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They read Cain novels and hope they will someday be as awesome

but seriously its 40k so it varies - quite a few novels have indivdual Chaters having specific inspirational tomes penned by their Primarchs or other members of their Chapter - some will have read Ravanors pieces.......... some won't bother and see it as combat traiing time wasted.....

 BlaxicanX wrote:
Is it too late to make a joke about Sisters of Battle pin-up magazines?

HAHAHA

I'd imagine Space Marines would only read the finest of literature, like Ulysses, The Iliad, Heart of Darkness, or The Dark Knight Rises Novelization.

Starship Troopers

Purging Xenos: For dummies!

Probably a lot of Fantasy

 Great White wrote:
Probably a lot of Fantasy

Space Wolves reading Gortex and Felix?

The Blood Angels quite obviously fans of the Twilight Saga.

Meanwhile the Space Wolves are reading the Wolverine comics, given his sue levels would make the two a perfect match. They might even see Wolverine as their own self-insert.

How to:
Get tyranid gunk out of a clogged chainsword
get along with the priests who keep showing up on campaigns
Act surprised every time grey knights "reveal their existence"
Ignore those voices in your head (you know the ones)
Cite passages from the codex to appear smart for your captain

And for chapter masters:

Offend inquisitors without starting a civil war
kiss the inquisitions ass without the other chapters picking on
you
keep marines in stasis in offshore chamber to buypass tithing and exceed the limits on chapter size!
Make your own artifacer armor at home, with the tools you already have

"A Lusty Sororitas" By Scribe Crassius

I did write a short story once about a couple of Guardsmen sneaking into a convent and overhearing a risque conversation between two Sororitas. The Sisters were actually playing regicide, but it sure sounded sexy.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
I did write a short story once about a couple of Guardsmen sneaking into a convent and overhearing a risque conversation between two Sororitas. The Sisters were actually playing regicide, but it sure sounded sexy.

Like to read that

"1001 uses for Promethium"

On a serious note I remember Garviel Loken reading up on ancient battles on Terra during the dark Age of Technology.

 Psienesis wrote:
"Larceny for Dummies" for the Blood Ravens.

More like Advanced Larceny by Trazyn.

 thegreatchimp wrote:
"1001 uses for Promethium"

On a serious note I remember Garviel Loken reading up on ancient battles on Terra during the dark Age of Technology.

Oh yeah, "The Chronicles of Ursch", I remember that. Loken said it contains lots of blood, heroism, and violence. Just the way I like it

40k Shades of Ultramarine.

Any book ..heavy enough to kill a enemy of the imperium of man with..if thrown with enough righteousness.

Print is dead..everything they need to know was psycho-indoctrinated at creation!

Jergen (Cain's commisariat aid) is often found reading alot of dubious porn on his dataslate...

I think one of Revnor's goons also typically reads a lot of this stuff too. Must be high literature in the 40k universe.

I'm sure the Marines probably read similar magazine things....

"Popular Mechanicus"
"Bolters and Ammo"
"Maximum Relics"
"Imperial Geographics"
"Marine's Health"
"Chainsword Digest"
"Purges Illustrated"
"Stories of 30k"

 Engine of War wrote:
40k Shades of Ultramarine.

!

Exalting!

In my mind, when most Marines aren't in the field, they do the other, less interesting part of their job - They are battle-brothers, so they fight in battle and are brother-monks. And monks do books. Yeah, I had history once.

I'd imagine religious texts, military tactics and other such things, but, to me, ancient history wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for the more adventurous Brother. As someone mentioned, the Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid, The Gallic Wars of Cæsar, the Bibel, Quran and Tora, something on Buddhism, the speeches of men like Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Hitler, Churchill and so forth... Not because they should be inspired by them, but to let them point out differences and faulths that the modern Imperium does away with and as such broaden their perspective and steel their mind.

 The Wise Dane wrote:
In my mind, when most Marines aren't in the field, they do the other, less interesting part of their job - They are battle-brothers, so they fight in battle and are brother-monks. And monks do books. Yeah, I had history once.

I'd imagine religious texts, military tactics and other such things, but, to me, ancient history wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for the more adventurous Brother. As someone mentioned, the Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid, The Gallic Wars of Cæsar, the Bibel, Quran and Tora, something on Buddhism, the speeches of men like Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Hitler, Churchill and so forth... Not because they should be inspired by them, but to let them point out differences and faulths that the modern Imperium does away with and as such broaden their perspective and steel their mind.

This might be the most sensible thing posted. I can just imagine, thanks to you, that they do indeed study ancient history. They might, as an example, look at the Battle of Britain. We were outnumbered 3:1 and outgunned, but still won, why? Well, a Marine might look and determine because of RADAR. We knew where and when the enemy would be there and were able to counter. Not to mention unshakeable, steely resolve to fight for our country. That is exactly the sort of stuff a Space Marine might read.

Space Wolves... don't read. Seriously, they don't. Blood of Asaheim tells us that they really are mostly meat-head ignoramuses.

Since many (most?) Space Marines are from Feral or Death Worlds, probably not a lot of time given over to the pursuit of literature.... Blood Angels being the obvious exception, since they are known for being excellent artists in a number of fields.

Dark Angels also read, given that their Primarch is named for a poet. Probably write a lot of it, too. It's probably homoerotic. I mean, moreso than standard Space Marine life.

Spots the Space Marine?

 Psienesis wrote:
Space Wolves... don't read. Seriously, they don't. Blood of Asaheim tells us that they really are mostly meat-head ignoramuses.

Since many (most?) Space Marines are from Feral or Death Worlds, probably not a lot of time given over to the pursuit of literature.... Blood Angels being the obvious exception, since they are known for being excellent artists in a number of fields.

Dark Angels also read, given that their Primarch is named for a poet. Probably write a lot of it, too. It's probably homoerotic. I mean, moreso than standard Space Marine life.

The Dark Angels also maintain a library that is probably second only to the Black Library of the Eldar, and takes up a good chunk of the Rock.

This took a turn for the awesome

 EmpNortonII wrote:
I imagine more than a few secretly read romance novels trying to figure out what they're missing.

Cato Sicarius: "I find this author... Barbaria Cartlandis... to be a master of prose."

Chaplain Grimaldus: "I agree wholeheartedly."

Cypher: "Mistress. She's a lady."

Interrogator-Chaplain Asmodai: "Right! Who said that?"

"101 ways to exterminate a heretic" is an ecclisiarchy classic.
"boltguns and ammo" is ever popular among the space marine crowd.
"Psykers, can they really be trusted?" Is a new Black Templars publication that is growing in popularity among Chapter Masters (The single one-star review on BookDepository was sent with regards by the blood ravens)
"War and More War" is top in the "100 books to read before courageously falling in battle" list
And there's the trashy magazines that all marines will never admit to reading but secretly love. This week: Dante is 1100 but only looks 200 - Dermatologists hate him! - Find out more inside

TheManWithNoPlan wrote:
"Psykers, can they really be trusted?" Is a new Black Templars publication that is growing in popularity among Chapter Masters (The single one-star review on BookDepository was sent with regards by the blood ravens)

"Psykers: Threat or Menace? Helbrecht Says Yes!"

Love can Bloom

 King Pariah wrote:
Love can Bloom

Dark Angels read Squad Broken instead.