here's a random question...good books?

[r4wr89]

so i've heard numerous complaints on the "purity" of the fluff presented in 40k novels, but setting that aside, are there any that are notable or extremely weel written/exciting ?

i read a lot, and so looking into some 40k novels would be a logical step, no ?

haha
-ant

[experiment 626]

Originally Posted by r4wr89

so i've heard numerous complaints on the "purity" of the fluff presented in 40k novels, but setting that aside, are there any that are notable or extremely weel written/exciting ?

i read a lot, and so looking into some 40k novels would be a logical step, no ?

haha
-ant

- pretty much anything writen by dan abnett is damn good -especially his gaunt's ghosts novels!

- the ultramarines novels 'nightbringer' (wonder what that one's about? ) 'warriors of ultramar' and 'dead sky, black sun' by graham mcneill...
i also heartily recommend that you read 'storm of iron' (again by mr. mcniell) prior to reading dead sky, black sun as those two novels are related!

- the ragnar blackmane novels by william king. (who doesn't like space puppies?!!)

the eisenhorn trilogy, xenos, malleus and hereticus are supposed to quite good too!
also, avoid *anything* writen by cs gotto... if you want to read badly butchered background, then by all means, go for his books!

cheers!

[Heroka Vendile]

I have to agree, ANYTHING written by Dan Abnett is brilliant, no matter how some people complain about his descriptions of certain things (I disagree with them) - Though this said, i'm finding very hard to get 'into' Horus Rising.

Eisenhorn, Guants Ghosts, Double Eagle(tho wait untill you've read up to the end of 'The Saint' section of GG books). Also try out the Graphic Novels such as the Titan series and Imperial Gothic (a collection of pure Dan Abnett 40K graphic-novel-y-ness).

I would also highly recommend the Commissar Cain series. Unfortunately the majority of them are out of print now, so it may be best to wait till an omnibus arrives(Which i think is actually scheduled to happen in the spring).

For something in the other world(WFB) i would recommend the Gotrek & Felix novels above all others.

Going back to 40K though, i would also advise buying "Let The Galaxy Burn" its one hell of a massive book, but is somehow the same price as all their other ones! its collects the vast majority of the published 40K short stories.
I would think a Fantasy version of it would also be likely in the near future, but then again, there is alot more released for 40K by Black Library than for WFB, so there may not be enough matterial to do the same yet.

Enjoy reading!!

[Torquemada Coteaz]

I loved th UM series, double eagle, and eisenhorn and ravenor books.
HH trilogy are some of the best stuff of dan/ben/graham in my opinion, as choice of words is superb, use of imagery and stuff is swell, and it isn't configured to be a plain-worded max-killfactor gorenovel

[experiment 626]

the thing to keep in mind about the horus heresy books (as well as storm of iron!) is that they are told from the 'bad guys' perspectives so you're getting to hear their side of the story which is a very cool twist!

if you can somehow find them, you should definately get the compleat liber chaotica (say bye-bye to your sanity first ) and the 'imperial infantryman's uplifting primer' - it's such a brilliant piece of imperial propeganda!lol.

cheers!

[Inquisitor Ralei]

While Eisenhorn and Ravenor are good books, Abnett knows next to nothing about the 40k Universe and Gaunts Ghosts gets boring extremely quickly.
I found Faith and Fire a good book and loved Soul Drinker although The Bleeding Chalice and Crimson Tears were very disappointing.
The Last Chancers Trilogy is a fun read as is the Ultramarines Trilogy although I think Ventris has his head too far stuck up his own backside!
The same goes with Grey Knights and Dark Adeptus, good reads but the main protagonist, Justicar Alaric I bloody well hate...I loved Archmagos Saphentis.
I enjoyed some of the short stories in Tales from the Dark Millenium although the book was too short.

[Perturabo]

I think the biggest thing here is that its a matter of personal opinion as to what is good and what is junk! You should make up youre own mind. I never listen to film critics but go and see the films for myself (how do they know what I like/dislike) -I also read every piece of ficton/fluff that I can get my dirty mitts on, whilst a story might not all be brilliant you may pick up the occasional little gem from it!

[Inquisitor Ralei]

You also have to be careful not to pick up too many misconceptions.

[experiment 626]

Originally Posted by Perturabo

I think the biggest thing here is that its a matter of personal opinion as to what is good and what is junk! You should make up youre own mind. I never listen to film critics but go and see the films for myself (how do they know what I like/dislike) -I also read every piece of ficton/fluff that I can get my dirty mitts on, whilst a story might not all be brilliant you may pick up the occasional little gem from it!

so very true and well put

just have a look around the black library site and read through the little excerpts and such to see what you might be interested in...

however, if you are a background purist, then cs gotto is still to be avoided like the plague... i mean come-on! since when do SCOUTS on bikes get power armour?!! and how long has it been since space marines carried multi-lasers?!O.o
*shudders at the thought of having wasted good money on gotto novels*

cheers!

[Inquisitor Ralei]

Hahaha, you and your Gotto hatred...although I can't blame you.
All I can say is buy Xenology ASAP...damn I love that book.

[experiment 626]

Originally Posted by Inquisitor Ralei

Hahaha, you and your Gotto hatred...although I can't blame you.

that fool cost me a bitz order/more guardsmen

i had ordered through the local book store and had i known just how butchered his novels are, i would have waited the extra 3 months till christmas to get the other two books i wanted...

cheers!

[Torquemada Coteaz]

well i love all the fluff/art books from BL, like the Inquisitor books, HH, sabbat world crusades, 13th black crusdae, and stuff like that.
I second the Grey Knights series (grey knights and dark adeptus are one series), and 15 hours seemd good from the summary.
The primer's really good, i'm still trying to track one down and buy it.
but yes its a matter of your opinion, go to BL sites and read the summaries and the "free first chapters".
however i usually dont suggest compilation of short stories as they are messed up in the extreme. (cant remember which one i read, but it was HORRIBLY botched fluff wise and in other ways)

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

Eisenhorn. Although you may want to read that last, because after I read it, I was so depressed because I knew nothing I read afterwards would be that good. Wow. I don't know about not knowing about the 40k universe, but Dan Abnett makes what he writes believeable. I found no fault with it.

Except when the Inquisition is marching in that parade with the shielded Alpha-level psykers... that seemed kinda silly to begin with...

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

what not to read... Ian Watsons The Inquisition War. most wasted book i ever bought.

i cant recomend the liber chaotica books enough, though they might not actually be novels, they sure are interesting. and damn they look good too!

[ChaplainTom]

Mainly it's up to what you like but I recommend that you read "Let The Galaxy Burn" as it has over 30 short stories in from various authors, among them are people like Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Ben Counter. It's a good starting point.

If you don't like short stories but you like to read about full on war then I'd go for Gaunts Ghosts or the Ultramarines Omnibus which are both great series.

But if you like to read about the war in shadows then go for the Eisenhorn or Ravenor novels as they are awesome. You can totally lose yourself in those stories sometimes.

[Lord Inquisitor Fyurex]

I Have read many books and nothing has been as good as Dan Abnetts Eisenhorn trilogy. The Gaunts Ghosts novels are fun to read, and are the Commisar Cain ones, but they are more "fun" stories in my mind. The Horus heresy series and the Eisenhorn trilogy are the books i would recomend above all else. I have not read some of the books mentioned in earlier posts, but i agree in that THE INQUISITION WAR is not worth it. Graham McNiell is another good author and his unltramarines onmibus is something i can read again and again.

[Heroka Vendile]

Originally Posted by Inquisitor Ralei

All I can say is buy Xenology ASAP...damn I love that book.

i really wanted that, but i waited too long and now its out of print and impossible to find in GW's

[Spartan2154]

All the horus heresy books are real good. dan abnett i have to agree is one of my favorite authors, "he does war goodin" and finally the ultramarines omnibus is great, 3 great ultramarines books, and a short story for 10 bucks if ur lookin 4 da bargins.