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Hey guys, I apologize if this has already been brought up but I haven't seen anything on this topic specifically.

I think the reason a lot of people (definitely myself) get so hooked by the game, is because of how rich the background and supporting fiction is and how much room there is for embellishment. I have a friend who loves to read and I want to get him interested in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

He has been really crushing on the Mad Max movie that just came out and has introduced me to a lot of excellent science fiction. I think he would really enjoy the grim-darkness of the far future, but I myself am not the most experienced with the Black Library collection. I know that the rise and fall of the Emperor and the Horus Heresy are really popular right now, and probably a great place to read a lot about the origins of the current 40k universe, but there are a lot of specific books in the Forge World collection.

What I want to know is, in your opinion, what are some of the best stand alone books in the Black Library collection, that would be good for people who are unfamiliar with the universe? If you are a player who got started off this way what was the book that brought you to 40k?

Anything by Dan Abnett.

Anything by Aaron Dembski-Bowden is great, Though the ones ive read are the Horus Heresy series. For 40k Dark Angels I really enjoyed the Legacy of Caliban Series by Gav Thorpe.

Know No Fear is a great book for an introduction I feel. Lots of action and lots of ultramarines getting killed ;D

the space Marine battle book Helsreach and Rynn's World are great fun, and I love both equally. in fact it's some of the first books I read from BL!