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Hey I was just thinking of getting a 40k novel out to read for a while, but there are so many.
I can't decide what to go for.
Help me out here with suggestions as to a good book.

Title is all that's needed...

Caiphus Cain : Hero of the Imperium

Storm of Iron is probably the best one I've read so far.

Ciaphas Cain? Hero of the imperium? don't make me laugh, sorry but i've done them.

Storm of Iron ok got it...

The first 3 Horus Heresy books (Horus Rising, False Gods & Galaxy in Flames) are all well worth checking into. After that, the quality is wildly variable. I also recommend Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett.

"Gunheads" Imperial guard novel

Storm of iron was brilliant
well worth the read

Eisenhorn has to be my favourite so far. Some nice insight into 40k civilian life, as well as Inquisitorial butt-kicking.

After that, I would say the first three books of the Horus Heresy.

The Horus Heresy books are good, even if the series seems to go on and on

chaplaingrabthar wrote:The first 3 Horus Heresy books (Horus Rising, False Gods & Galaxy in Flames) are all well worth checking into. After that, the quality is wildly variable.

Horus Rising and Galaxy in Flames were good, I didn't like False Gods, but it was integral to the telling the story (also didn't like Fulgrim that much either). My favourite of all the Heresy books so far is Flight of the Eisenstien. Still if you were only wanting a one off read I wouldn't recommend the Heresy books as obviously they are part of a series and you wont get the full story in one book.
I haven't read a lot of 40K fiction outside of the Heresy series, but I can concure with the other posters that Storm of Iron is meant to be very good. A lot of my mates have read it and speak highly of it.

Eldar prohecy isn't too bad, if you don't mind something not imperial, and i heard from my friend that Ice Guard is also good

RAVENOR or EISENHORN

Sorry Brook, did you say something?

I've only read the first Gaunt's Ghost novel which was kind of meh.

Ghosts are gak, Dan's other stuff is much, much better. Like Ravenor and Eisenhorn.

Eye of Terror by Barrington J. Bayley
It's a one off story so you don't have to invest in a series.

Eisenhorn and Ravenor are excellent reads.

I've enjoyed most of the Horus Heresy books.

It depends on what you are interested in, unless you just want to read everything.

The Grey Knights books were entertaining, although I think the first one is the best. Ultramarines books are good, definitely liked the 3rd the best, the 4th I read through in about two days... but it had a couple weird spots. I've read all the Soul Drinkers books, and they are decent. Brothers of the Snake is an excellent read, although there may be a bit of fluff inconsistency(per strength of Space Marines vs... everything else). I have more, but I think that's enough to get you started.

I've read pretty much everything the BL has to offer and I'm still amzingly impressed by how great Lord of the Night was. Highly recommend it.

Storm of Iron and Gunheads

BrookM wrote:RAVENOR or EISENHORN

I second this! Both excellent!

Eisenhorn, the omnibus. its the best read yet for me. i also enjoyed storm of iron.

Zip Napalm wrote:Eye of Terror by Barrington J. Bayley
It's a one off story so you don't have to invest in a series.

And it's crap.

chaplaingrabthar wrote:

Zip Napalm wrote:Eye of Terror by Barrington J. Bayley
It's a one off story so you don't have to invest in a series.

And it's crap.

It is one of those early stories that defined 40k back then, a lot of it is non-canonical but it is still a fine read.

Of all the ones I've read I'd recommend Eisenhorn most of all. Other good reads:

Ciaphas Cain books
Sould Drinkers
Storm of Iron
Lord of the Night
Brothers of the Snake

noone else read 15 hours i thought that was great
maybe im just weird...

15 Hours is okay.

Graham Mcneill is a solid writer*-and Hounsou(A character from Dead sky black sun) is in the afore mentioned Storm of Iron-Also Graham's work.

*Pick up the Ultrasmurf omnibus

Storm of Iron is good,but it is overated.Lord of the Night is a good read.

Sorry, but the Soul Drinkers series' just keeps getting crapier.

I like Ciaphas Cain though. That stuff is hilarious. Storm of Iron is great, Lord of the Night was okay. The Smurf stuff is ... sigh, okay I guess. The third one just didnt do it for me honestly. The ending of Courage and Honor also didnt thrill me at all. 15 hours and gunheads are both okay. I liked gunheads more though.

Brothers of the snake is pretty much so-and-so. I liked it, alot of others despise it though since it shows the marines to be even more uber than they are usually portrayed.

Read the Horus Heresy

I fall into line with those chanting "Read the Heresy!" It's worth reading throughout, IMO (let's face it, none of this stuff is literature) and Eisenhorn's also good-ish (if you like detective novels). But the best place to start, bar none, is the "Let the Galaxy Burn" omnibus of 40k short stories. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise.

Here is my review of the HH short stories collection (and differing viewpoints), if you're interested.