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I was presented with this quandary the other day. My initial reaction to how to introduce someone into the 40k universe was the Horus Heresy novels. I figured start at the beginning right? But then I realized the HH novels assume the reader knows how it all ends, so perhaps that isn't the best place to start. The other novels from Black Library, to the best of my knowledge, don't really go into the immense back story of the 40k universe the way someone would need, so my conclusion was the fluff sections in the BRB might be best, but I am still not sure. What do you guys/gals think is a good way to introduce people to the 40k universe without having their (or your) head explode with confusion or frustration?

5th Edition Rulebook, has basic backgrounds for every major faction. Not all that much reading.

After that, stuff like Fear the Alien and Imperial Guard Omnibus maybe as it has a wide range of basic stories introducing various factions.

Harriticus wrote:5th Edition Rulebook, has basic backgrounds for every major faction. Not all that much reading.

After that, stuff like Fear the Alien and Imperial Guard Omnibus maybe as it has a wide range of basic stories introducing various factions.

I was also thinking the Space Marine short stories would be a good intro to things too. I just want to avoid giving people sensory overload since the fluff can get pretty engrossed and complex at times.

I almost want to keep this guy...
He could be like the forum's pet or something...

Short storie are good.
Let the galaxy burn is one of my favorite collections.

The only problem I have with the stories is that the IOM always wins

Doesn't exactly inspire anyone to play anything but the rainbow of Astartes flavours (or possibly Guard) when your supposed badasses are punted around like chumps and put down depressingly easily.

If they want to play Marines because they think they're cool then fine, but playing them because they are the 'best' or the 'winners' is a bad trend that's been getting worse.

I would start with the 5th ed rulebook's fluff section on the various factions.

Eisenhorn. Almost all the vocab used in 40k came from that one book.

Vox? Iho sticks? Data slate? All from Eisenhorn. And it's Dan Abnett's best work, to boot!

Chowderhead wrote:Eisenhorn. Almost all the vocab used in 40k came from that one book.

Vox? Iho sticks? Data slate? All from Eisenhorn. And it's Dan Abnett's best work, to boot!

It's been so long sice I read the Eisenhorn Trilogy I had forgotten! Great advice!

What race are you trying to introduce, as that is most likely to capture fascination. I love Necrons, so I've read Dead Men Walking and Fall of Damnos. My friend, on the other hand love the Iguard so he reads a bunch of their standalone novels and the Guant series. My Tyranid buddy just doesn't read the books though...

Here are some books that might help your friend figure out what they might want to play.

Lord of the Night - Chaos... maybe
Fifteen Hours - Imperial Guard
Grey Knight - Grey Knights
Son of Fenris - Space Wolves (or even possibly Dark Angels)

purplefood wrote:I almost want to keep this guy...
He could be like the forum's pet or something...

Short storie are good.
Let the galaxy burn is one of my favorite collections.

Let the Galaxy Burn was my first Black Library novel and still one of the best IMO

I like the Ravenor series myself. It might not be a great introduction to the 40K universe, because it's a bit removed from the grimdark eternal war thing that's going on, but it gives a great look at "normal" civilization in the Imperium, and some insight into how the Inquisition works. (Although Ravenor is a bit... tame... in his views compared to other inquisitors out there.)

Another good start would be the Gaunt's Ghosts' series.

...now that I think of it, almost anything Abnett would be a great introduction.

cain book series

Mr. Grey wrote:

...now that I think of it, almost anything Abnett would be a great introduction.

QFT, I think even his Horus Heresy novels are some of the best ones. Although I am not sure anyone is going to beat A Thousand Sons, that one was just incredible. I gave my friend the 5th and 4th ed BRBs since I have the small 5th ed one for the rules and my Eisenhorne Omnibus. After that if he is interested in Marines I am going to have him start the Horus Heresy series I think.

Slightly off topic, but a great way to introduce people to the Warhammer 40K universe outside of books are the original DoW games.

DoW 1 and Dark Crusade do a fairly good job of slowly immersing people in the 40K universe. Obviously the story leave out a lot of the nuances found in the black library and codexes, but you get a pretty basic idea of all the mainstream races, and their iconic units and generally what they do. Without a total overload of data.

Probably the best part of DoW is the quotes that are thrown around- from the "imperium thought for the day" like "kill kill kill" to the unit quotes in game. They really go a long way towards getting people excited about the game and the Universe in General.

Here are some of my favorites that really inspired me to get into the universe.

Dread: "Even in death I still serve!"
Librarian: "An open mind is like a fortress with its gate unbarred and unguarded."

Chaos Marines: "Maim, kill, burn! Maim, kill, burn!"
Aspiring Champion: "Sanity... is for the weak!"
Obilterator: "Enemies, we need enemies!"

Avatar: "By my bloody hand the enemy shall not live past this day."

Grot: "Please! N-no more kicking!"
Mad Dok: "It's gonna hurt a lot, but you'll be better! You'll see! Ha ha ha!"

Leman Russ: "Nothing like a stroll through the countryside."
BaneBlade: "Ready to unleash eleven barrels of hell!"

I would say Eisenhorn becouse it was the first 40k book i read and i got really into it thought i didnt know all the referances

but i will say i had a basic knowledge of the backround before i started Eisenhorn

If you want a simple, reasonable way to introduce someone to 40k?

Cadian Blood.

You want a compelling and engrossing story that doesn't require someone to know everything about the setting already.

Eisenhorn, while fantastic, requires you to know quite a bit about the setting to start with.

15 hours is the first one I read and it had me hooked.

15 hours. Its short, well written, and you don't need to know anything about the setting to get into the story- it's basically world war I, Guard vs. Orks. Its in an omnibus, but I got it as a paperback off of ebay or amazon for like $1.

Stormfather wrote:15 hours. Its short, well written, and you don't need to know anything about the setting to get into the story- it's basically world war I, Guard vs. Orks. Its in an omnibus, but I got it as a paperback off of ebay or amazon for like $1.

Wow, I have never even heard of 15 Hours. I will need to get a copy asap.

galaxy in flames is how i got introduced to it. (i didnt know how it ended either) so i just kept reading getting compelled further and further into the story line. now hh is one of my favorite reads revealing more of more of the back story and what not for chaos legions and loyalist legions.

The rule book is the best book, but not the best way.

Kanluwen wrote:If you want a simple, reasonable way to introduce someone to 40k?

Cadian Blood.

You want a compelling and engrossing story that doesn't require someone to know everything about the setting already.

Eisenhorn, while fantastic, requires you to know quite a bit about the setting to start with.

Really?
It got me into the game.

i'd have to agree either Eisenhorn or Commissar Cain Hero of the Imperium simply because his stories were somewhat believable

Eisenhorn or Ravenor. I would imagine that any book that heavily features Space Marines would be quite confusing for some one who was unfamiliar with 40k.

Ascalam wrote:The only problem I have with the stories is that the IOM always wins

Doesn't exactly inspire anyone to play anything but the rainbow of Astartes flavours (or possibly Guard) when your supposed badasses are punted around like chumps and put down depressingly easily.

If they want to play Marines because they think they're cool then fine, but playing them because they are the 'best' or the 'winners' is a bad trend that's been getting worse.

I would start with the 5th ed rulebook's fluff section on the various factions.

You play because of that? I play with Imperium because it is the only thing standing between Mankind and oblivion. And not just Mankind...
And for the record - good guys always win

The Eisenhorn trilogy is pretty good.
Dead Men Walking is a good way to introduce him to the Imperial Guard and the general "grimdarkness" of the 40. Millenium.
Gaunt's Ghosts tend to be a bit overrated but most are still a good read, especialy Necropolis.
If he likes the bad guys then i can suggest Lord of the Night and Storm of Iron. I have heard that Dembski-Bowden's work is also pretty good but i am not familiar with it.
For Dark Eldar stuff nothing beats "Mistress Baeda's Gift", which is a short story in the otherwise bad to mediocre Fear the Alien anthology.
For Spacemarine novels..well, the Salamanders novels are kind of trite, so are the Grey Knights books and it is better not to speak of Swallow's Blood Angels novels or Goto's work.
So, perhaps the first Space Wolf novels then ( which are, at the very least, entertaining to read )? If he gets then cheap then the Ultramarines books are also acceptable, but your friend shouldn't expect too much from them.
The problem with most novels about spacemarines is that the authors rarely manage to catch their subject's alien nature. Instead we have countless marines which seem to be
little more than men ( menchildren in the worst cases...) in heavy armour.

Anything by Dan Abnett is good, hes such a fanatstic writer and you can visualise what hes wriing about whethe its an Inquisitor stalking heretics or Imperial Guardsmen defendin the house from hell.

I'd suggest the first Space Wolf novel. It explains space marines and associates peoples position in the galaxy as well as gives you a general overview. It also helps that it explains things so well you don't have to know anything to get in to it.

Harriticus wrote:5th Edition Rulebook, has basic backgrounds for every major faction. Not all that much reading.

After that, stuff like Fear the Alien and Imperial Guard Omnibus maybe as it has a wide range of basic stories introducing various factions.

Either this or maybe the frst Horus Heresey Book.

Zonder wrote:I'd suggest the first Space Wolf novel. It explains space marines and associates peoples position in the galaxy as well as gives you a general overview. It also helps that it explains things so well you don't have to know anything to get in to it.

Yes Bill Kings books are amazing but at the start of the SW books