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.

Often commentary on 40k lore/novels tends to focus on the aspects some of us don't like, or even ridicule. So I thought I'd make a post to highlight the good stuff...

For me :

1. I love how immensely derivative it is. It's like a sci fi/ fantasy burrito, with all my favorite stuff from Dune, or Starship Troopers, or anything lovecraftian.
2. Sometimes, they hit some characters out of the park. For example; I am actually annoyed there hasn't been way more Sevatar, and that means I love the character. Or the fact I literally smile when something bad happens to Erebus.

Anything from you guys?

Depending on the individual author, I like how it can fill in the background elements of the lives of various groups in the setting that aren't normally touched on in the Codices.

We know more about the inner workings of Imperial society from the Eisenhorn series, the IG and Commissariat from Gaunt's Ghosts, various other IG regiments from a number of other IG novels, and a bit more about the Arbites and the Sisters of Battle from two different series centered on those organizations.

Now, I won't say that I take everything in these books as "canon", as some of the details deviate too much from my interpretation of the Codices, but it's good enough, in most cases.

I really love the dead men walking and caiphas cain novels. They give a great perspective of IG soldiers facing off against the monstrosities of the galaxy with their bayonet, training, and an over sized flashlight.

The SM novels are sometimes interesting in that they are like concentrated battle scenes mixed with some random brotherly solidarity. Not bad to mix in with your more weighty reading to break things up.

I enjoyed the Last Chancers Omnibus. There's something about a small group of guys continually going on suicide missions...

I like Dan Abnett's inquisitor stuff (and I don't care if it isn't a slavish adherent of "canon" fluff). Ravenor, Eisenhorn, and their motley crewes.

About the only thing I still like.

I tend to like a darker story, and I generally find villains the most interesting. When books from a Chaos perspective come out I jump all over them for that reason. There's a ton out there about the Imperium, so I like to see written examples of how the legions and renegades go about resupplying themselves, recruiting, and generally making their way in the Eye of Terror or wherever they bed down.

I love books that describe the worlds of 40k with real people doing normal life in a really messed up universe. The inquisitor books and enforcer omnibus. But sadly there are so few of these, I love history and so the whole 'heavy age' that comes across in all the good books is wonderful, to feel a fictional world that is tired and drawn with a long and sad history is nearly prophetical.

Bolter porn bores me rigid, desperately hope the heresy books don't descend to far into that. Enjoy the politics of the heresy era books.

ADB, do I really need to add more.....FINE! I honestly liked the first 2 rogue trader books (third one felt like a rushed bolter porn). Aside from that anything with Cain makes my soul smile.