hand in the picture and feel like a slow.

Now to find out what Iorek's avatar is, and I will be complete. Then I will kill myself.