[Fluff] Best 40k Books I.

[CRasterImage]

I agree with Takashi_Kurita. Abnett is a few levels above the rest.

[Takashi_Kurita]

The only McNiel book I've read is "Dead Sky, Black Sun."

It was... meh. The imagery and descriptions in the book were absolutely grotesque, trippy as hell, and in a few parts actually made me kind of nauseated as I tried to visualize the scenes he was describing.

So, it had that going for it in terms of novelty and shock value, it certainly got my attention. But it suffered from very shallow, simple characters and from excessive repetitiveness. Plus, frankly, I got tired of how over and over they were caught and dead at some utterly horrific Chaos Daemon's mercy, and yet they somehow managed to survive because it had some contrived reason for keeping them alive, rather than instantly consuming thier flesh and devouring thier souls.

So, my one exposure to McNiel's writing hasn't left me terribly impressed. Perhaps "Nightbringer" and "Warriors of Ultramar" might be a little better. I'll try to at least skim through them next time I'm at the bookstore.

I guess I should say that Matt Farrer is okay, so far. I've only read Crossfire, but I found that while it wasn't quite as moving and interesting as the Gaunt novels or Eisenhorn, I did notice that Farrer made an effort to really flesh out the day-to-day society of the Imperium, it's culture, people's habits, and the sorts of duties and struggles that somebody as ordinary as a mere cop would have in enforcing the law. Though Calpurnia herself struck me as another cookie-cutter character, the story and setting around her was fairly interesting, and some of the arguements that she has with Ecclesiarchy personell were interesting to read. It certainly showed the very nasty, ugly side of the Imperial Faith, such a huge contrast with the positively glowing, hopeful impression of it that one is left with after reading the Ghost novels.


I suppose eventually I'll pick up Legacy and Blind, just to see what else happens to her.

[Hodgeh MkII]

Caves of Ice is crap.

[Takashi_Kurita]

Have got:

All the Ghost books
Double Eagle
Eisenhorn
Ravenor
Crossfire
Soul Drinker
The Bleeding Chalice
Space Wolf
Ragnar's Claw
Grey Hunter
Wolfblade
The Last Chancers (omnibus)
Fire Warrior

Dead Sky, Black Sun was checked out from the local library, believe it or not.

[KhorneBerzerker]

I'm reading Ravenor, and I'm enjoying it. It's taking my awhile, I don't read much at home, I get most of it done in school, we don't read as much in High School as we did in Middle School Apparently. I'll probably finish it this weekend, only have about 60 pages left.

One part I thought was creepy was Zael's dreams. They kind of freaked me out . .

[Takashi_Kurita]

I was kind of dissapointed with Ravenor. Not with the quality of the writing, but with the subject matter.

I mean, basically, it was a story about a Drug Bust. How boring. If I wanted to read about 40k police I'd pick up one of the Shira Calpurnia novels.

So, Abnett lets me down every one in a while. But not too often.

[Fire and Steel]

It was certainly a change of pace from Eisenhorn but I wasnt dissapointed. I kind of liked the change up.

My 40K library (it is small unfortunatly, I'm trying to build it up)
Dan Abnett:
The Guns of Tanith
Straight Silver (my first 40K book ever)
Sabbat Martyr
Traitor General
His Last Command
Double Eagle
Eisenhorn
Ravenor
Horus Rising

Others:
Let the Galaxy Burn

And I should be getting the second Horus Heresy book False Gods from amazon soon (I hope so at least).

But, as you can see I've really only read Dan Abnett's works. I liked what he did so I wasnt eager to try out other authors right away. I'm trying that now though.

[Lothar777]

Finishing Dead Sky Black Sun and I agree it has the most disgusting imagery from the Ultramarines trilogy but with good reason. I mean we are dealing with Chaos and the charecterizations of the Iron Warriors and Meddengard are all I usually expect from Chaos so it would make sense, for me anyway, that there are people letting the renegades live just for the sake of doing so to torture them later. Typical Bond villain weakness that fits in with The Iron Warrior's cunning sadism.

Read Nigthbringer if your in the mood for intrique and Warriors of Ultramar if you want action.

[Takashi_Kurita]

Meh. I'll pass, thanks. There's better Sci-Fi out there that clamors for my attention.

[KhorneBerzerker]

I have to agree with the Drug Bust Subject though, then again, what else do inquisitors do in Warhammer? Track down Cults and kill things, that's pretty much it.

[Jukebox Joe]

Reading Warriors of Ultramar, just finished reading about the first major Tyranid assault. Probably the best action sequence I've ever read in a book, I loved it. Damn Carnifex...

[Jivebologna]

I'm reading Tempest right now... so that geezer Sturnn was a captain, but was promoted to general in the field? And Goto pulled that 'Taldeer is from Biel-Tan' out of his ass, just so he could needlessly bring Macha back into the story?

Honestly, when people say that GW approves all WH literature, do they mean that they simply give permission to write the book? It seems like they allow a number of glaring game/fluff conflicts to slip through in each and every one of Goto's books. All I can guess is that they simply don't read his books...

[Andkat]

My guess is that some bored or detached accountant or office drone glances at the title and promptly proceeds to check it off and forge Gav Thorpe's signature on it.

[KhorneBerzerker]

I almost bought the first book in the Horus Rising a few days ago, but it looked like someone had read it in the Store, it was really Beaten and torn.

[Hodgeh MkII]

Those of you who say that 'Ravenor' feels merely like an extended drug bust, go out a read 'Ravenor Returned' post-haste.

Much is explained, much more is created.

[eleveninches]

I just finished reading Galaxy in flames on the weekend, so im taking it back to the library today.

IMHO, from best to worst in the HH series so far:

1.Galaxy in flames
2.False Gods
3.Horus Rising

I didnt have time to read orcslayer, but im going to re-read the entire gotrek and felix saga before renting Orcslayer out again.

[Azulsky]

Fogive my ignorance, what books can you get that talk about the Tau, or rather the Damocles crusade.

Or something about the Ultramarines, they seem like a particularly spirited bunch, after what they have been through.

[Takashi_Kurita]

Well, the Damocles Crusade isn't mentioned very much, mostly because it was pretty minor, as Crusades go.

The books that the Tau make appearance in, though, are:

Codex: Tau
Codex: Tau Empire
Kill Team
Fire Warrior

I think that's pretty much it. Of those, only the Codexes directly talk about the Damocles Crusade. Kill Team mentions it in passing only, and Fire Warrior's events are indirectly influenced by the events of the Crusade.

[Andkat]

Do any tomes of entertainment in pertinence to the First War for Armageddon exist? I find the actions and feats undertaken within said conflict to be most compelling.

I've finished Galaxy in Flames. A solid text overall, and generally excellent. However, the final sections appeared to have been concluded with excessive promptness, resulting in the occasional linguistic awkwardness or character/sequential blandness or quirk. However, these quibbles and flaws tend to be relatively minor, and overall I would heartily reccomend Galaxy in Flames to avid readers of 40k literary media.

I have also endeavoured to assess and utilize Angles of Darkness. Whilst I have concluded a very minor portion of the tome, I've already deciphered some compelling content. Like the fact that the interrogation undertaken by the Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain upon that most unfortunate of Fallen Dark Angels appears to paralell numerous Relic GD debates quite extensively!

[Lothar777]

Fogive my ignorance, what books can you get that talk about the Tau, or rather the Damocles crusade.

Or something about the Ultramarines, they seem like a particularly spirited bunch, after what they have been through.

Azul if you want Ultramarines pick up the Ultramarines Omnibus containing all three adventures of Ultramarines 4th company captain Uriel Ventris plus the short story he was first introduced in. As for Tau I think they fight the Last Chancers Penal Legion in their book. I hear Firewarrior is'nt to bad of a read also.

[Divinatus]

Hey everyone. I'd just like to ask, what exactly is the name of the third blood Ravens novel? and did they come out with "His last command"? I've been out of touch with WH books for quite awhile, so don't be surprised if I don't know if it was re;eased yesterday or last year.

Ave Imperator.


EDIT His last command is the last Gaunts Ghosts, methinks.

[Jukebox Joe]

The Tau are in 'For The Emperor' as well I think. Haven't got it yet so not sure how much coverage they actually get

[SteveO86]

Yea His Last Command is out, Armour of Contempt has exactly been released. Third blood Ravens if you mean the Dawn of War series then the name is Dawn of War Tempest.

[Shoota Fodder]

Takashi Kurita - For The Emperor by Sandy Mitchil has a lot of stuff about tau in it. Well not a lot but still has tau in it.

Edit- Damn this thread is long!

[88_Chevy]

i have a number of 40k books and they are all very good:

The Eisenhorn Omnibus
The Ultramarines Ominbus
Grey Knights
Dark Adeptus (same series as Grey Knights
Ravenor
Ravenor Returned (same series as Ravenor)

The one thing about the ravenor series, its my least favorite so far but still work the purchase.

[Lothar777]

Important question:

You think Gaunt's Ghost will ever be reprinted as an omnibus series or re-released collection?

[Robert Frazer]

Well, Lothar, there already have been two Gaunt's Ghosts compendiums, incorporating the first two "cycles" of the regiment's history, as Abnett describes it:

The Founding - First and Only; Ghostmaker; Necropollis.

The Saint - Honour Guard; Guns of Tanith; Straight Silver; Sabbat Martyr

I hear that the final four novels (Traitor General; His Last Command; Armour of Contempt; and THE LAST BOOK!!!!eleventy11shift1one) will be collected under the heading of "The Lost".

[SteveO86]

Actually they are releasing "The Founding" in papaerback toward the beginning of next year and so far I have not found anywhere to get the Hard back versions....but yes Robert is correct about the name and what they contain, as far as getting a hold of them good luck I haven't found anything yet but I know they releasing "The Founding" in paper back... http://www.bordersstores.com/search/...chType=Keyword I was trying to find those 2 in hard back as I haven't gotten around to the series yet but they start reprinting if they release "The Lost" in hardback.

[Mirehn_Bielann]

and THE LAST BOOK!!!!eleventy11shift1one)

Heretic! Blasphemous Fiend! Where did you hear such ridiculous information? How can Gaunt's Ghosts end?

*inner child dies a little bit*

Let's see... what 40k books do I have... It's about time I've done a catalogue

Liber Chaotica
Xenology
Insignium Astartes
The Horus Heresy Vol III: Visions of Treachery
Eisenhorn Trilogy (Xenos, Malleus, Hereticus)
Ultramarines Trilogy (Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky Black Sun)
The Inquisition War Trilogy(Draco, Harlequin, Chaos Child)
Let the Galaxy Burn
Ravenor
Ravenor Returned
Deathwing
Farseer
Soul Drinker
First and Only
Ghost Maker
Necropolis
Honour Guard
The Guns of Tanith
Straight Silver
Sabbat Martyr
Traitor General
His Last Command
Conquest of Armageddon
Horus Rising
False Gods
Galaxy in Flames
Grey Knights
Dark Adeptus
Faith & Fire
The Art of Warhammer 40,000

Plans to Add:
Soul Drinker Omnibus
History of the Later Imperial Crusades
The Armour of Contempt
Ravenor Rogue
The Horus Heresy Vol I, II, and IV
The Inquisition
The Sabbat Worlds Crusade
The Flight of the Eisenstein

My favorite book/books is the Eisenhorn Trilogy. Xenos, Malleus, and Hereticus are amazing works of 40k literature and I suggest everyone pick them up. They are Dan Abnett's best works. I also love His Last Command, Sabbat Martyr, and Necropolis. Ravenor and Ravenor Returned were also great (are we noticing a trend here...), and I can't wait for Ravenor Rogue!

[Cornbread]

Are the Armageddon books worth checking out? I've been tearing through the GG series, which is great, but I'm getting a little tired of just hot, sweaty IG on Chaos action.

[relicsucksmya55]

Well when will the hardback versions be released? I cant wait much longer.

[Wargamer Scott]

Are there any 40K novels that deal with the Necrons or the Tau? I know very little about both races and would like to learn more.

[Full_ork]

Caves of Ice has orks, guard and Necron's I believe.

Fire warrior exists for Tau, but I've heard while it's better then the game, it isn't that great, havn't read it myself though.

[Wargamer Scott]

Thanks for the recommendations. After playing Dark Crusade, I found both the Tau and Necrons to be very interesting. Shame that there aren't more novels that have them as the bad guys.

[Eisenhund]

Yes, Caves of Ice is about the Guard, specifically Ciaphas Cain vs Orks and an, "Oh dear me, Necrons!" Oh, and it is a short novel. Damn you Sandy Mitchell! Write more and longer! In case one can't tell, I am rather fond of Ciaphas novels.

[TBG_Zeratul]

I Have...


Own:

Fire Warrior
Let the Galaxy Burn
Horus Rising
False Gods
Galaxy in Flames
Nightbringer
Warriors of Ultamar
Dead Sky, Black Sun
Xenos
Malleus
Hereticus
13 Legion
Kill Team
Annihilation Squad
Warrior Brood
Warrior Coven
Dawn of War
Dawn of War: Ascesion
Dawn or War: Tempest
First and Only
Grey Knights

Wants:

Souldrinkers Omnibus
Gaunts Ghosts: the Founding
Double Eagle
Ravenor
The next Grey Knights book
Space Wolf : The First Omnibus
Eldar Prophecy
The Flight of the Eisenstein
Fulgrim

[Robert Frazer]

After playing Dark Crusade, I found both the Tau and Necrons to be very interesting. Shame that there aren't more novels that have them as the bad guys.

Well, I wouldn't be giving away any spoilers to tell you that the Necrons play a significant role in CS Goto's Dawn of War: Ascension, which accompanies Winter Assault although it details a side-story rather than the events in the game itself.

Simon Spurrier's Fire Warrior - the game may have been an aberration but I found the book to be enjoyable - features the Tau as heroes - if you want to read an adventure where they're the foe, then the only real volume available is Kill Team, the middle volume of Gav Thorpe's Last Chancers trilogy. It isn't a sterling example of fine literary merit, but it is important because it's one of our few sources for what Tau culture and civilisation is like beyond the battlefield.

Heretic! Blasphemous Fiend! Where did you hear such ridiculous information? How can Gaunt's Ghosts end?

I don't have my back issues with me so I can't quote an exact issue, but a White Dwarf advertising feature on the Black Library around about the time that Traitor General was released included a statement that The Lost was going to be the final cycle. That was some time ago, though, and it's possible that Abnett has revised his opinion since then - Bernard Cornwell only intended for there to be eleven Sharpe novels (a land equivalent to Hornblower), and yet he's just published his twentieth! There aren't that many Tanith left, though...

It must have been something that they were meaning to keep under wraps but which accidentally slipped past the copy editor - no-one has since whispered a conspiratorial syllable about it, but that selfsame article also claimed that oh my Lord I've heard gunshots armed men are forcing their way in i've thrown the cupboard down over the door but theyve brought up a sledgehammer theresnotimebutthe article said that Gaulpoi[p\';;;;;;;;;nm';;;;;hgjhgkmtul;/;//////////

[TBG_Zeratul]

Also rouge star have the Tau in it.

[Bedlam]

Ciaphas Cain, despite criticisms, always has a close place at my heart. The lighter side of 40k.

[Azara]

Compedium mm?

Lord of the Nght - Simon Spurrier
Caves of Ice - Sandy Mitchell
For the Emperor - Sandy Mitchell
The Traitors Hand - Sandy Mitchell
Death or Glory - Sandy Mitchell
Sabbat Martyr - Dan Abnett
Honour Guard - Dan Abnett
Traitor General - Dan Abnett
Faith and Fire - James Swallow
The Last Chancers Trilogy (13th Legion, Kill Team, Annihilation Squad) - Gav Thorpe
The Ultramarines Omnibus (Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky Black Sun) - Graham McNeill
Iron Hands - Jonathan Green
Xenology - Simon Spurrier
Ravenor - Dan Abnett
Ravenor Returned - Dan Abnett
Storm of Iron - Graham McNeill
Ragnars Claw - William King
Grey Hunter - William King
Wolfblade - William King
Farseer - William King
Fifteen Hours - Mitchel Scanlon
Pawns of Chaos - Brian Craig
Crucible of War - Marc Gascoigne + Christian Dunn

Horus Rising - Dan Abnett
False Gods - Graham McNeill
Galaxy in Flames - Ben Counter


Should have 1 other collection of short stories book somewhere but i cant seem to find it.

Also i may as well add the warhammer books i have

The Vampire Genevieve (Drachenfels, Genevieve Undead, Beasts in Velvet, Silver Nails) - Jack Yeovil
Necromancer - Jonathan Green
Inheritance - Steven Savile

I know those 3 books arent 40k but i figured since i added all the 40k ones i might as well add these 3 as a sort of postscript.

Note - I have found that Warhammer novels are not really as...gripping as 40k novels, the genevieve books were a bit dry i thought (no pun intended), inheritance a bit simply written, as if it was for someone with basic understanding of english/dolts, necromancer was the only book which i would deem good to be honest, though it is a bit...actionless as well. *shrug*

[Bedlam]

I think the main seperating points between Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 is scale. You either have a few ratty villages were some nobodies die of a plague, perhaps or perhaps not perpetuated by Chaos cultists, or a galaxy wide Imperium where billions die daily to the laughter of thirsting gods.

Warhammer books are more adventure oriented, and focused on central characters, whereas 40,000 encompassses planets, armies, and countless eons of history, giving it a much more grand scale. This does not mean that Warhammer Fantasy lacks merit.

Some good WHF Books:
Konrad Saga-pulls of grim and dark very nicely, unlike some other books. Chaos is truly terrifying, and manages to be even more sinister than that galaxy wide force in Warhammer 40,000

Gotrek and Felix- Combination of lighthearted adventure story with a few gothic elements interspersed inbetween, it's comedic and tragic all at once.

Darkblade Books- Starts off badly, I can honestly say I didn't like the first book, but it gets better as you go on.

[Andkat]

I concluded Angels of Darkness. It's quite a compelling tome, but not without it's flaws. Some of Astellan's arguements and points are overly and evidently self-defeating, critically flawed, or overly impotent. In addition, the overall course of events late-mid/late tome tends to be so incredibly opposed to the competence of the Dark Angels, it renders one to pity or percieve Boreas and his squad as pathetic, rather than regarding them as properly potent, albeit flawed, warriors as Thorpe probably intended. Some character development could have been used for a couple of other Marines, and the fight sequences are rather tedious, for they have an aggravating propensity to amount to a couple of Space Marines slaughtering dozens of decently equipped humans with utter impunity.

Despite this, the tome is quite intriguing at times, and some of the final conjectures/revelations/etc. in pertinence to the Dark Angels are both deserving of merit and fairly profound. And the action, whilst focusing on Marine-based genocide for the most part, remains quite entertaining compared to most Black Library fare.

[spazzzz100]

i am reading the ultramarine omnibus and it is GREAT wat do u think also i will read warriors brood any comments :hmmm:

[Lothar777]

Just finished Ultramarines today. Can't wait for the next book in the series whenever that will be. I'm going to start reading the Horus Heresy now.

[Ermac]

Well after reading the DoW books and playing the game i can admit that C.S Goto has screwed it up beyond repair. But at this point i am only willing to consider the games as canon and disregard any thing Goto says in his books.

[esty]

Galaxy in flames is the best of the three IMO, it has inspired me to colleect Emperor's Children!!

I've read Nightbringer so I think i will read the rest of the Ultramarines books(i used to collect them)

[Mirehn_Bielann]

it has inspired me to colleect Emperor's Children!!

I hope you mean loyalist Emperor Children (foul heretics...).

Oh! Here's something that's extremely awesome!!!! I can't wait! It turns out there are going to be MORE books in the Horus Heresy series and it doesn't end with The Eisenstein in Flight

Oh! Praise the Emperor for He is Good!

Link to News!!!!!

EDIT: CRAP! That means I'm going to have to make MORE room on my bookshelf... Damn it, who has to go now...

SELF-EDIT: Frazer didn't approve of my comment about Goto, so this is a self-edit.

[Fire and Steel]

I thought that the authors that wrote the first Horus Heresy books were supposed to return to finish the series. So, I dont think they'd let someone who hasnt worked on it do it.

I know Dan Abnett is supposed to be working on another one.

[Azara]

Well i talked to a GW employer in one of their shops and according to him they are going to try and get as many of the Black Library authors as they can to contribute to the Horus Heresy series....yes that does include C.S.Goto but
1. We dont knowif EVERY author will get a piece of the cake
and
2. C.S.Goto will write a lot better if he does participate in the HH series, after-all this is "probably" the most important series they have in the works at the moment, as such it is unlikely that they will screw things up.

[Eisenhund]

It's not really that C.S. Goto is worse or better than any other author really, it's his disregard for Fluff or universe integrity. Now, considering how big WH40K is, I can see that following fluff all the time isn't always possible. This is especially so when trying to further a story. It's just that at times, when an author does deviate from the established conditions, mythology, and content of a universe, is smacks of disrespect. I suspect this is why people consciously or unconsciously take umbrage from such actions. Of course, if you are slightly compulsive, obsessive, or worse yet, obsessive perfectionist, this can really yank your nose, but oh well.