Gotta get people to read their 200 page core rule book somehow! But yeah I agree, one of the few fictional universes that has realised it's potential I think.
The novels are so dark and twisted that it isn't good for your mental health to hit them too hard. The Word Bearers Omnibus is the scariest thing I ever read out of thousands of books I've read. It's something I wish I could unread. Path of the Dark Eldar as well.
I didn’t know anything about Warhammer until I randomly download and played Boltgun. The universe peaked my interest which subsequently led me to playing Inquisitor. Had such a blast with that one and it motivated me to start looking up lore via UA-cam. I just recently picked up Space Marine 2 and Chaos Gate and now here I am looking for a starting point for solid reading material lol. This universe has got me hooked now.
I would recommend Space Wolf book it starts as a book about vikings and though the plot you and the main character Ragnar slowly learn about the wider universe.
I have heard great things about the space Wolves omnibus, I havnt read it but from what I've heard it is a fantastic first Warhammer book, great suggestion!
@@BenjaminsBookclubwilliam king was a founding father of the lore for 40k. His books are the quintessential entry point to 40k. He also created Gotrek and Felix , something that would pull any reader into fantasy . Very world building, very excellent.
started my 40k journey with the space wolf book a month ago and i’m about to finish reading the last book of the series 😅😂 definitely a great place to start.
I’m a go out on a limb and say all of the books in the black library are incredible. I am reading 4 books at the time. The 12th book in the Horus Heresy, a sisters of battle book, one on the Aeldari, and a book about the Assassins. To be honest I don’t watch T.V. anymore, because there is no need. I enjoy your channel and it is on point. I hope you continue to grow. Also I am observing the books on your shelf in the background. I will be getting them. I just finished a Carharadons novel it was incredible.
Thanks so much! It means a lot! I would say 99% of the Black Library books I've read have been great, only a few I didn't enjoy, high up is The Beast Arises series, I really didn't enjoy those books, I read, like 6 or 7 I think. My warhammer books have expanded beyond whats behind me there, and overflown into a second bookshelf off camera, I have another like 15 that didn't fit there :D
Thank you so much! I've become a fan after Space Marine 2 so this is gold! Really appreciate this mate. I'm starting with The First Heretic and will move on to the first 3 books of the HH but will definitely get cracking on your recommendations after
The First Heretic is the first part of what I consider the best three Hours Heresy books, I'd say if you read First Heretic then continue onto Know No Fear and then Betrayer before moving on to others, those three are the bomb.
I havn't read Day of Ascension yet but Im so excited to get to it. I loved Infinite and the Divine, but i think it's a pretty bad book to start with, it relies on a lot of background info without really explaining it very well, absolute banger of a book though
Like many recently, space marine 2 got me intrested in the universe, though ive known the name warhammer 40k and seen images of the various space marines i didnt know anything else outside of that, what i found intresting was when you mentioned how rare they are where a normal soldier might never see one in their life it added so much context to the reveal trailer of space marine 2 a couple years ago when the soldiers kneeld to them, but specifically when the one said in a whisper "his angels" in awe, now it makes so much more sense why his reaction was like that
Yeah I suspect it's a double edged sword, being a guardsmen when space marines show up. On one hand, there's incredible super soldiers at your location. On the other, someone decided there needed to be incredible super soldiers at your location. Judging on how many encounters in space marine 2 start with a bunch of guardsmen around Titus when the fighting starts, and end with none of them around anymore,,, my money's on it being bad news when the space marines show up haha.
Just started my 40k journey this month. I had stayed away for a long time because of how complicated it seemed but finally decided the universe just looked to fantastic and had to dive in. Found a book that seemed interesting called “The Talon of Horus” and I’m really enjoying so far at the half way point.
One of my all time favorites, will be making an appearance in a video in the next week or so! Aaron Dempski Bowdan is my favourite Warhammer universe. Book 2 of that series Black Legion is out now as well.
I read the Night Lords omnibus earlier this year and not only is it now my favorite set of 40k books they're some of my favorite books period. One of my favorite things the books do is switch perspective to a random Imperium person and hype them up. Start describing them as this great veteran that's fought for the Imperium for the longest time. Nearly half a chapter focused on them...and then they're killed by our "heroes" without any fanfare because they are worthless to the Night Lords. Just one more thing to kill for fun, one more notch on their bolter, or one more head to hang off their armor.
ADB does a fantastic job of making you care and enjoy spending time with these characters, only to immediately remind you that they are reprehensibly evil at times. The night lords trilogy is in my top 10 sci fi books of all time, I loved them so much, and I can't wait for ADB to write book 3 of the Black Legion trilogy.
I still have my first novel "Space Marine" from Ian Watson, that was an excellent introduction to the chapters as you follow three boys as they are recruited and become marines. that being said I am Guard player/fan and as such my favourite 40k novel is Gunheads, with the Cain Novels a close second.
Thank you for this list. I luckily got the Eisenhorn omnibus and Night Lords as my first books before watching this. Looking forward to reading them. Your descriptions have also sold me on the rest of your suggestions. As a newcomer, thank you!!
All great suggestions, though I haven't read them all yet, myself! I'd also recommend the Grey Knights Omnibus, which was a really fun read and one of my favorites of the Space Marine focused offerings.
So I do have the Grey Knight Omnibus, and the Aaron Dempski Bowdan Grey Knight Novel, the reason I havnt read them is I know that if I liked them I will buy a Grey Knights army, and my pile of Shane is huge already haha.
Awesome! Thanks so much for watching! I can't wait for space marine 2, although I am super sad the Orks arnt in it, whenever I think of space marine I just think "Spaaaccshh marrinnneee"
As someone who immersed myself in fantasy Warhammer for decades, but kept 40k at arm's length, ( still butthurt Dwarves didn't make it tbh ), this video is extremely helpful for me to start dipping my toes in. Thank you.
A good long run of Dan Abnett! I think after Eisenhorn and Ghosts you're really well set up to jump anywhere, the heresy is a great call! I recommend the first four in order, and then jumping around to different storylines that interest you.
There are so many good books and I thonk the choice of the video is quite good. Chaos: Fabius Bile and the Talon of Horus Series are amazing. Khan and Ahriman 1 is good. Imperial Guard: baneblade and shadowsword are good and anbit difficult 13th hours Warhammer citizens: i am in love with the warhammer crime books Custodes: the books of chris wright Inquisition: ravenor after finishing eisenhorn and the throne of terra (?) from chris wright Knights: the first book is okay Space marines: dante, devastation of baal, rynns world, legacy of dorn, helsreach, deathwatch are my favorites and the comic of marneus calgar. Past marines: horus heresy but the quality went up and down Sororitas: faith and fire, hammer and anvil and celestine Tau: faraight Aeldari: path of the eldar, jain zar Orks: brutal kunnin Genestealer: day of ascension Necrons: the infinite and the devine and twice dead king Others: rites of passage, the adeptus mechanicus trilogy
This is a fantastic list! Ahriman, Fabius Bile & Infinite and Divine are all super high on my TBR list. I loved Dante & Detestation of Baal, and the only reason Helsreach isn't on this list is because I forgot about it, oops.
I stirred up the black Templar hive, so many comments point out I missed Helsreach 😂. I genuinely just forgot about it when making the list as I don't own the physical book haha, worst part is black Templars are my main army I'm painting these days haha. Such a fantastic book, one of the best, have you seen the fan film of it too? It's also brilliant?
@@readupcaveman yup watched it a while after listening to the Helsreach audiobook, started listening to Brothers of the Snake because of this video tho
The Cain books are hilarious, and still get good action and emotional beats in as well, I should go back and continue the series, I think I'm up to book 5.
Night Lords is one of the best omnibuses. Aaron Dembski-Bowden is my second favorite 40k author after Ben Counter. The Grey Knights and Soul Drinkers Omnibuses are to me anyway, the very best of all of the Omnibuses.
@@LeontiusInvictus Ive heard the latest Dark Angels novel is excelent, Lion Son of the Forest. I havn't got to it yet though! Never too late to find something you enjoy!
I read 1 - 4 of The HH and really enjoyed it. When I got to 5, I have to admit that I don't really find Fulgrim or the Emperor's Children / Iron Hands plotline that interesting. Thx for giving me some ideas for a new direction.
I loved Fulgrim, but I think it's a story you have to have some buy into the emperor's children going in, probably not gonna make a lover out of someone that doesn't already like the Legion. Cheers!
I loved that book, as I think I said in the video, my faveorite introduction to space marines. Spear of the Emperor is a fantastic book, Aaron Dempski Bowdan is hands down my favourite black library author
Thanks for the kind words! It's always a struggle giving away enough information to make the book seem exciting, without giving away too much! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
I started my journey into the Warhammer books with Helsreach! I have have about 5 hours to go and I haven't torn through a 16 hour book so fast in a while! I growl "GRIMALDUS" during the day just for fun now.
The only reason Helsreach isn't on this list, is I forgot it existed, which is heretical, I love that book. What's worse is Black Templars are my main army in the miniatures game ha
@@BenjaminsBookclub It was a great listen! I was on the edge the entire ending unsure if Grimaldus would survive! Another YT comment shared the fan work video that is on YT. It's 2 and 1/2 hours long and I only watched the first bit last night but it seems amazing!
Just getting into 40k bit by bit, and looking to start my reading journey soon as I just know that the whole Warhammer universe is something right down my alley. This helped a lot. Cheers!
Awesome! I'm bias but I love the setting and a lot of the books are just genuinely great novels. Let me know what you decide to start with and then come back and let me know what you then when you finish!
I’d suggest another awesome starter book for the space marines, imperial guard and mechanicus is helsreach, awesome story and character development. Just a great read!
Ive been reading the night lords omnibus and jesus, these books are so good. Havent read any of the others on your list yet but can also reccommend the first 3 books from the horus heresy, great entry, amazingly written and gives you a good base on how the evil space marines became evil
Night Lords is one of my favourite books period, not just Warhammer related. I have loved every Aaron Dempski Bowdan book, he is the best Black Library writer in my opinion, I'd suggest moving onto the Black Legion stuff by him after Night Lords.
I started my interest of a friend mention the Dawn of War series bought the first one on sale and then I got hooked. I discovered the books and miniature game shortly after dawn of war and never looked back. I started with the first Ultramarine omnibus and fell in love with the character and universe. I do mainly audible but nothing wrong with that since popular books tend to be on audible and my job allows me to consume it the lore. I will recommend that if you are interested in Space marine lore beyond Iron Snakes then the Ultramarine omnibus is a good start for a generic space marine chapter also the MC is pretty much Titus story with a few differences. Ultramarine omnibuses focus on genereal feel of space marines while DA, BA, and Wolves focus on their brand of Space marine culture. "Helsreach" is another Good space marine book about Black Templars. I have been enjoying Horus Heresy and thats my main focus right now and I will say it is not a place to start because Horus Heresy is contrast lore for 40k in that how far has humanity fallen. If you love Necrons the "Infinite and Divine" is a good book if Necron are interesting. If you have made it this far congratulations and I will say pick whatever seems interesting because these books are fun reads or listens, and I have never been disappointed yet!
Great points!! Gosh I love Dawn of War. I agree with Horus Heresy not being a good entry point, I think everyone that suggests it came in with knowledge from the wikis and rulebooks first.
Horus Rising ftw. My suggestion. My first Warhammer 40 book was Prospero Burns(yes I know it’s 30k). Then I read the three main Ragnar Blackmane books. Then I did my homework and read or listened to the entire Horus Heresy, in order, from Horus Rising. That includes every single available audio drama, novella, and every single short story. What an amazing journey. Finishing The Siege of Terra series I have such a sense of loss and, well, sadness. Oh Erebus, how do I hate thee! But the revelations! What an amazing journey. Nothing will ever compare.
I loved prospero burns, I think reading Thousand Sons first makes it better though. I'm about half way through the heresy books, Master of Mankind is up next for me.
I just got back into reading books in general after 15 years and I started with the twice dead king ruin and loved it!! Just picked up a copy of twice dead king reign very keen. Great video btw
I'd definitely recommend The Infinite And The Divine for anyone interested in Xenos and obviously especially Necrons. The Imperium has tons of good books, good Xenos books are rarer and should always be mentioned
Yeah I have to pick it up for sure. It's been on my mind whenever I've passed a Games Workshop store, but I hadn't pulled the trigger. I think I only have one book from the Xeno perspective, Brutal Kunnin'. Which I've yet to read :$
Excellent video. I'm actually going to be jumping into the Warhammer 40K universe next month with the first three Horus Heresy novels on Audible. If those grab my interest, I'll definitely be giving these titles a look in the future.
Oh make sure to come back and let me know what you think. The Audible books for those are fantastic, most of the Black Library books have great narrators.
I'm glad i stumbled into this video. I started listening to Horus Rising. Its good, but good lawd, the Horus Heresy is a long series. Most likely, i'll be skipping around lol. Chatgpt made a list of books with the characters that im looking to read about.
Yup that's the way to go about it for sure! There are some great books in the heresy, but there are a few duda and a lot of chaff as well, so just focusing on the bits you think are interesting is perfect, and while reading those you may come across other interesting characters, then you can check their books out too :)
Amazing rundown. I've got friends who play Warhammer. I won't be going down that road. For obvious reasons. But have add most of your list to my kindle shopping list. Night Lords and the taking of armor. Sounds like the start of Genesis of the Daleks.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I played with a board game group. And a few were Warhammer players. Which got another interest. Till he found out he had to build, paint and the cost. I was like I told you it's insane. I did play some with their setups.
No 40k list is complete without 2-3 Abnett titles. What sets Dan Abnett apart in the crazy world of 40k full of superhumans, aliens and horrors from other dimensions is his focus on the human scale. The vast scale of the IP is then a backdrop against which we can watch his characters fight, laugh and die, and not always in that order. While some of his earlier books like Titanicus and Double Eagle had these incredible stories that all sadly ended in 5 pages or less, he got a lot better and without exception they are all damn good reads. I agree, if his name's on it, read it.
I have read the following: Brothers of the Snake - first 40k book (apart from a short story collection "Only War") initially confusing as to what was going on for me, but I got it eventually! Nightlords - Started really great, felt the grimness and darkness got a little long by the end. Eisenhorn - am 1/4 into it. Super fun, loving it. Also read: The Rise of Horus - was good. Excited to read more from the HH Assassinorum Kingmaker (7/10) decent enough, but not the top of the tree. Am reading Helsreach as well - So far so good. Altough the BTs are really rude! I have most of the rest on my "to read" list anyway.
I love Helsreach, picked up Grimaldus's figure for my BT army the other day. I havnt read any books on the assassin's, but I have heard that kingmaker is good;
Agreed, I loved the first four. I have been picking up the siege of terra books as they come out in paperback, to make sure I have copies when I get to it, I really need to just push through the back half of the HH and get started.
Interesting. Only one recommendation featuring Imperium Space Marines. Based on your recommendations, I'm most interested in Brothers of the Snake. Storm of Iron and Night Lords sound cool, too.
Oh sweet, you know I was never a Warhammer fantasy guy when it was around, and age of Sigmar didn't interest me, until recently, where it's clear all the A+ Talent miniature modellers are working over at AOS, and if I'm gonna buy models to paint, I'll buy books to read alongside them :D
Good list! My first was Brutal Kunnin! (read Da Big Dakka when it came out as well) Loved it! Then I read Night Lords (jNight Lord for life now when it comes to chaos.), I just finished book 8 in the inquisitor series.. The Eisenhorn/Ravenor/Beta books were amazing... hence why I'm browsing what to read next I have so many books. Great picks to start wiith by the way! Debating if I want to start another Omnibus, or tackle an Aeldari book Path of the Warrior (interested to learn more of them based off Ravenor, I only read slighly on the Drukhari from da big dakka) or dive into Necrons The infinite and the divine!
Yeah I've been looking at Path of the Warrior as well, as I havnt read much Eldar stuff. I've only read the 4 Eisenhorn Books,I really need to get started on Ravenor and Bequin
Beyond the usual Eisenhorn and related books (all by Abnett), and Gaunts Ghosts that people recommend, I recommend some of the Warhammer Crime series, and I especially like “Flesh and Steel” by Guy Haley, which is about real people. I don’t much like Space Marine books, but I recently read Helsreach and liked it a lot.
I have a couple of the Warhammer crime books on the shelf but I havnt got to them yet, I think I have the Guy Haley one, I'll have to prioritise it! Thanks so much
a lot of contemporary 40k book consumption is the audiobook format it feels like as the access to these titles is so much wider... also- LOVE the inclusion of Double Eagle. It is so great
I really should of mentioned audiobooks. It's how I read a lot of my Warhammer books! The narrators are usually amazing too. I used to love Warhammer books for cheap novels though, pre COVID it felt like you could find almost any black library novel for around $18 AUD, now most of them are out of print and 3 figures on eBay, crazy! Double Eagle is one of my favourite military sci fi books!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I'm just about to finish Honor Guard, its great, not as good as Necropolis but still great. Got the rest of 'The Saint' Omnibus loaded onto my eReader as well
Loved this video! Thanks for all the recommendations. I picked up the Eisenhorn trilogy on a whim last year and loved it. A good ol’ pulpy detective story with all the 40k-ness I could ask for. I’m looking forward to checking out more from Abnett in the future.
I havnt got to them yet, but I've heard that the Ravenor series is some people's preferred over Eisenhorn, Ive got them in mass market paperback now so I'll try to get to them soon!
This is a great video mate I started with gaunts ghosts series also bloodlines is very good. but I prefer fantasy setting and starting with gotrek and felix
Great selection of key black library tomes with sufficient diversity to help the new initiates become accustomed to the broader Warhammer 40k universe. Would also add in Valdor: Birth of the Imperium, and Horus Rising to introduce the 30k Horus Heresy arc too. If I were to suggest where the new reader should start their journey, I would also suggest Eisenhorn, Ciaphas Cain & Night Lords trilogies for mix of “serious”, hilarious and grim dark proper, respectively. Look forward to your upcoming book reviews! 🤘🏼
Thanks for watching! I havnt read valdor I will have to pick it up! Reading about Thunder Warriors sounds interesting, I hope it's the part of their story I'm thinking it will be! As for Horus rising. I had it in the video and pulled it out a few times, I'm just not sure if it's the best place to start, I think the heresy hits harder and is more meaningful if you have knowledge of the 40k setting first, so you can see how different they are.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I reckon you'll love Valdor - then watch Luetin09's recent Adeptus Custodes video for added fluff! (NOTE: contains spoilers). Agree on the Horus Rising call, spot on!
You nailed it. Gaunts Ghosts TOGETHER with Space Wolf are IMHO the best entry books to open the doors to W40k universe. In third place, I would put the Horus Heresy. Not for a gradual introduction to the subject, but as a "jump into the water and learn to swim" method. After that all books you suggested without particular order. Oh my, it reminds me I have to read some classic Warhammer books again LIke... numero uno: Riders of the Dead (by Dan Abnett).
I was just looking this morning for copies of the space wolf omnibus, but black library's inability to keep anything at all in print means it's like $100AUD for a copy minimum :(
I just got Night Lords yesterday for my bday . The guys in the store told me to start with that omnibus since I wanted to know more about the chaos marines.
Happy Birthday!!! Fantastic choice, it's the best representation of Chaos Space Marines I've read, It is my faveorite warhammer book series, and its up there with my faveorite sci fi. If you want some more chaos space marines after that one, Storm of Iron is another great one.
Great video! I started with Eisenhorn and then went into the first 3 books of the Horus Heresy...but shit got real when i picked up the Night Lords Omnibus... hands down my favorite Legion and my favorite trillogy... I have pretty much every book on this list and am also pissed off to no end that you cant find alot of these books in paperback form! I absolutely adore my Kindle but these books are like action figures! I want to see them! Hold them! Display them! Black Library get your shit together!
I started with the Horus heresy. I have the Entire Warhammer collection in electronic PDF format. Hundreds of books on a 512GB micro SD. Oh yea subscribed! great channel.
Thanks so much!! I need to bite the bullet and start reading Black Library in ebook, they are incapable of keeping anything in print, and the after market prices are just stupid
I have been looking for a way to read some of the novels as PDFs and I dont really have the money to buy that many at the moment (university student) and would also rather not buy any digital copies, only physical ones if I were to buy some is there any place where I could get a hold of some of the PDFs you know about/could you maybe even share them with me? via however it is convenient for you, discord or anywhere else I would be really grateful, wanted to start reading space wolves as my first title
@@BloodWorkxd1 having the Physical copies would take up way to much space, there are over 2000 books including the medieval war hammer. I received it from a friend I work with. He had the entire collection and passed it on to me. If you’re tech savvy you can find them online with ease. The Space Wolves are incredible as a Space Marine chapter, the Thousand Sons novel was my first reading of them in a story. My favorite the Carcharadons, just read a book where they went to the Drukhari home world of Commorragh on a mission. I couldn’t put the book down.
@@breakingdragon22 I would just really like to buy a few to have a small collection at some point, some of the ones I like at least and am already sad that you can't buy all of them anymore, since I want to be able to choose freely but yeah I found a PDF I was looking for instantly, I hope it will be as easy for all of them :D maybe at some point I will buy a few that are still affordable I am interested in 40k, would you say the fantasy side of Warhammer is connected enough that it is relevant to read some of it for 40k?
@@BloodWorkxd1 very connected, the series is incredible and all online to read for free. As I said one must be tech savvy, I think will figure it out .
Great analysis! I don’t disagree with your recommendations but I would re order them a little. I think the Ciaphas Cain books would make a great gateway series into the 40k universe, followed by the Gaunts ghosts books or, if I may, the Arbitrator Calpurnia series, then dig into Eisenhorn (which isn’t an easy read). Thanks for the video!
It's been awhile since I read the Cain books, it's not that I don't think a new reader wouldn't enjoy them, I just think the sort of, meta jokes and humour means you'd enjoy it even more with some more knowledge going in, but either way a fantastic series. Thanks so much!
My recommendations are very different. First three books of the horus heresy. Plague war series. Lords of silence. Ghazghkull thraka prophet of waaagh! Twice dead king. This will give a start of the warhammer 40k and why it came to be along with perspectives from different armies
I think these are great suggestions, of them I've only read the Horus Heresy ones, which I adore, but I just feel like a reader would get more out of it if they have a bit of buy in to the universe of 40k, before seeing how the omelet was made. But I think that's just my opinion, you can't go wrong with Horus Rising, it's phenomenal.
Great recommendations here! Dan Abnett is so freaking good. His work in comics is just as amazing. Definitely going to read the books you suggested that I haven’t yet. Night Lords and Caiphas Caine.
I don't think I've actually read any Dan Abnett comics, what has he had runs on? Anything particularly worth checking out? I adore Night Lords I may reread it for a review soon.
@@BenjaminsBookclub His run of Guardians of the Galaxy is what the movies were most closely based off. The movies are still quite a bit different but the most inspiration comes from Abnett. He did a lot of the cosmic Marvel stuff back in the day and it’s all awesome.
@@BenjaminsBookclub As another person said, his Guardians of the Galaxy run was excellent. He's done a lot of work for 2000ad as well, Kingdom, Brink and The Out are top notch.
I just started reading my first WH book the other day. I decided to go with Valdor, Birth of the Imperium. Really enjoying it so far. Think I might go with Forges of Mars next. Thanks for the tips!
I have added that one to my TBR list as well! Someone in another comment suggested it actually. I really enjoyed Forges of Mars, seeing the sort of, dark side, of the labour it takes to get mechanicum things running was great. Let me know what you think!
This was a great list I need to get back into reading Warhammer 40k. The first book I read was Death World by Steve Lyons and that book was weird as hell considering what was going on with the planet but also the Catachan Jungle Fighters are an interesting group for sure. Good one off book I think because it's just about this one squad of Jungle Fighters trying to complete their mission and deal with a strange planet.
I havnt read death world, but I have painted quite a few catachan in my day, the old metal ones mostly :D. I should read it, I'll see if I can find a copy, gosh old (and new sometimes) black library books are crazy expensive.
I took about 15 years off from fiction to read non-fiction and a good Chunk of that was seminal works if philosophy theology and religious texts. While there are not a ton of "futurism" narratives in the 40k fiction. Most of that probably happened in the dark age of technology, i find the better 40k works pertaining to chaos and the question of good in 40k pretty excellent. It's not tolkein or Tolstoy, but for mass paperback fiction like what i read growing up it's legit when it is good.
I have been very pleasantly surprised by the quality of a lot of the Black Library books, I was expecting them all to just be tie in action romps, but some have become books I would list up with other non licensed book franchises.
Thanks for this video Benjamin! Since I have come back to the fold of reading, I've been tempted to pick up some Warhammer but just felt overwhelmed and intimated. Thanks for breaking it down for a novice like myself!
The fact that you already read Star wars means you won't have that voice that many people have in their head that licensed sci fi isn't real sci fi books. So I think you will really like some of the Warhammer books!
I made the daunting decision to start from the beginning (Horus Heresy). They’ve been great books (Fulgrim is a bit slow so far tho..) but I don’t think I have a true appreciation all of the characters yet. But, I’m 4 books in and don’t plan to deviate from this path. Take that as you will - I am very stubborn - I started with GSC as my army.
Oh boy, even I wasn't brave enough for that, Ive been focusing on the main novels, and the offshoots, skipping a lot of the short story collections and some of the novels that don't interest me, like Nemesis. Fulgrim is one of my favourites of the series, it all pays off well. Make sure to keep me updated on what book you're on and what you think.
I started with "Krieg" as my first warhammer40k book because, well, I thought the DKoK looked sick. After a lot more reading i do not regret my starting point in the slightest.
I have seen this one in shops a few times, but havnt picked it up, you reckon it was a good one? If so I'll go grab a copy this weekend before it goes out of print forever :D
@BenjaminsBookclub if you're even slightly interested in the Death Korps of Krieg, I highly recommend. It goes into the history of their planet/how they became what they are, as well as how other infantrymen react to fighting alongside them. I love it 😂
I havn't read them yet, but the Urial Ventris Chronicles are probably a good place to go from Space Marine 2, they follow an Ultramarine. I'm loving Space Marine 2, but I feel like not having the orks from 1 hurts the game a bit :D
Cool video and list mate. Gaunts Ghosts is absolute gold from book 3 onwards i felt. Great action, varied war zones, amazing characters and the further you go it packs an incredible emotional punch that you just wouldnt expect from "pulpy space war " novels 😂
I'm just about to finish #5 now, and book 4 was fantastic, 5 has been great so far too. Really connecting with the characters and yeah some great emotional moments.
You've got so much awesome stuff to come. Enjoy it mate. Would also recommend Titanicus if you haven't read it. Set in the Sabbat Worlds also and by Abnett. Huge Titan battles and great depiction of the Mechanicus but intertwined with the same ground level chatacter work as Gaunts Ghosts.
I consider myself really late to the party, for I only immersed myself in WarHammer 40K as I was researching for world building tips for the scifi fantasy book I was about to write. That was only 5 or 6 months ago? Not a gamer guy nor a miniatures collector type, but the stories of WarHammer fascinate me, and I'm afraid that if I finished writing book, I would quickly expect anyone who read it and say, "Yep, definitely inspired by 40K."
Hey just write it, everything's inspired by something, no shame in using inspiration from things you like, no story grows from nothing. Wouldn't have star wars if not for samurai films, wouldn't have crime fiction without in cold blood etc Every story has roots somewhere,n
I've been getting back into 40k books recently. Although I have a kindle I still prefer print books and one issue seems to be that 40k books go out of print fairly quickly and second hand prices are pretty high.
Sweet! What was your favourite HH book? I think mines one of the three in the mini trilogy, First Heretic, Know no Fear & Betrayer, hard to pick one from those three. I think the HH books are a fine starting point, but I reckon you get more out of them if you have an understanding of the universe to begin with.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I’ve only read Horus Rising but moving to False gods next. Only thing is that I’ve loved Dan Abbnet and realized the others are written by him. Hope they live up.
I liked dead man walking, a very short novel depicting a necron awakening from the perspective of an average citizen, with the appearance of the Death Korps of Krieg. Very cool, very grimderp.
Great book, loved that they never straight up said what the Necrons were because why would a random citizen or even Krieger know, but the reader knows what they were based off the descriptions.
@@Kottery yeah that's so true! I forgot about that. It makes it feel like you are one of them in the ground and also you aren't just reading a plug from grimdark IP™
I started initially a few years ago with the Eisenhorn series but it didn't catch my attention. A lot of things I did not understand. One year later I picked up the Horus Heresy...Horus Rising. That got me into the universe. So whatever works I guess.
I think Dante, and later the Devastation of Baal buy Guy Haley are pretty good introductory books also. Dante is mainly about the trials Dante had to undergo to become a space marine, so it's a pretty good way of learning about the space marines from a human perspective, and the Devastation of Baal is a maybe a little overstuffed for a new reader, but it's got good action and introduces some of the more recent plot developments that are still being explored in the current story arcs of the game.
You know I considered Detestation of Baal, but as you said I thought it might be a bit overstuffed, and it's been a very long time since I read it but I don't remember much in the way of describing what the Nids are and who the blood angels are, it's probably there but I forgot it. Dante however is a fantastic suggestion! I don't know why I didn't consider it! Blood angels is my biggest army on the tabletop too so I am a disgrace to my chapter master.
While Cain is fun reading and fresh after reading so many dark W40k novels, I would not say it is good for beginners as it might show W40k universe in a different light and might start expectations that overall will not come in the other novels. I grew up with Ghosts, Space Wolfs and that trilogy of 13th legion and it was a great starter for DoW 1 and to get enough interest to start exploring.
I think having some better understanding of the Warhammer universe makes Cain a better read, and it's definitely a parody at times so it's good to have a firm Understanding of what it's parodying. Gosh I love DoW1
One of my favourite 40k books is The Death of Antagonis, by David Annandale. It's the Space Marine Battles book for one of my favourite and, IMO, one of the most compelling Chapters, the Black Dragons, and it shows their struggles for acceptance, from both the wider Imperium and from their own self-doubts. A really fantastic standalone novel that showcases the lengths to which people will stoop to in order to prove their cause is just, and the lengths to which it takes us to truly value ourselves for what we are beyond how other people see us.
Awesome! I hadn't heard of this one, I do like David Annandale, and I have enjoyed the Space Marine Battle Books I've read so far, Rynn's World and Helsreach. You know I don't know much, if anything, about the Black Dragons either, I will have to add it to my (Ever expanding) TBR list! Thanks so much Great suggestion!
I've just read David Annandale's stories in the "God Machines" omnibus and they are fantastic. You can't go wrong with big stompy Titans and a cast of compelling characters.
I have never read more grim things than the things that have happened in 40k. I started waaaay back with Let the galaxy burn. A superb short story collection. And have been floating through whatever takes my fancy since. Referring to myself as a casual lore surfer. But recent Games workshop choices have stopped me in my tracks. Not sure I will continue surfing until I hear GW show it’s fanbase some respect and not change the lore on the fly and then lie about it.
I’ve recently gotten into Warhammer due to Space Marine 2 and I really liked the Black Templar aesthetic the most so did some digging and found out about their ethos (crazy zealous loyalist who believe Big E is a literally God), their founding and their heroes so now I’m trying to find a copy of Helsreach paperback but it’s impossible ☹️
Yeah its so hard to find, a brand new Black Templar book just came out though, by the same author as Infite & The Divine. Called Broken Crusade, I havn't read it or seen any reviews yet, I just went and picked up a copy at the local warhammer store yesterday! I am a Black Templar Fanboy, I have dozens of little black and white space men on my painting/gaming tables :D
@@BenjaminsBookclub I actually picked Broken Crusade up because as you say it was newly released and i saw a Black Templar on the front and thought you know what let me just dive in and grab this book and see what happens (who knows it might be out of stock in a year or two like Helsreach). So far I've read the first 100 pages and I'm really enjoying it, it's defo made me want to read more and more about 40k. Black Templars are also my favourites but they are quite intense so at times they feel hard to truly relate to so I defo want to pick up some decent novels about some of the less... fanatical... Astartes.
Great list! All of these are amazing books/series (at least the ones of them I've read, I haven't read Double Eagle or Brothers of the Snake). Maybe I'll check them out after I finish Kingmaker. My first Warhammer book was The Infinite and the Divine, and while fantastic I think having a good amount of prior knowledge on the setting was really helpful. Any reason you didn't choose the Dark Imperium trilogy? When I think of an introduction to "modern" Warhammer, that's the first series that comes to mind.
A very simple reason, I havn't read them. I was playing heavily at the release of 8th and around that time, but wasn't super interested in that part of the lore, I should try to pick them up and see how they are though. I really need to get around to reading The Infinite and the Divine don't I.
I began with "The First Heretic." Little did I know how valuable that first tome would truly be. Once you start down the perverbial rabbit-hole of the Black Library, it's hard to not look at yourself as a bit of a 40K Word-Bearer...
I think if you know nothing about the setting, starting with some 40k books makes the heresy better, and also, "just start with book 1 of a 64 book series" is a hard sell :D
Do you read the Fantasy side of Warhammer? If so a sister episode of this video would be great. I play both games but am clueless about where to start reading, so thank you for this video!!
It really is a great book, Abnet writes Horus in such a good light in that book, i found myself wishing that I'd get to the end and it would all just turn out fine :D
For audio books I've had an audible subscription for like a decade, and atleast half my library is Warhammer there. But the paperbacks get super expensive as soon as they go out of print, and at any one point in time it's like 98% of the catalogue is out of print, it sucks.
You mention relatability, and I agree that relatability can be a strength if done correctly. But I also love Warhammer lore because it is so far in the future that the human race feels like an alien race. One of the things I liked about the Dune universe as well. I can’t really get into sci-fi that is set in 2050 or something. It just doesn’t seem like sci-fi when it’s something I’m going to live to see. Relatability is good, but it can also be bad in some instances when story tellers try to hyper inject things from our time period and world into a story that is supposed to be so far removed from it. It is a lot of the reason fantasy has started to get dull for me, it seems like they just go over the same trope over and over again. I still enjoy fantasy, but it can get exhausting if I never break out.
Some very good points, I agree sometimes the weird and fanciful can be better if it's not super relatable, it's one of the things I love about Neuromancer.
The first 40k books I read were Space Marine, Inquisitor and the Death Wing omnibus None of these would be appropriate for new readers today, given much of them are no longer canon
Good vid. I’m a big Abnet fan like everyone else I also like ADB when writing about Chaos. But I’m naturally more of a Fantasy guy than SciFi and all the Warhammer Fantasy books I’ve read aren’t particularly good any suggestions?
Thanks so much! I've never been a big Warhammer fantasy or age of Sigmar guy, I have heard the recent age of Sigmar books have been pretty good but I havnt read any of them sorry 😔
There are definitly more humanity focused writers and books, as for Xeno stuff: Tau: I hear Fire Caste and The Farsight Books are good but I havn't read them Orks: Brutal Kunnin was fun, good not great, I have a video review up if you want to check it out. Eldar: I hear Path of the Warrior is the Eldar book to start with, it's on my TBR Necrons: I would guess The Infinite and The Divine, which I am hoping to read in October, otherwise i find that like the tyranids the necrons work best as antagonists, I think its Caves of Ice, one of the Ciaphas Cain books that has necrons in it that I liked alot. Genestealer Cult: Day of Ascension is supposed to be great, by one of my faveorite authors, the only reason I havn't read it is I'm pretty sure it'll make me want to buy an army, and my wallet can't handle that right now.
The path trilogy of the Aeldari is quite good and I love jain zar either. I love the First farsight book of the Tau Empire. The First necron book of the dialogy and the devine are great books. There are some good genestealer books but the best is das of Ascension. A nice Look in the tyranis hivemind is Hidden in devastation of Baal. The orc books of Mike Brooks are awesome or you read ryns World and legacy of Dorn. One aspect is tonread in the Imperium Side the Deathwatch books. I am not a Fan about the drukhari trilogy but in my memories was it ok
New fan here, my older brother was always into it though so I absorbed a bit by osmosis. I'd like to know more about the Raven Guard, where should I start?
The only Raven Guard novel I've read is Deliverence Lost, which is around the middle of the Hours Heresy, but you should be good to just read that if you have a small idea of the heresy. As for the book, it gets some poor reviews every now and then but I thought it was awesome.
The real totally unbiased top 8: 1. angels of darkness 2. master of sanctity 3. The unforgiven 5. angels of caliban 6. luther: first of the fallen 7. The lion: sons of the forest 8. Arks of omen: the lion
@BenjaminsBookclub indeed so I'll revise and toss in Leman Russ: the great wolf, lion el'jonson: Lord of the First, first legion, and alpharius: head of the hydra lol
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
I think Warhammer is the only series that genuinely encourages gamers to read and I respect it for that alone
Gotta get people to read their 200 page core rule book somehow!
But yeah I agree, one of the few fictional universes that has realised it's potential I think.
The witcher as well
The novels are so dark and twisted that it isn't good for your mental health to hit them too hard. The Word Bearers Omnibus is the scariest thing I ever read out of thousands of books I've read. It's something I wish I could unread. Path of the Dark Eldar as well.
What? Far more D&D book which are far more popular.
Halo did this for me 🤣 Warhammer is amazing reading material also though.
I didn’t know anything about Warhammer until I randomly download and played Boltgun. The universe peaked my interest which subsequently led me to playing Inquisitor. Had such a blast with that one and it motivated me to start looking up lore via UA-cam. I just recently picked up Space Marine 2 and Chaos Gate and now here I am looking for a starting point for solid reading material lol. This universe has got me hooked now.
It's a really fascinating setting, gosh Boltgun was so much fun!
Just an interesting fact, “peaked my interest” is actually “piqued my interest”. Which I didn’t know that til recently!
Same! Damn Space Marine got me.
You’ll be painting and playing any day now 😂😂😂😂😂
@@NicholisFaussette one of us
I would recommend Space Wolf book it starts as a book about vikings and though the plot you and the main character Ragnar slowly learn about the wider universe.
I have heard great things about the space Wolves omnibus, I havnt read it but from what I've heard it is a fantastic first Warhammer book, great suggestion!
Agree on this one. A viking becomes a space marine and you get to see the process of turning into the Astartes
@@BenjaminsBookclubwilliam king was a founding father of the lore for 40k. His books are the quintessential entry point to 40k. He also created Gotrek and Felix , something that would pull any reader into fantasy . Very world building, very excellent.
started my 40k journey with the space wolf book a month ago and i’m about to finish reading the last book of the series 😅😂 definitely a great place to start.
@tacticool hells yeah finished Ragnars Claw last night
I’m a go out on a limb and say all of the books in the black library are incredible. I am reading 4 books at the time. The 12th book in the Horus Heresy, a sisters of battle book, one on the Aeldari, and a book about the Assassins. To be honest I don’t watch T.V. anymore, because there is no need. I enjoy your channel and it is on point. I hope you continue to grow. Also I am observing the books on your shelf in the background. I will be getting them. I just finished a Carharadons novel it was incredible.
Thanks so much! It means a lot!
I would say 99% of the Black Library books I've read have been great, only a few I didn't enjoy, high up is The Beast Arises series, I really didn't enjoy those books, I read, like 6 or 7 I think.
My warhammer books have expanded beyond whats behind me there, and overflown into a second bookshelf off camera, I have another like 15 that didn't fit there :D
Thank you so much! I've become a fan after Space Marine 2 so this is gold! Really appreciate this mate. I'm starting with The First Heretic and will move on to the first 3 books of the HH but will definitely get cracking on your recommendations after
The First Heretic is the first part of what I consider the best three Hours Heresy books, I'd say if you read First Heretic then continue onto Know No Fear and then Betrayer before moving on to others, those three are the bomb.
Eisenhorn
Gaunts ghosts
Night lords
Horus Rising
Infinite and the divine
Day of assenction
I havn't read Day of Ascension yet but Im so excited to get to it. I loved Infinite and the Divine, but i think it's a pretty bad book to start with, it relies on a lot of background info without really explaining it very well, absolute banger of a book though
Like many recently, space marine 2 got me intrested in the universe, though ive known the name warhammer 40k and seen images of the various space marines i didnt know anything else outside of that, what i found intresting was when you mentioned how rare they are where a normal soldier might never see one in their life it added so much context to the reveal trailer of space marine 2 a couple years ago when the soldiers kneeld to them, but specifically when the one said in a whisper "his angels" in awe, now it makes so much more sense why his reaction was like that
Yeah I suspect it's a double edged sword, being a guardsmen when space marines show up.
On one hand, there's incredible super soldiers at your location.
On the other, someone decided there needed to be incredible super soldiers at your location.
Judging on how many encounters in space marine 2 start with a bunch of guardsmen around Titus when the fighting starts, and end with none of them around anymore,,, my money's on it being bad news when the space marines show up haha.
Just started my 40k journey this month. I had stayed away for a long time because of how complicated it seemed but finally decided the universe just looked to fantastic and had to dive in. Found a book that seemed interesting called “The Talon of Horus” and I’m really enjoying so far at the half way point.
One of my all time favorites, will be making an appearance in a video in the next week or so!
Aaron Dempski Bowdan is my favourite Warhammer universe. Book 2 of that series Black Legion is out now as well.
@@BenjaminsBookclub can’t wait to see it!
@@BenjaminsBookclub replied to this and then immediately saw you had dropped the other video just a few hours before my response. Perfect timing lol.
I read the Night Lords omnibus earlier this year and not only is it now my favorite set of 40k books they're some of my favorite books period. One of my favorite things the books do is switch perspective to a random Imperium person and hype them up. Start describing them as this great veteran that's fought for the Imperium for the longest time. Nearly half a chapter focused on them...and then they're killed by our "heroes" without any fanfare because they are worthless to the Night Lords. Just one more thing to kill for fun, one more notch on their bolter, or one more head to hang off their armor.
ADB does a fantastic job of making you care and enjoy spending time with these characters, only to immediately remind you that they are reprehensibly evil at times.
The night lords trilogy is in my top 10 sci fi books of all time, I loved them so much, and I can't wait for ADB to write book 3 of the Black Legion trilogy.
I still have my first novel "Space Marine" from Ian Watson, that was an excellent introduction to the chapters as you follow three boys as they are recruited and become marines.
that being said I am Guard player/fan and as such my favourite 40k novel is Gunheads, with the Cain Novels a close second.
I'm about to start book 6 of Gaunts and I'm up to book 4 of Cain, love them both :)
Thank you for this list. I luckily got the Eisenhorn omnibus and Night Lords as my first books before watching this. Looking forward to reading them. Your descriptions have also sold me on the rest of your suggestions. As a newcomer, thank you!!
Great first books! I'm considering a re-read of Eisenhorn on audio book with my wife, try to get her captured as well 😉
All great suggestions, though I haven't read them all yet, myself! I'd also recommend the Grey Knights Omnibus, which was a really fun read and one of my favorites of the Space Marine focused offerings.
So I do have the Grey Knight Omnibus, and the Aaron Dempski Bowdan Grey Knight Novel, the reason I havnt read them is I know that if I liked them I will buy a Grey Knights army, and my pile of Shane is huge already haha.
Thank you Benjamin. This is such wonderful advice. Exactly what ive been looking for. Gotta get ready for Space Marine 2! Thanks for making this video
Awesome! Thanks so much for watching! I can't wait for space marine 2, although I am super sad the Orks arnt in it, whenever I think of space marine I just think "Spaaaccshh marrinnneee"
As someone who immersed myself in fantasy Warhammer for decades, but kept 40k at arm's length, ( still butthurt Dwarves didn't make it tbh ), this video is extremely helpful for me to start dipping my toes in. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! We don't have dwarves really. But we now have Votann? Which are close
What a great video! Only 4 minutes in and really appreciating the way you describe the books!
Thanks so much 🙏
I read the Eisenhorn trilogy and after Gaunt's Ghosts. Loved those. Think I'll tackle the Horus Heresy next.
A good long run of Dan Abnett! I think after Eisenhorn and Ghosts you're really well set up to jump anywhere, the heresy is a great call! I recommend the first four in order, and then jumping around to different storylines that interest you.
There are so many good books and I thonk the choice of the video is quite good.
Chaos: Fabius Bile and the Talon of Horus Series are amazing. Khan and Ahriman 1 is good.
Imperial Guard: baneblade and shadowsword are good and anbit difficult 13th hours
Warhammer citizens: i am in love with the warhammer crime books
Custodes: the books of chris wright
Inquisition: ravenor after finishing eisenhorn and the throne of terra (?) from chris wright
Knights: the first book is okay
Space marines: dante, devastation of baal, rynns world, legacy of dorn, helsreach, deathwatch are my favorites and the comic of marneus calgar.
Past marines: horus heresy but the quality went up and down
Sororitas: faith and fire, hammer and anvil and celestine
Tau: faraight
Aeldari: path of the eldar, jain zar
Orks: brutal kunnin
Genestealer: day of ascension
Necrons: the infinite and the devine and twice dead king
Others: rites of passage, the adeptus mechanicus trilogy
This is a fantastic list! Ahriman, Fabius Bile & Infinite and Divine are all super high on my TBR list.
I loved Dante & Detestation of Baal, and the only reason Helsreach isn't on this list is because I forgot about it, oops.
my first 40k book was Helsreach, i loved it and it was what got me into 40k in general
I stirred up the black Templar hive, so many comments point out I missed Helsreach 😂.
I genuinely just forgot about it when making the list as I don't own the physical book haha, worst part is black Templars are my main army I'm painting these days haha.
Such a fantastic book, one of the best, have you seen the fan film of it too? It's also brilliant?
Same. Just finished it last night. Have you seen the Helsreach the animated movie on YT? I just started watching it last night.
@@readupcaveman yup watched it a while after listening to the Helsreach audiobook, started listening to Brothers of the Snake because of this video tho
I’m 90 pages into Cain series and I’m laughing so hard and telling my friends about it rugby practice. The Nightlords Omnibus is top 3 book for me
The Cain books are hilarious, and still get good action and emotional beats in as well, I should go back and continue the series, I think I'm up to book 5.
Night Lords is one of the best omnibuses. Aaron Dembski-Bowden is my second favorite 40k author after Ben Counter. The Grey Knights and Soul Drinkers Omnibuses are to me anyway, the very best of all of the Omnibuses.
Immediately picked up brothers of the snake because your review intrigued me. Glad I did
Awesome! Have you finished it!? Let me know when you'd o if you havnt! That's so great to hear!
These are exactly what I would recommend in order! Cain never really clicked with me though. Double Eagle is an absolute masterpiece.
Awesome! Thanks so much, I never heard people talk about Double Easgle but it's absolutely one of my favourite black library novels!
Thank you! I just finished Space Marine 2's campaign and now I'm absolutely hooked.
I finished it last night and loved it! If you want more Ultramarines I hear the Uriel Ventras books are good. I might read the first one soon too!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I seem to be drawn towards Raven Guard, Dark Angels, and Salamanders. My only regret is taking so long to jump into this universe.
@@LeontiusInvictus Ive heard the latest Dark Angels novel is excelent, Lion Son of the Forest. I havn't got to it yet though! Never too late to find something you enjoy!
@@BenjaminsBookclub thank you!
I read 1 - 4 of The HH and really enjoyed it. When I got to 5, I have to admit that I don't really find Fulgrim or the Emperor's Children / Iron Hands plotline that interesting. Thx for giving me some ideas for a new direction.
I loved Fulgrim, but I think it's a story you have to have some buy into the emperor's children going in, probably not gonna make a lover out of someone that doesn't already like the Legion.
Cheers!
Half way through my first book Brothers of the snake, and I'm absolutely loving it. purely addictive. Next im thinking spear of the emperor.
I loved that book, as I think I said in the video, my faveorite introduction to space marines.
Spear of the Emperor is a fantastic book, Aaron Dempski Bowdan is hands down my favourite black library author
Thanks. Very useful list and you do a good job explaining why you recommend them without spoiling them. I'll be picking up some of these.
Thanks for the kind words! It's always a struggle giving away enough information to make the book seem exciting, without giving away too much! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Dan Abnett just doesn't miss
The man is a legend
I started my journey into the Warhammer books with Helsreach! I have have about 5 hours to go and I haven't torn through a 16 hour book so fast in a while! I growl "GRIMALDUS" during the day just for fun now.
The only reason Helsreach isn't on this list, is I forgot it existed, which is heretical, I love that book.
What's worse is Black Templars are my main army in the miniatures game ha
@@BenjaminsBookclub It was a great listen! I was on the edge the entire ending unsure if Grimaldus would survive! Another YT comment shared the fan work video that is on YT. It's 2 and 1/2 hours long and I only watched the first bit last night but it seems amazing!
@@readupcaveman the animation improves as it goes along as well, as it originally came out over time as shorts.
Just getting into 40k bit by bit, and looking to start my reading journey soon as I just know that the whole Warhammer universe is something right down my alley. This helped a lot. Cheers!
Awesome! I'm bias but I love the setting and a lot of the books are just genuinely great novels. Let me know what you decide to start with and then come back and let me know what you then when you finish!
@@BenjaminsBookclub Will do!
I’d suggest another awesome starter book for the space marines, imperial guard and mechanicus is helsreach, awesome story and character development. Just a great read!
Ohh I didn't think of Helsreach that's a great recommendation, I love that book.
Ooh, recommendations 👀. I want to read this world
You should! It's a lot of fun!
Ive been reading the night lords omnibus and jesus, these books are so good. Havent read any of the others on your list yet but can also reccommend the first 3 books from the horus heresy, great entry, amazingly written and gives you a good base on how the evil space marines became evil
Night Lords is one of my favourite books period, not just Warhammer related. I have loved every Aaron Dempski Bowdan book, he is the best Black Library writer in my opinion, I'd suggest moving onto the Black Legion stuff by him after Night Lords.
I started my interest of a friend mention the Dawn of War series bought the first one on sale and then I got hooked. I discovered the books and miniature game shortly after dawn of war and never looked back. I started with the first Ultramarine omnibus and fell in love with the character and universe. I do mainly audible but nothing wrong with that since popular books tend to be on audible and my job allows me to consume it the lore. I will recommend that if you are interested in Space marine lore beyond Iron Snakes then the Ultramarine omnibus is a good start for a generic space marine chapter also the MC is pretty much Titus story with a few differences. Ultramarine omnibuses focus on genereal feel of space marines while DA, BA, and Wolves focus on their brand of Space marine culture. "Helsreach" is another Good space marine book about Black Templars. I have been enjoying Horus Heresy and thats my main focus right now and I will say it is not a place to start because Horus Heresy is contrast lore for 40k in that how far has humanity fallen. If you love Necrons the "Infinite and Divine" is a good book if Necron are interesting. If you have made it this far congratulations and I will say pick whatever seems interesting because these books are fun reads or listens, and I have never been disappointed yet!
Great points!! Gosh I love Dawn of War.
I agree with Horus Heresy not being a good entry point, I think everyone that suggests it came in with knowledge from the wikis and rulebooks first.
Horus Rising ftw. My suggestion. My first Warhammer 40 book was Prospero Burns(yes I know it’s 30k). Then I read the three main Ragnar Blackmane books. Then I did my homework and read or listened to the entire Horus Heresy, in order, from Horus Rising. That includes every single available audio drama, novella, and every single short story. What an amazing journey. Finishing The Siege of Terra series I have such a sense of loss and, well, sadness. Oh Erebus, how do I hate thee! But the revelations! What an amazing journey. Nothing will ever compare.
I loved prospero burns, I think reading Thousand Sons first makes it better though.
I'm about half way through the heresy books, Master of Mankind is up next for me.
The Night Lords Omnibus was a banger.
Absolutly! Everything by ADB slaps.
I just got back into reading books in general after 15 years and I started with the twice dead king ruin and loved it!! Just picked up a copy of twice dead king reign very keen. Great video btw
That's fantastic! I hadn't even heard of those necron books! I really need to read more Xeno stuff!
I'd definitely recommend The Infinite And The Divine for anyone interested in Xenos and obviously especially Necrons. The Imperium has tons of good books, good Xenos books are rarer and should always be mentioned
Yeah I have to pick it up for sure. It's been on my mind whenever I've passed a Games Workshop store, but I hadn't pulled the trigger. I think I only have one book from the Xeno perspective, Brutal Kunnin'. Which I've yet to read :$
Excellent video. I'm actually going to be jumping into the Warhammer 40K universe next month with the first three Horus Heresy novels on Audible. If those grab my interest, I'll definitely be giving these titles a look in the future.
Oh make sure to come back and let me know what you think. The Audible books for those are fantastic, most of the Black Library books have great narrators.
I'm glad i stumbled into this video. I started listening to Horus Rising. Its good, but good lawd, the Horus Heresy is a long series. Most likely, i'll be skipping around lol. Chatgpt made a list of books with the characters that im looking to read about.
Yup that's the way to go about it for sure! There are some great books in the heresy, but there are a few duda and a lot of chaff as well, so just focusing on the bits you think are interesting is perfect, and while reading those you may come across other interesting characters, then you can check their books out too :)
Same, I've just finished Horus Rising, I agree it's a good book but I couldn't understand the majority of the references
Horus Heresy books 1-5 should be top of this list. Sets the scene of the whole universe 😊
I think knowing some of the lore and the setting of the 40k universe helps set up and makes reading the 30k books a lot better.
Amazing rundown. I've got friends who play Warhammer. I won't be going down that road. For obvious reasons. But have add most of your list to my kindle shopping list.
Night Lords and the taking of armor. Sounds like the start of Genesis of the Daleks.
I have spent many years playing the game, but even I can't seem to justify the prices anymore haha.
Sounds fantastic! Let me know how you find them!!!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I played with a board game group. And a few were Warhammer players. Which got another interest. Till he found out he had to build, paint and the cost. I was like I told you it's insane. I did play some with their setups.
Thanks for the video. Dawn of war player here and on the new Space Marine 2. Want to read into the universe so this video has been super helpful!
That's great to hear that ks so much for watching! Gosh I love dawn of war, I should do another campaign of that tonight.
@@BenjaminsBookclub If you haven't already, I suggest looking into mods for DOW. The base game from steam ran poorly on my modern system. Enjoy!
No 40k list is complete without 2-3 Abnett titles. What sets Dan Abnett apart in the crazy world of 40k full of superhumans, aliens and horrors from other dimensions is his focus on the human scale. The vast scale of the IP is then a backdrop against which we can watch his characters fight, laugh and die, and not always in that order.
While some of his earlier books like Titanicus and Double Eagle had these incredible stories that all sadly ended in 5 pages or less, he got a lot better and without exception they are all damn good reads. I agree, if his name's on it, read it.
It does sometimes feel like Dan Abnett gets carried away until his editor reminds him he only has 5 pages left, then panic and wrap things up :D
I have read the following:
Brothers of the Snake - first 40k book (apart from a short story collection "Only War") initially confusing as to what was going on for me, but I got it eventually!
Nightlords - Started really great, felt the grimness and darkness got a little long by the end.
Eisenhorn - am 1/4 into it. Super fun, loving it.
Also read:
The Rise of Horus - was good. Excited to read more from the HH
Assassinorum Kingmaker (7/10) decent enough, but not the top of the tree.
Am reading Helsreach as well - So far so good. Altough the BTs are really rude!
I have most of the rest on my "to read" list anyway.
I love Helsreach, picked up Grimaldus's figure for my BT army the other day.
I havnt read any books on the assassin's, but I have heard that kingmaker is good;
I read 50 something of the Horus Heresy series books before taking a break. The first four of those are really good.
Agreed, I loved the first four.
I have been picking up the siege of terra books as they come out in paperback, to make sure I have copies when I get to it, I really need to just push through the back half of the HH and get started.
@@BenjaminsBookclub Yea, I think I'm pretty close to the siege of terra books. I think I stopped midway through Titandeath.
Interesting. Only one recommendation featuring Imperium Space Marines. Based on your recommendations, I'm most interested in Brothers of the Snake. Storm of Iron and Night Lords sound cool, too.
Nice. Not scifi but the Nagash legends books from the fantasy Warhammer world were very fun. Get to see a evil necromancer come into godhood.
Oh sweet, you know I was never a Warhammer fantasy guy when it was around, and age of Sigmar didn't interest me, until recently, where it's clear all the A+ Talent miniature modellers are working over at AOS, and if I'm gonna buy models to paint, I'll buy books to read alongside them :D
Good list! My first was Brutal Kunnin! (read Da Big Dakka when it came out as well) Loved it! Then I read Night Lords (jNight Lord for life now when it comes to chaos.), I just finished book 8 in the inquisitor series.. The Eisenhorn/Ravenor/Beta books were amazing... hence why I'm browsing what to read next I have so many books. Great picks to start wiith by the way! Debating if I want to start another Omnibus, or tackle an Aeldari book Path of the Warrior (interested to learn more of them based off Ravenor, I only read slighly on the Drukhari from da big dakka) or dive into Necrons The infinite and the divine!
Yeah I've been looking at Path of the Warrior as well, as I havnt read much Eldar stuff.
I've only read the 4 Eisenhorn Books,I really need to get started on Ravenor and Bequin
Beyond the usual Eisenhorn and related books (all by Abnett), and Gaunts Ghosts that people recommend, I recommend some of the Warhammer Crime series, and I especially like “Flesh and Steel” by Guy Haley, which is about real people. I don’t much like Space Marine books, but I recently read Helsreach and liked it a lot.
I have a couple of the Warhammer crime books on the shelf but I havnt got to them yet, I think I have the Guy Haley one, I'll have to prioritise it! Thanks so much
a lot of contemporary 40k book consumption is the audiobook format it feels like as the access to these titles is so much wider... also- LOVE the inclusion of Double Eagle. It is so great
I really should of mentioned audiobooks. It's how I read a lot of my Warhammer books! The narrators are usually amazing too.
I used to love Warhammer books for cheap novels though, pre COVID it felt like you could find almost any black library novel for around $18 AUD, now most of them are out of print and 3 figures on eBay, crazy!
Double Eagle is one of my favourite military sci fi books!
Thank you, going to check out the night lords trilogy for sure!!
Awesome! Make sure to come back and let me know what you think! It made my top 10 sci fi list I love it so much.
Thanks for this. I'm working my way through Gaunts Ghosts, my first experience with 40k. Really enjoying it. I think I'll do Eisenhorn next
I'm also making my way through Gaunts Ghosts! I'm up to book 6 now! What about you?
@@BenjaminsBookclub I'm just about to finish Honor Guard, its great, not as good as Necropolis but still great. Got the rest of 'The Saint' Omnibus loaded onto my eReader as well
@@amee4231 I felt exactly the same, the next, Guns of Tanith though has been my fave so far, so look forward to it!
Loved this video! Thanks for all the recommendations.
I picked up the Eisenhorn trilogy on a whim last year and loved it. A good ol’ pulpy detective story with all the 40k-ness I could ask for. I’m looking forward to checking out more from Abnett in the future.
I havnt got to them yet, but I've heard that the Ravenor series is some people's preferred over Eisenhorn, Ive got them in mass market paperback now so I'll try to get to them soon!
This is a great video mate I started with gaunts ghosts series also bloodlines is very good. but I prefer fantasy setting and starting with gotrek and felix
I havnt read any of the fantasy stuff, but I think I need to check it out! Thanks so much!
Great selection of key black library tomes with sufficient diversity to help the new initiates become accustomed to the broader Warhammer 40k universe.
Would also add in Valdor: Birth of the Imperium, and Horus Rising to introduce the 30k Horus Heresy arc too.
If I were to suggest where the new reader should start their journey, I would also suggest Eisenhorn, Ciaphas Cain & Night Lords trilogies for mix of “serious”, hilarious and grim dark proper, respectively.
Look forward to your upcoming book reviews! 🤘🏼
Thanks for watching! I havnt read valdor I will have to pick it up! Reading about Thunder Warriors sounds interesting, I hope it's the part of their story I'm thinking it will be!
As for Horus rising. I had it in the video and pulled it out a few times, I'm just not sure if it's the best place to start, I think the heresy hits harder and is more meaningful if you have knowledge of the 40k setting first, so you can see how different they are.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I reckon you'll love Valdor - then watch Luetin09's recent Adeptus Custodes video for added fluff! (NOTE: contains spoilers). Agree on the Horus Rising call, spot on!
@@mysteriousoul it's added to my audible wishlist. Probably tackle it after I finish the carrion throne! Luetin is an absolute legend
You nailed it. Gaunts Ghosts TOGETHER with Space Wolf are IMHO the best entry books to open the doors to W40k universe. In third place, I would put the Horus Heresy. Not for a gradual introduction to the subject, but as a "jump into the water and learn to swim" method. After that all books you suggested without particular order. Oh my, it reminds me I have to read some classic Warhammer books again LIke... numero uno: Riders of the Dead (by Dan Abnett).
I was just looking this morning for copies of the space wolf omnibus, but black library's inability to keep anything at all in print means it's like $100AUD for a copy minimum :(
I just got Night Lords yesterday for my bday . The guys in the store told me to start with that omnibus since I wanted to know more about the chaos marines.
Happy Birthday!!! Fantastic choice, it's the best representation of Chaos Space Marines I've read, It is my faveorite warhammer book series, and its up there with my faveorite sci fi. If you want some more chaos space marines after that one, Storm of Iron is another great one.
I have all but the forges of Mars, which is on my to buy list
Great collection it sounds like ha!
Great video! I started with Eisenhorn and then went into the first 3 books of the Horus Heresy...but shit got real when i picked up the Night Lords Omnibus... hands down my favorite Legion and my favorite trillogy... I have pretty much every book on this list and am also pissed off to no end that you cant find alot of these books in paperback form! I absolutely adore my Kindle but these books are like action figures! I want to see them! Hold them! Display them! Black Library get your shit together!
The printing policy at black library infuriates me. The fact that Ive even considered paying upwards of 60AUD for some books is crazy.
@@BenjaminsBookclub facts!
I started with the Horus heresy. I have the Entire Warhammer collection in electronic PDF format. Hundreds of books on a 512GB micro SD. Oh yea subscribed! great channel.
Thanks so much!! I need to bite the bullet and start reading Black Library in ebook, they are incapable of keeping anything in print, and the after market prices are just stupid
I have been looking for a way to read some of the novels as PDFs and I dont really have the money to buy that many at the moment (university student) and would also rather not buy any digital copies, only physical ones if I were to buy some
is there any place where I could get a hold of some of the PDFs you know about/could you maybe even share them with me? via however it is convenient for you, discord or anywhere else
I would be really grateful, wanted to start reading space wolves as my first title
@@BloodWorkxd1 having the Physical copies would take up way to much space, there are over 2000 books including the medieval war hammer. I received it from a friend I work with. He had the entire collection and passed it on to me. If you’re tech savvy you can find them online with ease. The Space Wolves are incredible as a Space Marine chapter, the Thousand Sons novel was my first reading of them in a story. My favorite the Carcharadons, just read a book where they went to the Drukhari home world of Commorragh on a mission. I couldn’t put the book down.
@@breakingdragon22 I would just really like to buy a few to have a small collection at some point, some of the ones I like at least and am already sad that you can't buy all of them anymore, since I want to be able to choose freely
but yeah I found a PDF I was looking for instantly, I hope it will be as easy for all of them :D
maybe at some point I will buy a few that are still affordable
I am interested in 40k, would you say the fantasy side of Warhammer is connected enough that it is relevant to read some of it for 40k?
@@BloodWorkxd1 very connected, the series is incredible and all online to read for free. As I said one must be tech savvy, I think will figure it out .
Great analysis! I don’t disagree with your recommendations but I would re order them a little. I think the Ciaphas Cain books would make a great gateway series into the 40k universe, followed by the Gaunts ghosts books or, if I may, the Arbitrator Calpurnia series, then dig into Eisenhorn (which isn’t an easy read). Thanks for the video!
It's been awhile since I read the Cain books, it's not that I don't think a new reader wouldn't enjoy them, I just think the sort of, meta jokes and humour means you'd enjoy it even more with some more knowledge going in, but either way a fantastic series.
Thanks so much!
My recommendations are very different. First three books of the horus heresy. Plague war series. Lords of silence. Ghazghkull thraka prophet of waaagh! Twice dead king. This will give a start of the warhammer 40k and why it came to be along with perspectives from different armies
I think these are great suggestions, of them I've only read the Horus Heresy ones, which I adore, but I just feel like a reader would get more out of it if they have a bit of buy in to the universe of 40k, before seeing how the omelet was made. But I think that's just my opinion, you can't go wrong with Horus Rising, it's phenomenal.
Great recommendations here! Dan Abnett is so freaking good. His work in comics is just as amazing.
Definitely going to read the books you suggested that I haven’t yet. Night Lords and Caiphas Caine.
I don't think I've actually read any Dan Abnett comics, what has he had runs on? Anything particularly worth checking out?
I adore Night Lords I may reread it for a review soon.
@@BenjaminsBookclub His run of Guardians of the Galaxy is what the movies were most closely based off. The movies are still quite a bit different but the most inspiration comes from Abnett. He did a lot of the cosmic Marvel stuff back in the day and it’s all awesome.
@@zulgeek9827 oh I have the realm of kings omnibuses I think his guardians run is in there!
@@BenjaminsBookclub As another person said, his Guardians of the Galaxy run was excellent. He's done a lot of work for 2000ad as well, Kingdom, Brink and The Out are top notch.
"Good guys" of course being a relative term in the 40k universe. Even the Space Marines are part of and fight for an authoritarian empire.
They're also mostly not very nice chaps
Empire or Hell hmmmm
Erm… arguing about semantics 😂
They are the ultimate good. The only alternative is extinction
⚠️ Tau propaganda detected ⚠️
Found this video at just the right time. Thank you.
Awesome! Tha ks so much for watching!
I just started reading my first WH book the other day. I decided to go with Valdor, Birth of the Imperium. Really enjoying it so far. Think I might go with Forges of Mars next. Thanks for the tips!
I have added that one to my TBR list as well! Someone in another comment suggested it actually.
I really enjoyed Forges of Mars, seeing the sort of, dark side, of the labour it takes to get mechanicum things running was great.
Let me know what you think!
appreciate the recommendations my friend
Thanks so much for watching!
This was a great list I need to get back into reading Warhammer 40k. The first book I read was Death World by Steve Lyons and that book was weird as hell considering what was going on with the planet but also the Catachan Jungle Fighters are an interesting group for sure. Good one off book I think because it's just about this one squad of Jungle Fighters trying to complete their mission and deal with a strange planet.
I havnt read death world, but I have painted quite a few catachan in my day, the old metal ones mostly :D.
I should read it, I'll see if I can find a copy, gosh old (and new sometimes) black library books are crazy expensive.
Highly recommend The Lords of Silence for anyone interested in the Death Guard
A friend of mine who plays deathguard on the tabletop read it and said it was great, and I just plain forgot it exists, I should try to find a copy.
I took about 15 years off from fiction to read non-fiction and a good Chunk of that was seminal works if philosophy theology and religious texts.
While there are not a ton of "futurism" narratives in the 40k fiction. Most of that probably happened in the dark age of technology, i find the better 40k works pertaining to chaos and the question of good in 40k pretty excellent. It's not tolkein or Tolstoy, but for mass paperback fiction like what i read growing up it's legit when it is good.
I have been very pleasantly surprised by the quality of a lot of the Black Library books, I was expecting them all to just be tie in action romps, but some have become books I would list up with other non licensed book franchises.
Thanks for this video Benjamin! Since I have come back to the fold of reading, I've been tempted to pick up some Warhammer but just felt overwhelmed and intimated. Thanks for breaking it down for a novice like myself!
The fact that you already read Star wars means you won't have that voice that many people have in their head that licensed sci fi isn't real sci fi books. So I think you will really like some of the Warhammer books!
I loved "The flight of the Eisenstein"
Same, one of my favourites from the Hrous Heresy series.
I made the daunting decision to start from the beginning (Horus Heresy). They’ve been great books (Fulgrim is a bit slow so far tho..) but I don’t think I have a true appreciation all of the characters yet. But, I’m 4 books in and don’t plan to deviate from this path. Take that as you will - I am very stubborn - I started with GSC as my army.
Oh boy, even I wasn't brave enough for that, Ive been focusing on the main novels, and the offshoots, skipping a lot of the short story collections and some of the novels that don't interest me, like Nemesis.
Fulgrim is one of my favourites of the series, it all pays off well.
Make sure to keep me updated on what book you're on and what you think.
I started with "Krieg" as my first warhammer40k book because, well, I thought the DKoK looked sick. After a lot more reading i do not regret my starting point in the slightest.
I have seen this one in shops a few times, but havnt picked it up, you reckon it was a good one? If so I'll go grab a copy this weekend before it goes out of print forever :D
@BenjaminsBookclub if you're even slightly interested in the Death Korps of Krieg, I highly recommend. It goes into the history of their planet/how they became what they are, as well as how other infantrymen react to fighting alongside them. I love it 😂
@@thneakythniper you convinced me, I'll hit my local geedubs tomorrow!
Me and a good pal are playing through space Marine 2 rn and just finished the asoiaf series. Feels like a perfect time to get into the actual text >:}
I havn't read them yet, but the Urial Ventris Chronicles are probably a good place to go from Space Marine 2, they follow an Ultramarine.
I'm loving Space Marine 2, but I feel like not having the orks from 1 hurts the game a bit :D
Cool video and list mate. Gaunts Ghosts is absolute gold from book 3 onwards i felt. Great action, varied war zones, amazing characters and the further you go it packs an incredible emotional punch that you just wouldnt expect from "pulpy space war " novels 😂
I'm just about to finish #5 now, and book 4 was fantastic, 5 has been great so far too. Really connecting with the characters and yeah some great emotional moments.
You've got so much awesome stuff to come. Enjoy it mate. Would also recommend Titanicus if you haven't read it. Set in the Sabbat Worlds also and by Abnett. Huge Titan battles and great depiction of the Mechanicus but intertwined with the same ground level chatacter work as Gaunts Ghosts.
@@davidpaterson1203 Titanicus is one of my faveorite 40k novels. I've read it like 3 times :D
Yeah loved that series. Consider it a bit of a guilty pleasure series so I never recommend it. You are right the later books get much better.
I consider myself really late to the party, for I only immersed myself in WarHammer 40K as I was researching for world building tips for the scifi fantasy book I was about to write. That was only 5 or 6 months ago? Not a gamer guy nor a miniatures collector type, but the stories of WarHammer fascinate me, and I'm afraid that if I finished writing book, I would quickly expect anyone who read it and say, "Yep, definitely inspired by 40K."
Hey just write it, everything's inspired by something, no shame in using inspiration from things you like, no story grows from nothing. Wouldn't have star wars if not for samurai films, wouldn't have crime fiction without in cold blood etc
Every story has roots somewhere,n
I've been getting back into 40k books recently. Although I have a kindle I still prefer print books and one issue seems to be that 40k books go out of print fairly quickly and second hand prices are pretty high.
Yeah black library is atrocious at keeping things in stock.
Started with Horus Heresay and loved it
Sweet! What was your favourite HH book? I think mines one of the three in the mini trilogy, First Heretic, Know no Fear & Betrayer, hard to pick one from those three.
I think the HH books are a fine starting point, but I reckon you get more out of them if you have an understanding of the universe to begin with.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I’ve only read Horus Rising but moving to False gods next. Only thing is that I’ve loved Dan Abbnet and realized the others are written by him. Hope they live up.
@@jamesfranchuk4396 The first three are all fantastic, after that it starts to get hit and miss.
I liked dead man walking, a very short novel depicting a necron awakening from the perspective of an average citizen, with the appearance of the Death Korps of Krieg. Very cool, very grimderp.
Oh I do have that one on my shelf but I havn't gotten around to reading it yet. I might jump on it soon! Sounds like a bunch of fun!
Great book, loved that they never straight up said what the Necrons were because why would a random citizen or even Krieger know, but the reader knows what they were based off the descriptions.
@@Kottery yeah that's so true! I forgot about that. It makes it feel like you are one of them in the ground and also you aren't just reading a plug from grimdark IP™
I started initially a few years ago with the Eisenhorn series but it didn't catch my attention.
A lot of things I did not understand.
One year later I picked up the Horus Heresy...Horus Rising.
That got me into the universe.
So whatever works I guess.
Everyone's going to have a different experience I think, have you tried to go back to Eisenhorn since? It's really worth it I think.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I tried. It is worth it, but I am not a big fan of the Inquisition sadly.
I think Dante, and later the Devastation of Baal buy Guy Haley are pretty good introductory books also. Dante is mainly about the trials Dante had to undergo to become a space marine, so it's a pretty good way of learning about the space marines from a human perspective, and the Devastation of Baal is a maybe a little overstuffed for a new reader, but it's got good action and introduces some of the more recent plot developments that are still being explored in the current story arcs of the game.
You know I considered Detestation of Baal, but as you said I thought it might be a bit overstuffed, and it's been a very long time since I read it but I don't remember much in the way of describing what the Nids are and who the blood angels are, it's probably there but I forgot it.
Dante however is a fantastic suggestion! I don't know why I didn't consider it!
Blood angels is my biggest army on the tabletop too so I am a disgrace to my chapter master.
While Cain is fun reading and fresh after reading so many dark W40k novels, I would not say it is good for beginners as it might show W40k universe in a different light and might start expectations that overall will not come in the other novels.
I grew up with Ghosts, Space Wolfs and that trilogy of 13th legion and it was a great starter for DoW 1 and to get enough interest to start exploring.
I think having some better understanding of the Warhammer universe makes Cain a better read, and it's definitely a parody at times so it's good to have a firm Understanding of what it's parodying.
Gosh I love DoW1
One of my favourite 40k books is The Death of Antagonis, by David Annandale. It's the Space Marine Battles book for one of my favourite and, IMO, one of the most compelling Chapters, the Black Dragons, and it shows their struggles for acceptance, from both the wider Imperium and from their own self-doubts. A really fantastic standalone novel that showcases the lengths to which people will stoop to in order to prove their cause is just, and the lengths to which it takes us to truly value ourselves for what we are beyond how other people see us.
Awesome! I hadn't heard of this one, I do like David Annandale, and I have enjoyed the Space Marine Battle Books I've read so far, Rynn's World and Helsreach.
You know I don't know much, if anything, about the Black Dragons either, I will have to add it to my (Ever expanding) TBR list!
Thanks so much Great suggestion!
I've just read David Annandale's stories in the "God Machines" omnibus and they are fantastic. You can't go wrong with big stompy Titans and a cast of compelling characters.
I have never read more grim things than the things that have happened in 40k.
I started waaaay back with Let the galaxy burn. A superb short story collection. And have been floating through whatever takes my fancy since. Referring to myself as a casual lore surfer.
But recent Games workshop choices have stopped me in my tracks. Not sure I will continue surfing until I hear GW show it’s fanbase some respect and not change the lore on the fly and then lie about it.
RIP Deathwatch 💀💀
I’ve recently gotten into Warhammer due to Space Marine 2 and I really liked the Black Templar aesthetic the most so did some digging and found out about their ethos (crazy zealous loyalist who believe Big E is a literally God), their founding and their heroes so now I’m trying to find a copy of Helsreach paperback but it’s impossible ☹️
Yeah its so hard to find, a brand new Black Templar book just came out though, by the same author as Infite & The Divine. Called Broken Crusade, I havn't read it or seen any reviews yet, I just went and picked up a copy at the local warhammer store yesterday! I am a Black Templar Fanboy, I have dozens of little black and white space men on my painting/gaming tables :D
@@BenjaminsBookclub I actually picked Broken Crusade up because as you say it was newly released and i saw a Black Templar on the front and thought you know what let me just dive in and grab this book and see what happens (who knows it might be out of stock in a year or two like Helsreach). So far I've read the first 100 pages and I'm really enjoying it, it's defo made me want to read more and more about 40k. Black Templars are also my favourites but they are quite intense so at times they feel hard to truly relate to so I defo want to pick up some decent novels about some of the less... fanatical... Astartes.
Great list! All of these are amazing books/series (at least the ones of them I've read, I haven't read Double Eagle or Brothers of the Snake). Maybe I'll check them out after I finish Kingmaker. My first Warhammer book was The Infinite and the Divine, and while fantastic I think having a good amount of prior knowledge on the setting was really helpful.
Any reason you didn't choose the Dark Imperium trilogy? When I think of an introduction to "modern" Warhammer, that's the first series that comes to mind.
A very simple reason, I havn't read them. I was playing heavily at the release of 8th and around that time, but wasn't super interested in that part of the lore, I should try to pick them up and see how they are though.
I really need to get around to reading The Infinite and the Divine don't I.
Hooked on Horus heresy after space marine 2
Awesome! I love most of the HH Books!
I began with "The First Heretic."
Little did I know how valuable that first tome would truly be.
Once you start down the perverbial rabbit-hole of the Black Library, it's hard to not look at yourself as a bit of a 40K Word-Bearer...
One of, if not maybe, my faveorite of the heresy novels, that little trilogy of First Heretic, Know No Fear and Betrayer are just phenomenal.
Start with 'Horus Rising'.
I think if you know nothing about the setting, starting with some 40k books makes the heresy better, and also, "just start with book 1 of a 64 book series" is a hard sell :D
Do you read the Fantasy side of Warhammer? If so a sister episode of this video would be great. I play both games but am clueless about where to start reading, so thank you for this video!!
I've never read any of the fantasy books unfortunately, I have eyed a few of the age of Sigmar ones recently though.
Hours Rising was my first. I was sucked in immediately
It really is a great book, Abnet writes Horus in such a good light in that book, i found myself wishing that I'd get to the end and it would all just turn out fine :D
Start with the entire Horus Heresy. Ez.
"how do I get into this thing you like?"
"Super easy, just read these 64 books"
:D
Been going down the rabbit hole and been looking to try and get into the books through the audiobooks, but wow they are expensive....
For audio books I've had an audible subscription for like a decade, and atleast half my library is Warhammer there.
But the paperbacks get super expensive as soon as they go out of print, and at any one point in time it's like 98% of the catalogue is out of print, it sucks.
You mention relatability, and I agree that relatability can be a strength if done correctly. But I also love Warhammer lore because it is so far in the future that the human race feels like an alien race. One of the things I liked about the Dune universe as well. I can’t really get into sci-fi that is set in 2050 or something. It just doesn’t seem like sci-fi when it’s something I’m going to live to see.
Relatability is good, but it can also be bad in some instances when story tellers try to hyper inject things from our time period and world into a story that is supposed to be so far removed from it. It is a lot of the reason fantasy has started to get dull for me, it seems like they just go over the same trope over and over again. I still enjoy fantasy, but it can get exhausting if I never break out.
Some very good points, I agree sometimes the weird and fanciful can be better if it's not super relatable, it's one of the things I love about Neuromancer.
Prob best to start with The Hobbit.
Just start with Fellowship.
The first 40k books I read were Space Marine, Inquisitor and the Death Wing omnibus
None of these would be appropriate for new readers today, given much of them are no longer canon
I havn't read any of those! Oh, the Deathwing Omnibus isn't even on the 1st Company of Dark Angels? Good old books haha!
Good vid. I’m a big Abnet fan like everyone else I also like ADB when writing about Chaos. But I’m naturally more of a Fantasy guy than SciFi and all the Warhammer Fantasy books I’ve read aren’t particularly good any suggestions?
Thanks so much! I've never been a big Warhammer fantasy or age of Sigmar guy, I have heard the recent age of Sigmar books have been pretty good but I havnt read any of them sorry 😔
What about non human factions? For me that's one of the most intriguing parts of wh40k but it also seems quite underdeveloped
There are definitly more humanity focused writers and books, as for Xeno stuff:
Tau: I hear Fire Caste and The Farsight Books are good but I havn't read them
Orks: Brutal Kunnin was fun, good not great, I have a video review up if you want to check it out.
Eldar: I hear Path of the Warrior is the Eldar book to start with, it's on my TBR
Necrons: I would guess The Infinite and The Divine, which I am hoping to read in October, otherwise i find that like the tyranids the necrons work best as antagonists, I think its Caves of Ice, one of the Ciaphas Cain books that has necrons in it that I liked alot.
Genestealer Cult: Day of Ascension is supposed to be great, by one of my faveorite authors, the only reason I havn't read it is I'm pretty sure it'll make me want to buy an army, and my wallet can't handle that right now.
The path trilogy of the Aeldari is quite good and I love jain zar either. I love the First farsight book of the Tau Empire. The First necron book of the dialogy and the devine are great books.
There are some good genestealer books but the best is das of Ascension. A nice Look in the tyranis hivemind is Hidden in devastation of Baal.
The orc books of Mike Brooks are awesome or you read ryns World and legacy of Dorn.
One aspect is tonread in the Imperium Side the Deathwatch books.
I am not a Fan about the drukhari trilogy but in my memories was it ok
New fan here, my older brother was always into it though so I absorbed a bit by osmosis.
I'd like to know more about the Raven Guard, where should I start?
The only Raven Guard novel I've read is Deliverence Lost, which is around the middle of the Hours Heresy, but you should be good to just read that if you have a small idea of the heresy.
As for the book, it gets some poor reviews every now and then but I thought it was awesome.
@@BenjaminsBookclub Thank you
The real totally unbiased top 8:
1. angels of darkness
2. master of sanctity
3. The unforgiven
5. angels of caliban
6. luther: first of the fallen
7. The lion: sons of the forest
8. Arks of omen: the lion
Wait a second,,,,,,
You know I saw a lot of negativity about the Dark Angel Horus heresy books, I almost skipped them, but I'm really glad I didn't they rocked!
@BenjaminsBookclub indeed so I'll revise and toss in Leman Russ: the great wolf, lion el'jonson: Lord of the First, first legion, and alpharius: head of the hydra lol