Warhammer 40K Novels

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**parkourer7**

Hey everyone,
So i know that Games Workshop has released a ton of novels within the Warhammer 40K universe. Thing is, i don't know how many they have published and in what order i should read them. So i am asking you guys to help me. How many are there and in what order do you recommend i read them in? And as a side note, if any of you guys read the novels for StarCraft i could use the same help their too.
Thanks guys!

**Scipio Americanus**

I would start with the Eisenhorn trilogy, as they aren't the best but they're a nice way to ease into the universe and have some interesting points. After that, I don't think you can go wrong with the Gaunts' Ghosts series from beginning to most recent; you can get the first 11 or so books in omnibus editions each containing 3 or 4 of the novels.

I also think Graham McNeil has done some decent stuff. His Ultramarines books have their flaws but are often quite creative.

**agent1320**

I'm not sure what you mean, it doesn't matter in which order you read the different book series', the only thing that matters is that you read each book in a certain order. But for a recommendation, I would recommend the Gaunts Ghosts series by Dan Abnett as they are brilliant.

Hope this helps

agent1320

p.s if you like the Gaunts Ghost books, there is one coming out in June

**Pilau Rice**

There are a lot of books and to put them in an order is pretty difficult.

I found this link from back in '08 where the PO had attempted it and did a good job

http://www.freewebs.com/mechanicus/noveltimeline.htm

I also made an attempt of the Heresy series but gave up after The Primarchs

Spoiler:

But a good read would be Storm of Iron, Daemonworld and the short story collection Let the Galaxy Burn, if you can get your hands on it.

**Sturmtruppen**

The only order that matters in reading 40k novels is if the novel is part of its own series and you want to follow the series. Otherwise, the advice I'd give for picking any 40k book to read is to think about what there is in 40k that interests you. There's no damn way I'm going to read all 28+ novels of the Horus Heresy series, but I did read Nemesis because it's the only novel that focuses on the Officio Assassinorum.

**Wyzilla**

Well for one, the Horus Heresy book series is not something you ever want to start with a lack of understanding of W40K and its various tropes and history. I'd instead with a generic Omnibus, the Space Marine Omnibus is a good place to start, as is the Talos Trilogy by ADB, and some of the Space Marines Battles novels.

**TheNewPenguin**

Start with the first book of the Horus Heresy series. Empire in Flames i think it's called. Either way, it a great series, 20+ books and counting. A great place to learn of the Primarchs and a lot of the history of the 40k universe

**Wyzilla**

TheNewPenguin wrote:
Start with the first book of the Horus Heresy series. Empire in Flames i think it's called. Either way, it a great series, 20+ books and counting. A great place to learn of the Primarchs and a lot of the history of the 40k universe

No, the Horus Heresy is a completely terrible way to start off with W40K (as not only is their quality quite dodgy), but they don't introduce the reader to the tropes, phrases, organization, and simple civilization of W40K. It'll leave the reader gawking and wondering what the hell is happening.

**Sturmtruppen**

I agree with Wyzilla on this. I don't think a novel series that's a prequel to the whole universe of 40k set 10 millenia before it is a good introduction. That's like telling someone who wants to get into Star Wars that they should play Knights of the Old Republic before watching the films.

**FinalSix**

You can't go wrong with the Gaunts Ghosts series Takes a little of the grim from the grimdark.

My personal favorite book I've read from the Black Library though is Titanicus.

**Gogsnik**

The Caiphas Cain books are pretty fun so long as you take them with a pinch of salt in terms of how well they match the 40K mythos and Titanicus is a good novel, I re-read that every now and then. I've been re-reading the Gaunt's Ghosts novels too and I'd say, that whilst Abnett doesn't always get things right, the books are pretty good. You might also like to take a look at the Shira Calpurnia books and maybe the Necromunda books too. I always recommend Eye of Terror as that has a very good Rogue Trader feel to it which is quite different to all the other novels. Then you've got the Ultramarines and Iron Warriors novels by Graham McNeill, I liked Gordon Rennie's BFG books myself although I've heard they weren't too popular for some reason, Gav Thorpe's Last Chancers books are good, Henry Zou's pretty good, sheesh, there's a lot of novels, hard to say what to read first.

**The Mad Tanker**

I am big fan of the Caiphas Cain Series by Sandy Mitchell. I honestly enjoy the humor that is injected into the grim dark universe and the presentation as an autobiography with foot notes is unique and entertaining.

**jason1977**

Wyzilla wrote:

No, the Horus Heresy is a completely terrible way to start off with W40K (as not only is their quality quite dodgy), but they don't introduce the reader to the tropes, phrases, organization, and simple civilization of W40K. It'll leave the reader gawking and wondering what the hell is happening.

Another problem with the HH books is that one may think they go in order as a whole book. This is far from the truth. One would almost have to read a few pages here and there and almost full chapters here and there to make it flow like a movie. Not saying they are not any good. Just wouldnt advise starting with them.

**Grey Templar**

Eisinhorn and Ravenor trilogy(follows the adventures of an Inquisitor and his prodigy who himself becomes an Inquisitor and their band of henchmen)

Grey Knight Omnibus(duh, about Grey Knights)

Titanicus(Titans)

Space Wolf Omnibus one and two

Ultramarine Omnibus and sequel books

The Founding(Gaunt's Ghosts)

All great books.

The Horus Heresy series is also good, but don't expect a specific order or consistent quality. There is only a loose order of events. Its more like a half dozen story lines that are loosely related and organized in a loose chronological order. Some occur long before the Heresy during the Great Crusade, some happen right before and after the moment of betrayal, some happen before news has widely spread of it. Some will spoil a previously unread book if they happen after or concurrently with another book.

**DoMiNaNt_HuNtEr**

Daemonworld is awesome.

**Siberiandreamer**

Yeah, I love the HH series, but even with existing knowledge of the 40k universe I found many things confusing.

**Furyou Miko**

Nothing has divided this hobby more than the Horus Heresy books... personally, I can't stand most of them.

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

The Gaunt's Ghosts series feel is one of the better 40K series. Cain is nice but not as good but offers a lot more in the way of humour.
Personally I've never read Eisenhorn (I find it harder to read books from 1st person perspective) but it is highly rated by other people.
Once you have a grounding in the general lore and tropes then you should be OK to dip into the HH series but they wildly vary in quality but the first 3 are a solid set up for the Heresy itself

**farmersboy**

Start with that best, Space Marine by Ian Watson. Retconned to hell now, but by far the darkest, most adult W40K novel written, and the first purely about Space Marines.

**Knockagh**

Eisenhorn, Gaunts Ghosts and Cain definitely are stand out series.

I have read everything in the heresy series and love it but sometimes I regret ever starting it. I can't stop reading it now after 28 odd books, some special editions, a few novellas and a smattering of CDs. It's just flippin endless! Kind of hope it finishes before I get bored with it... So dont start it!

**Envihon**

Really, from what I have found and what is echoed here, you just kind of have to find your own niche within the universe as there are tons. Honestly, if there is a particular thing that interests you about the 40k universe, start there.

Since the Grey Knights and the Inquisition are my favorite parts of the universe, I started with them. The GK omnibus was the first series I ever read and I highly recommend it. I have read a couple of HH and I also love that series but just like everyone else here, don't start with that. Read some of the books to get the start of the galaxy and then read that because things will make more sense. The Eisenhorn and Ravenor series are excellent as well but again they are the Inquisition.

There are also several key authors that write awesome books. Dan Abnett, Ben Counter, Aaron Dembski-Bowden are the three that stand out for me.

**DarkKnights44**

As some one that really enjoys the WH40K universe, I have done some collecting of the novels in this universe. Currently I have over 300 books between HH and 40k to include some special editions and audio dramas.

You're best bet to find a start point is go with whatever army you enjoy play, be it IG, SM, Tau, etc. Every army has an appearance in one or more books.

Nice thing is that they do make omnibuses so its easier to find some of the stories, since some books you can't find anymore.

My favorites, Gaunts Ghosts, Ultramarine Series, or one I haven't seen anyone mention is the Space Wolf series.

No matter what you will enjoy what you read, some are better then others, but all worth a read.

**BrianDavion**

DarkKnights44 wrote:

You're best bet to find a start point is go with whatever army you enjoy play, be it IG, SM, Tau, etc. Every army has an appearance in one or more books.

that said if your not a player of an Imperial faction, accept that your army are going to be the antagionists.

**BlaxicanX**

Unless you're lucky enough to be an Eldar player.

Then you can at least savor your "Path of the ____" series.

**bocatt**

My first introduction to this universe was Mitchel Scanlon's Fifteen Hours and I've never looked back. If you enjoyed that book, Double Eagle is a good next step. If you want more heroics you can pick up the Ultramarine or Space Wolf Omnibus and if you want less heroic, you can read the Dark Apostle books and the Talos trilogy that someone already mentioned. Lord of the Night is by a different author but same subject matter and an interesting twist. Those are my best recommendations.

**Kain**

The most popular series are Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts (not recommended if you get bored of Imperials vs Chaos easily), Ciaphas Cain, McNeil's Ultramarines, and most anything ADB makes.
15 hours.

Books I personally enjoyed:

That one book by Lucien something that had the Tallarns vs the Tyranids.
The Cain series.
Gaunt's ghosts.
The Ultramarine series.
The Word Bearers' trilogy.
The Fear the Alien anthology.
The Eldar path books (my personal favorite books actually)
The first three space wolf books.

**Co'tor Shas**

I really enjoyed the Eldar trilogy. Shadowsun: last of kiru's line was pretty good too.

**Wyzilla**

Kain wrote:
The most popular series are Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts (not recommended if you get bored of Imperials vs Chaos easily), Ciaphas Cain, McNeil's Ultramarines, and most anything ADB makes.
15 hours.

Books I personally enjoyed:

That one book by Lucien something that had the Tallarns vs the Tyranids.
The Cain series.
Gaunt's ghosts.
The Ultramarine series.
The Word Bearers' trilogy.
The Fear the Alien anthology.
The Eldar path books (my personal favorite books actually)
The first three space wolf books.

Don't listen to this on the Ultramarines series by McNeil, unless you like to read books where people play a MASSIVE game of idiot ball, the Ultramarines series simply is an in-universe nightmare of utter stupidity and partially contributes to the "meme" of the Ultramarines being a bunch of self-righteous morons.

**Kain**

Wyzilla wrote:
Kain wrote:
The most popular series are Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts (not recommended if you get bored of Imperials vs Chaos easily), Ciaphas Cain, McNeil's Ultramarines, and most anything ADB makes.
15 hours.

Books I personally enjoyed:

That one book by Lucien something that had the Tallarns vs the Tyranids.
The Cain series.
Gaunt's ghosts.
The Ultramarine series.
The Word Bearers' trilogy.
The Fear the Alien anthology.
The Eldar path books (my personal favorite books actually)
The first three space wolf books.

Don't listen to this on the Ultramarines series by McNeil, unless you like to read books where people play a MASSIVE game of idiot ball, the Ultramarines series simply is an in-universe nightmare of utter stupidity and partially contributes to the "meme" of the Ultramarines being a bunch of self-righteous morons.

Well, the first three books are nice, but I thought the series hit it's peak with the second book.

**Lord-Captain Cepinari**

They're better then the Ultramarine movie.

Admittedly, that isn't saying much...