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So I just got my feet wet in 40k.I would like to read some of the books. What book to start with? Is there a chronological list for the books?

There is no delicate way to put this. There's a lot of books. Over twenty years worth of books. What books do you want to read? Rulebooks? Horus Heresy? Imperial Guard? Necromunda? Video Game tie ins? Gaunt's Ghosts? Inquisition? Ultramarines? Salamanders? Chaos Space Marines?

If you've just entered 40k then you know that it is a massive thing. You have to narrow it down incredibly to get what you want to get out of it. Unless you tell us the first thing you're even interested in, you might be pointed in a direction that completely turns you off to 40k.

SharkoutofWata gives good advice.

The first couple of Horus Heresy books are well written, and give a flavour of the style of Black Library fiction.

However, I will take this opportunity to recommend Dan Abnett's Inquisition novels, which are simply fantastic if you want a detective story set in this universe.

Finally, for some lighthearted pulp starring the Imperial Guard, check out the Ciaphis Cain novels by Sandy Mitchell.

As you gain more experience, you'll find there is a wealth of classic fiction, including some older stories from earlier editions, which really flesh out the rich and rewarding background to this game.

I think start with the Horus Heresy (keeping in mind it is telling stories from 30k, 10,000 years prior so things have reallt changed since then).
First in series is Horus Rising.

Don't start with the Heresy unless you're interested in the Heresy. The Heresy is NOT 40k. Space Marines don't have delicate feelings, they aren't whiny brats crying to their respective Primarch daddies who cry to each other. The universe of 30k has absolutely nothing to do with 40k other than the most basic generalizations.

I've enjoyed some 30k books, I don't hate them all, but someone else on Dakka brought up a great point. The Heresy books matter because you know the end. You know what happens to who and what's coming and the actions of the names you recognize are very important. If you don't have that love for the universe, you're just left with the face value and none of those names are important.

Yeah, the Heresy books are... pretty weak. Probably among the weakest examples of work by their authors, with the sole exception of Mechanicum, which is probably the best thing Mcneill has written (it's still only mediocre though).

Personally, I would recommend starting with Eisehorn, then go on to Ravenor.

Thanks guys, gives me a bit of s launch pad. I would like to read about the imperial guard, I love that army and I am currently working on a large army for them.



Holy crap there is so many books on Ciaphis Cain where do I start there.

Start with "Hero of the Imperium", it collects the first three.

I have to say that Dan Abnett is easily the best writer in the 40k universe. Outside of his works, Ciaphas Cain is a brilliant, often satirical romp through 40k.
Some books are serious, others are over-the-top, others tend to poke a bit of fun at the craziness of the universe. It all comes down to what you want to read about. There's really something for everyone (unless you want something from the perspective of a Tyranid (that would be awesome))

Well then, thanks for the input guys. Now to start searching Amazon

I'd actually start with Fifteen Hours. It's not a series but if does a good job of introducing you to the Guard with a Guardsman who is being introduced to war.

Just ordered the 15 hours book. Anyone got any novels for sale?

I would recommend getting one of the Anthology books like Let The Galaxy Burn. Has stories which feature each of the major races and from their you can get an idea of what you would like to read about most. The stories, being short, only give you what you need to know and not a lot of filler.

Actual stories I would say which are essentials to be read are the Eisenhorn series, Daemonworld and Storm of Iron.

Rugged_Seahorse wrote:
Just ordered the 15 hours book. Anyone got any novels for sale?

Check ebay as well - picked up a few as gaps i my now mighty collection

It also depends on what sort of books/ Narrative you enjoy

If you like the Sharpe Novels/ tv shows - Guants Ghosts is very similar

If you like something very dark, upping the horror element try the excellent Night Lords series by ADB or Deathwatch series by Steve Parker - the Genestealer Cult in the latter is really not nice and equally unpleasent are the Inqusiiton. Another good one to show how inhuman the Astartes can be is Wrathof Iron

The Cain books are perhaps my favourite - they still very much have dark parts but with an clever balance of humour and slightly mocking tone at the 40k universe - they also tend to invert alot of the standard 40k tropes - so like Guants Ghosts the Guard are actually effective and decent soldiers (well most of them), Inquisitors are not all Traitors (well nto all of them), and again like GG its not just war porn

If you like the Herioc style - then most of the Space Marine books are good, although they can vary quite a lot in style and quality.

Scheming and Poloitics mixed with a bit of torture and fighting - the Dark Eldar triology is a very good read. The Path of the Eldar trilogy is IMO ok but inferior to the latter in terms of characters - with the exception of a certain former Dark Eldar ship captain - she was cool.

That sounds great, a little something for everyones taste it seems. It seems this hobby had opened another door to my liking. I don't think I will be leaving this hobby anytime soon.

One of us...

Don't worry, you'll be Alpharius soon enough.