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Just finished re-reading Eisenhorn/Ravenor. Are there any similar works in Black Library?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User



Nottingham

Both are absolutely incredible series. I have read them before but for some reason they really resonated with me.

There are a lot of Black Library books nowadays, and I'm wary of buying some at random until I find one I like. I should say that I have also read Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts books and they are also awesome, but his take on the "civilian" side of 40k lore is what I really enjoy. I have tried other Black Library authors but they were really, really bad.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut




The Enforcer trilogy perhapse? I never read it, but it's supposed to be very good. It's focused on the Adeptus Arbites. One of the very few books with a female lead character too. There is several Necromunda books that could be good, but I never read them either.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/12/14 17:28:54


 
   
Made in gb
Battleship Captain




If you want a good 'inquisitor' novel, Carrion Throne or Atlas Infernal are both very good.

Also, if you haven't read any of the below, they are all other ravenor or eisenhorn novels or novellas:

Pariah
The Keeler Image
The Magos
Master Imus' Transgression
Thorn And Talon
Backcloth For A Crown Additional
Missing In Action
Regia Occulta

Termagants expended for the Hive Mind: ~2835
 
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User



Nottingham

Thanks I shall check out Carrion Throne/Atlas Inferno.

   
Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





Earth

No, the Eisenhorn series is entirely unique in 40k fiction, a lot try to emulate it but ultimately fail, every other series has big highs and lows but none have the same consistency as that series.
   
Made in us
Hellish Haemonculus






Boskydell, IL

If what attracted you to Eisenhorn/Ravenor is the focus being on everyday life in the Imperium as opposed to the battlefields of the IG and the Space Marines, then there are a couple others you might like.

The Shira Calpurnia series (Crossfire, Legacy and Blind by Matthew Farrer, gathered in the Enforcer omnibus). More of a cop drama than the Inquisition drama, but still largely focused on civilian affairs and investigation.

Scourge the Heretic by Sandy Mitchell is another good one. It's also focused on an Inquisitorial retinue, so there's some familiarities there you might enjoy.

There's several good short stories out there focused more on the "little people" in the 41st Millennium, so you might like that too.

Welcome to the Freakshow!

(Leadership-shenanigans for Eldar of all types.) 
   
Made in us
Prescient Cryptek of Eternity





East Coast, USA

Prospero Burns is nice because it shows the Heresy Era Space Wolves through the eyes of a late in his career scholar who has decided to "retire" to Fenris to study the Space Wolves. It's a really solid book where you as the reader know a lot of things that the main character doesn't. It's also written by Abnett, who also wrote the Eisenhorn books.

Honestly, just read anything by Abnett. His stuff is pretty solid.

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Completed Trades With: ultraatma 
   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Kriswall wrote:
Honestly, just read anything by Abnett. His stuff is pretty solid.


I must admit that Abnett greatest strength is world building. In his later Gaunt's Ghost novels, there is a lot about life in the guard outside of combat and about civilians living around and with them.
   
Made in gb
Leader of the Sept







Double Eagle is awesome as a 40s war story Take on the 40k universe. Plenty of civilian input in that.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/12/14 21:28:21


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Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka






Inquisitor[]I/ / [I]Draco by Ian Watson is pretty good, too. Don't worry about the details - it's over twenty years and seven editions old, so some things don't fit with the current setting - but it gets the feel of 40k excellently.
   
Made in gb
Junior Officer with Laspistol




Manchester, UK

Give the Ciaphas Cain books a go. I never recommend them as an entry point, but after having a founding in other works they make more sense. They are a bit of a lighter counterpoint that plays off the standard feel of the universe. Absolutely not for everyone but definitely a good series if you can get into it.

The Tvashtan 422nd "Fire Leopards" - Updated 19/03/11

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Made in us
Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'




Alaska

 Jimsolo wrote:
The Shira Calpurnia series (Crossfire, Legacy and Blind by Matthew Farrer, gathered in the Enforcer omnibus). More of a cop drama than the Inquisition drama, but still largely focused on civilian affairs and investigation.

The Shira Calpurnia books were my favorites for a long time.

The Carrion Throne was also very good, as has already been mentioned.

YELL REAL LOUD AN' CARRY A BIG CHOPPA! 
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

Dead Men Walking is a combination of a "war is hell" story with a 70's disaster story. When the inhabitants of a hive world come under attack by the Necrons, they must find a way to flee or join forces with allies every bit as faceless and inhuman as the Necrons themselves.

The Carrion Throne is the bleakest look at life in the Imperium yet, while also exploring Terra and the intrigues that form between Inquisitors. Guest starring the Custodes.

The Macharius trilogy is more light hearted. It follows the lives of a few lucky grunts who remain close to Macharius through much of his crusade, with a few Godfather 2 flashbacks to their civilian lives along the way. The series starts really strong(ly) but the third books feels rushed or badly edited.


   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

I enjoyed the Enforcer trilogy a lot, Double Eagle, and the Gothic War books. I also liked the Bastion Wars series by Henry Zhou.

Avoid the Dark Heresy tie-in novels. Just.... not good.

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Made in ca
Stone Bonkers Fabricator General






Inquisition War by Ian Watson.

 
   
Made in se
Willing Inquisitorial Excruciator






I share your enthusiasm for the civil side of 40k. Here’s some recommendations for what few civil 40k books I’ve come across.

Necromunda books are the most obvious. Here’s my top three:
Salvation. My favorite necromunda novel. Follow a munitorum scribe in his daily life untill events force him on an adventure raging from the top to the bottom of the hive.

Lamplighter. An underhive technician who works with keeping lights working. Lots of underhive politics at play.

Kale Jericho series. Mostly here for their lengths and influence. Gives plenty of insight into how 40k nobility work.

That’s it for necromunda. Next up I’d recommend enforcer, the Shria Calpurcia series.

Next, and probably the best sourced is the Dark Heresy rulebook. Primarily first edition. Has just so much stuff on civilian 40k life that it’s not even funny.

Lastly a reccomendation of a war novel. Fire Caste. I mention it because it’s just so 40k. Probably the most 40k book I’ve read after Eisenhorn.



His pattern of returning alive after being declared dead occurred often enough during Cain's career that the Munitorum made a special ruling that Ciaphas Cain is to never be considered dead, despite evidence to the contrary. 
   
Made in us
Aspirant Tech-Adept






There's a shorty called "The strange demiseof titus endor" you may want to read. It's an eisenhourn novel sans the character but still definitely in the eisenhorn series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144139-the-strange-demise-of-titus-endor

The story can be an extremely emotional experience for some, as it is a very thinly veiled reference to an all to real horror that many people have experienced or seen a loved one succumb to.

Speaking of emotional, if you're an eisenhorn fan this will hit you a little.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/01/05 12:47:07


"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." Jesse "the mind" Ventura. 
   
Made in ru
Fresh-Faced New User





If you are looking for some Abnett-style civilian-centred novels, then from my experience I would recommend Sandy Mitchell´s Ciaphas Cain series. Not the same as Eisenhorn books, but definetely not a usual story about some overpowerd superhuman marines either. Note that it´s also a somehow lighter version of a 40k story, so it can be either an advantage or a disadvantage - depends on your taste.

The first book of the Horus Heresy series - Horus Rising - by Abnett himself also has some "small people" in it . I liked it a lot, because on the contrast with "small people" the other supernatural parts of the 40k lore look more vivid.

Btw, the picture in the post above is awesome! I remember it touched me a lot when I saw it first time after finishing reading the books.

 
   
 
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