The Order of the Horus Heresy

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**Urien_Rakarth**

So... I've read all the books up to Fulgrim, and really enjoyed them. I'm really keen to read more, especially Thousand Sons, Nemesis, Legion etc. but they're all like 10th in the series. So do I have to read the ones in between, to escape missing a vital link in the story, or do I have to trudge through stuffs like the DA?

**kronk**

Not all HH books are created equally.

I skipped the DA books the first time around. I've recently come back to them and wished I hadn't.

No, you don't need to read all of them. Most of them are good to great, though.

**DeffDred**

kronk wrote:
Not all HH books are created equally.

I skipped the DA books the first time around. I've recently come back to them and wished I hadn't.

No, you don't need to read all of them. Most of them are good to great, though.

Actually LOLed at that. I also hated the DA books. Boring and completely pointless.

**Urien_Rakarth**

So... there's no real order then? The story does progress past Istvaan V time doesn't it?

**kronk**

It does, actually. You should read them in order, but some don't progress the storyline at all (DA). The most recent Ultramarines one takes place a good while after Istavaan 5 on Calth.

**Grey Templar**

Its more like there is 2 books in order and suddenly a whole bunch of books that roughly happen at the same time(so order doesn't really matter)

Other books are flashbacks.

**Harriticus**

Chronologically, only the first 3 are in any real order. After that the Heresy progresses at a snails pace and you can understand what's happening as the major events (such as the Drop Site Massacre) are told again from the perspective of the legion covered in the book.

Assuming the book has any real progress at all and isn't just a short story anthology or side story, which is becoming more and more common now that GW wants to milk the success of the series. I really question when we'll ever get to the Siege of Terra.

**Urien_Rakarth**

So how do I know which to read?

**kronk**

Urien_Rakarth wrote:
So how do I know which to read?

You ask people's opinions here. For the most part, you can read them out of order.

What Legion do you want to read about?

**Grey Templar**

Horus Rising is first. then False Gods(IIRC), and then Galaxy in Flames. and then Flight of the Eisenstein .

After that its pretty much personal choice.

First Heretic is a good book to read after the above books. It covers time before the Heresy right up to the Massacre on Isstvan.

Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels is the order of the DA books.

Raven's Flight is events directly following the Drop Sight massacre.

**Urien_Rakarth**

Sooo... I can do what I like? I won't miss anything if I just jump all the way to Fear to Tread or Nemesis? COOL!

**Xca|iber**

If you're really obsessive about reading them in the "proper" order or whatever, you can always go by publishing order. (This is what I like to do, incidentally).

The Lexicanum page shows the publications in order, excluding the specials and audiobooks (which are shown separately after the main series).

**kronk**

Urien_Rakarth wrote:
Sooo... I can do what I like? I won't miss anything if I just jump all the way to Fear to Tread or Nemesis? COOL!

After you've read the initial 3 books, pretty much.

Check out the Lexicanum thread that Xcaliber posted.

I'd read Battle for the Abyss before Know No Fear.

I'd read A Thousand Sons before Propero Burns.

I'd read The FIrst Heretic before Fear to Tread.

Nemesis, Legion, Mechanicum, and The Outcast Dead are "stand alone" books, I suppose.

**The Crusader**

Deliverance Lost is after the Dropsite massacre and is about the Raven Guard trying to rebuild after said massacre.

**Urien_Rakarth**

Which book is best for Night Lords?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Really useful lex page btw! thx!

**kronk**

There isn't a Night Lords HH book. Just a short story, I believe.

However, the Night Lords trilogy by ADB (Sould Hunter, Blood Reaver, and Void Stalker) are excellent books. The key characters have occasional flash backs that go back to the HH.

**Urien_Rakarth**

OK, cool. Thanks!

**vodo40k**

Read the first 5 in order, then I would advise reading "The First Heretic" as it ties them together quite nicely. After that you can read as you please.