[DeuceDrizzle]

I was just browsing through and happen to have seen the thread about the Warhammer 40k movie. I have seen the novels in the bookstore and have been interested in reading them (I could use a good action-fest). However, there are so many and they are so diverse I am not really sure where to begin or in what order to read them. I have looked around online and tried to figure it out but am still a bit lost.

Can anyone give some suggestions as to where I should begin?

Is there any order that the novels should be read in?

Thanks!

[The Tyrant Lizard]

Dont really know about the order.

I'd say Dan Abnet is the best when it comes to 40k novels, although William King's Space Wolf books are pretty good too. There's plenty to go through if you choose those two authors.

They both do warhammer fantasy books too, which are less complex but just as good

[DeuceDrizzle]

Is there any spot in the Abnett or King novels that you would suggest starting in or should I just grab a series and go?

[kon]

the founding by dan abnett, first three gaunts ghost books in one

[DeuceDrizzle]

Cool, I will start there and begin working my way through!

Thanks!

[Sindriss]

The ravenor serie is very good. And the Einsenhover as well.

[Morgoth]

Though I imagine you can find better military sci fi other places among the shelves. Dan Abnet is hailed as the nr 1. writer of warhammer novels but I was not at all impressed with his writing.

[Abyss]

If you're looking for solid MilSF, i recommend checking out the Baen books free library. Tonnes of good stuff there. For free. By established authors in the genre. For free. Almost anything by Weber, Ringo or White is worth reading, tho i especially suggest Ringo's Posleen series (the ones he wrote, not the ones by others) and Weber's Stars at War, Council Wars and March Upcountry series'.

- Abyss, should also mention that they are free.

[DeuceDrizzle]

 Abyss, on 29 April 2010 - 05:04 PM, said:

If you're looking for solid MilSF, i recommend checking out the Baen books free library. Tonnes of good stuff there. For free. By established authors in the genre. For free. Almost anything by Weber, Ringo or White is worth reading, tho i especially suggest Ringo's Posleen series (the ones he wrote, not the ones by others) and Weber's Stars at War, Council Wars and March Upcountry series'.

- Abyss, should also mention that they are free.

I like FREE!!

[Yellow]

I'm not a fan of Abnett's either. I think Graham McNeill is much better, at least going off the Horus Heresy series. Though if I'm honest, neither of them are exactly brilliant. Ah, it's 40k, though. No one's really in it for the spectacular writing

[Coco with marshmallows]

in 40k - Sandy Mitchell.

For Ciaphas Cain. Basically, Flashman in space - what's not to love?

But primarily, i'd have to agree with the Abyss' shout on the Baen books free library (found here!)

there are several series I'd recommend, but personally I'm quite fond of browsing, reading a chapter or so, and deciding if I like it or not.

Be warned, however, many of the books available are the first one (or two, or three) in an ongoing series.
This is a deliberate ploy that the librarian (Eric Flint) of the library freely admits to - it's a hook.

And frankly, a damned attractive one, as I've gone on to purchase and read several series that I started through the site when I first found it some nine years or so ago.

[lobo the wolfman]

I quite enjoyed Dan Abnett's novels. They aren't the most complicated of stories, but they are damn fun to read and he keeps the pace going. His Gaunts Ghosts series are about 11 or 12 books in and still it hasn't seemed tried to me at all.

A word of advice, stay away from Ben Counters 40K books, as they are just shockingly bad.

[amphibian]

If you want some seriously bad-ass action in a similar to WH40K, read "Armor" by John Steakley. Sooooo good, and without the "gigantic and complex universe to jump into" problem.

[Primateus]

William King's (Succeeded by Nathan Long) Slayer novels about Gotrek and Felix are highly entertaining. They're not very intelligent or deep and certainly not on par with MBotF, but they are highly entertaining.

For Warhammer 40k I suggest CS Gotos Dawn of War series based on the games and Stever Parkers Gunheads which is about an Imperial Guard armoured company.

[Paran]

Read the Eisenhorn trilogy and enjoyed it, definitely recommended - espionage, mystery, bad ass action, you name it.

[lobo the wolfman]

Just stay away from Ben Counter's Warhammer 40000 books, he is easily the worst writer out of the lot of them.

[Tsundoku]

 lobo the wolfman, on 17 August 2010 - 07:36 AM, said:

Just stay away from Ben Counter's Warhammer 40000 books, he is easily the worst writer out of the lot of them.

I see your Ben Counter and raise you Gav Thorpe. Nice guy, but a lousy writer.

[Garak]

At least the Last Chancer's series was fun. CS Goto on the other hand .....uh. Also, yes Counter is pretty bland (the only exception is the third Horus Heresy book which is nicely done all things considered).