Anyone into the Warhammer books?
- Thread starter Endymion
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i know next to nothing about them, but i'd say start with the Horus Heresy books...
First things first, do you mean the Warhammer fantasy novels, or the Warhammer 40,000 novels. They are two different settings, the first obviously fantasy the second science-fiction.
Most of the Black Library novels (the publisher of the books) are standalone, and can be read in any order, so theres no single start point.
But if you want to start with the events that shape the current Warhammer and 40k settings, the two series to read are the 'Time of Legends' series, beginning with 'Heldenhammer' by Graham McNeil and the 'Horus Heresy' series, beginning with 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett.
Both series lay the foundation for the settings, although they are by no means compulsory reads to understand the two universes - it took 20+ years for these stories to be told in detail, previously they were just hinted at in rulebooks.
Other recommended reading are the 'Warhammer Heroes' series, each book focusing on a specific mover and shaker in Warhammer, and 'Gaunts Ghosts', a series of novels written by Dan Abnett that focus on the human soldiers of the Imperium of Man.
Well this topic was very well timed. If you don't mind I'm just going to hijack this for a second.
I've never read a Warhammer 40K book before, but I was just gifted the Ravenor trilogy. Is this a good starting point for the series or will I be confused? Should I pick up something else (say Horus Heresy) to read and push Ravenor to the back of the queue?
I've never read a Warhammer 40K book before, but I was just gifted the Ravenor trilogy. Is this a good starting point for the series or will I be confused? Should I pick up something else (say Horus Heresy) to read and push Ravenor to the back of the queue?
The Horus Heresy books tell the background of the most important part of Warhammer 40.000 (or abreviated WH40K), a time that is often referenced by characters in the current timeline.
For the most part they are very well written (for entertainment literature that is) with few stinkers in between (that mostly just rile up veterans of the game and avid book readers
).
I believe it is a first (at least to me) to encounter someone who's starting the books chronologically since most people start someplace in the universe and slowly expand their knowledge of the background instead of starting with the background novels.. something not possible a few years ago since they are a sort of "recent" development that has garnered a big following and reputation.
It's double interesting for the many gamers out there who get "first hand" accounts of their favorite army since the rulebooks tend to only have a few pages of background and the rest of the book deals with gaming rules (naturally).
So enjoy them.. they are very entertaining and you've only begun to scratch the surface.. it's like the Star Wars and Star Trek novels.. there's a shitload of them!
They are a spin off from an earlier book series by the same author but the former series is not required to understand Ravenor (though knowing it may get you more insight into some of the events and mentionings). These books deal with Inquisitors.. think of them exactly like medieval Inquisitors but with the twist that Witches, Demons etc actually exist which gives their organisation a true purpose.
The 40K universe is vast and within there are a few very good books, most of them ok to mediocre and some are really bad.. it's impossible to review them all here and since everybody has different tastes there are as many opinions.
However personally i'm a big fan of the Gaunt's Ghosts series (a soldier regiment that specializes in stealth and infiltration tactics that hails from a destroyed world making them the sole survivors), the already mentioned Horus Heresy books (it's nice to see all those big players finally written about and recounting the story that is the foundation for 40K) and a few books here and there, e.g. Double Eagle (think Battle of Britain Science Fiction style) or Storm of Iron (a book written completely from the eyes of the most evil Chaos Space Marines as they lay siege to an imperial Fortress.. delightful to see all the backstabbing and animosity).
For the most part they are very well written (for entertainment literature that is) with few stinkers in between (that mostly just rile up veterans of the game and avid book readers
).I believe it is a first (at least to me) to encounter someone who's starting the books chronologically since most people start someplace in the universe and slowly expand their knowledge of the background instead of starting with the background novels.. something not possible a few years ago since they are a sort of "recent" development that has garnered a big following and reputation.
It's double interesting for the many gamers out there who get "first hand" accounts of their favorite army since the rulebooks tend to only have a few pages of background and the rest of the book deals with gaming rules (naturally).
So enjoy them.. they are very entertaining and you've only begun to scratch the surface.. it's like the Star Wars and Star Trek novels.. there's a shitload of them!
They are a spin off from an earlier book series by the same author but the former series is not required to understand Ravenor (though knowing it may get you more insight into some of the events and mentionings). These books deal with Inquisitors.. think of them exactly like medieval Inquisitors but with the twist that Witches, Demons etc actually exist which gives their organisation a true purpose.
The 40K universe is vast and within there are a few very good books, most of them ok to mediocre and some are really bad.. it's impossible to review them all here and since everybody has different tastes there are as many opinions.
However personally i'm a big fan of the Gaunt's Ghosts series (a soldier regiment that specializes in stealth and infiltration tactics that hails from a destroyed world making them the sole survivors), the already mentioned Horus Heresy books (it's nice to see all those big players finally written about and recounting the story that is the foundation for 40K) and a few books here and there, e.g. Double Eagle (think Battle of Britain Science Fiction style) or Storm of Iron (a book written completely from the eyes of the most evil Chaos Space Marines as they lay siege to an imperial Fortress.. delightful to see all the backstabbing and animosity).
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I would pick up the 'Eisenhorn' Omnibus and read that first. The 'Ravenor' trilogy is the middle trilogy of a trilogy of trilogies revolving around Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn, Inquisitor Ravenor and Alizebeth Bequin.
You'll be able to follow the plot, but some of the characters and events will have far more resonance if you read the 'Eisenhorn' books first.
Theres no real requirement to read anything else prior to those books though really, they are very much self contained.
If you are interested in a lesser "grim dark" 40K tale the stories of Ciaphas Cain, written by Sandy Mitchell, are very good.
Basically the autobiography of a retired Comissar, with a lot of funny anecdotes.
An old favourite are the Space Wolf books by William King, I would suggest to read these until "Wolfblade", the last book written by King. Other authors tried to take over and wrote follow ups, but they do not really do the character and story justice, IMHO.
Basically the autobiography of a retired Comissar, with a lot of funny anecdotes.
An old favourite are the Space Wolf books by William King, I would suggest to read these until "Wolfblade", the last book written by King. Other authors tried to take over and wrote follow ups, but they do not really do the character and story justice, IMHO.
What's the third? Is it Inquisition War?
Gaunt's Ghosts is my favourite series in WartyK, and I like a spot of Gotrek And Felix in the fantasy version...
We need Jim Swallow in the thread, though - as well as writing some Treks, he's done a number of 40K books...
We need Jim Swallow in the thread, though - as well as writing some Treks, he's done a number of 40K books...
There is no third Inquisitor trilogy by that author and with these characters, at least no official one.
The Inquisition War trilogy is a very old novel series, amongst their first published if i recall correctly and a bit outdated background wise now since the expansion the novels gave the 40K universe.
The Inquisition War trilogy is a very old novel series, amongst their first published if i recall correctly and a bit outdated background wise now since the expansion the novels gave the 40K universe.
Correction: There is no third trilogy yet. Dan's started work on what is tentatively known as the Bequin trilogy now. It was delayed somewhat by his illness earlier in the year, but now his epilepsy is thankfully under control he's cracking on with it.
But this is absolutely true. The Inquisition war is best to be avoided for the time being. Some of its ideas don't jibe with the current setting because of its age.
Some very bloomin' good 40k books at that.
Well, until he arrives here: I had an interview with him a few months ago and we talked a bit about his Warhammer 4oK stuff, too.
To the roof! We must turn on the JimSignal!
It'll be quite a while before a mainstream Warhammer film. They've had offers in the past, but the studios involved have always wanted to significantly change things. Games Workshop don't want to sell the rights unless they have final creative say.
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