Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

He also can't write Death Korps worth squat, gaks all over their main schtick to make the UM shine more.

 Bobthehero wrote:
He also can't write Death Korps worth squat, gaks all over their main schtick to make the UM shine more.

Then McNeil went on to ruin the characterization of the Luna Wolves and make them turn to Chaos so fast I got whiplash. McNeil does have some hits, but a large portion of his library are complete misses.

Since the likes of Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Rob Sanders, Guy Haley, and Chris Wright have started putting out more 40k novels, McNeil's work hasn't held a candle to any of them.

Huh. I just got done with Baneblade and Death of Integrity.

the word bearers and ultra marines books, amazing novels.

I nearly gave you a list of my favs but you are asking for an order to read them...

They have no order. Writers have been writing about the game since 1993 with total freedom to write about anything they want. It is totally undiluted chaos. Here is a list if you are interested: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/List_of_Novels#Anthologies

If I am to recommend a way into the background, I would say:
2: Dan Abnett: Eisenhorn. It is a trilogy with lots of details about many things.
3: A book about your favorite faction.
4: Whatever you feel like.

1: the first book is not a book: it is the background of the game. There are many places on the internet where you can get most of the background information of the game. Lexicanum is perhaps the best place to begin. Pick something you like and do a google search or a search on Lexicanum. And jump to other place, and to another.

Id say Space Maine or the Inquisition War. Both the first of their kind. Though i think theyve been declared heretical works, because of when they were written, alot of it is still cannonish.

15 hours if you want to know the average life of a guardsman. Cain if you want a giggle. Legion of the Damned is good

Im not to sure why people Gaunt. He and his troops, should have been dragged out behind the barn and shot books ago.
Just makes the whole universe a little less grim dark, when they wernt.

As long its its not written by Goto, Most are good throw away reads.