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.

I'm trying to get into Warhammer books, but there's about a hundred of them, and I've got no clue where to start. Are there any books/series/audio dramas that are friendly to newcomers? Or should I just jump into the deep end and pause to look up anything I don't understand about the background and lore?

Thanks

Eisenhorn trilogy is a really great start imho.

 Shadox wrote:
Eisenhorn trilogy is a really great start imho.

I agree with this.

Horus rising is another good starting point, the first Horus Heresy novel, it works well as a stand-alone.

deadguy wrote:
I'm trying to get into Warhammer books, but there's about a hundred of them, and I've got no clue where to start. Are there any books/series/audio dramas that are friendly to newcomers? Or should I just jump into the deep end and pause to look up anything I don't understand about the background and lore?

Thanks

I was in much the same boat.
If you dont have audible you can get audible trial and they have like all the BL novels.

I took the plundge with horus heresy books and am working my way up the series.
Up to prospero burns currently. Some are much better than others...

Dawn of Fire is another good starting place

Eisenhorn is a great starting point.

Beyond that it depends entirely on what you're interested in. If there's a faction in particular you like, then it's easy to give further recommendations.

most intimidating fantasy to get into, with a steep learning curve. in the end, its well worth the effort

I think read all the books of Warhammer 40,000, following the chronological order of the events (which isn't the chronological order of pubblication), is an operation of titanic proportions, so I suggest to do exactly what I'm doing: see these videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJkzZIAZK9vOsPiJ1Som4YLjuMFzLca, in order to have a good overview of the entire W40k lore (if you need that kind of recap) and then read the books about the subject is more interesting to you. To find out what book you should read I suggest these two sites: https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page and https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Warhammer_40k_Wiki, because their source sections are very well done.

I will add another vote here for Eisenhorn!

I'll be honest, Eisenhorn is a little too Good guy becomes evil ala, Breaking Bad for me. I personally hated them. Most of Abnett's other books are really good though. Gaunts Ghosts, Brothers of the Snake, (Which is hilarious to me being from Ithaca, NY and it being a SUPER liberal bastion) and others.

I might also suggest the Severina Raine book, but not as audio. The reader just is bad at conveying emotion. All her characters sound exactly the same.

Also the Custodes audiobooks are excellent if you like political intrigue and mystery?

What faction do you want to read about the most?

I’d also suggest Eisenhorn. It’s a great intro to the setting. Other then that probably whatever faction you’re interested in. I’m partial to the Ciaphas Cain novels. Mostly because of their humorous nature where everything is mostly e-x-t-r-e-m-l-y serious. I also really liked the book fire caste, it was so very very 40k. If you want to get a good feel for the setting then you really can’t go wrong with fire caste.

I'd suggest short stories, either bought alone or as compilations such as the now defunct Hammer and Bolter e-magazine, or the still running Inferno! anthology series.

Short stories allow you to see across the length and breadth of Warhammer. After that you can then further investigate what ever caught your fancy.

The Cain books are a great throw back to the penny dreadfuls of olden times, where the good guy wins and gets the girl, and does amazing stuff that can't actually happen. Great fun books. 10/10. Then you have super edgy grim daaaark books like the Eisenhorn series, where no one ever has sex, wins, or becomes even slightly good. Everything is dark, mean, and angry. But a single guy does take down a FULLY AUTOMATED WARLORD TITAN, as in equipped with an AI.

(https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Cruor_Vult) by pointing his pet Daemon at it and having it attack it. That daemon on the table is not able to take down warlord titans, and will likely die before it's second turn.

Horus Heresy is very good series, my favourites are Mechanicum and Thousand Sons.

Rynn's World was very good on 40K settings, maybe because it was my first. If you like mechanicus I recommend strongly Forges of Mars Omnibus.

As you can see I like Graham McNeill's books.