Top five 40k books

[ragnarcissist]

dont know if there is already a thread like this, but i just wanted to know what your top five (no particular order required) are and also maybe get some ideas on what books i should pick up.

heres mine:

space wolf
titanicus
eisenhorn
thousand sons
battle of the fang


anybody suggest anymore? ive read the first 4 books of the horus heresy and the two about the space wolves. anyothers that are must reads? i heard legion was good...

[energongoodie]

All the HH novels are must reads for a 40k fan. Some are obviousy much better than others. Personally I really like Prospero burns, Thousand sons, Fulgrim, Deliverance Lost, Legion and the first 3 are must reads. To be honest just read them all.

[Subsocial]

Mine would be:

Legion
A Thousand Sons
Storm of Iron
Mechanicum
Titanicus

Also good are the Gaunt's Ghosts, Eisenhorn, Ravenor, and Ciaphas Cain series. Honorable mention also goes to Redemption Corps, good book but not quite top five.

[ara989]

I really enjoyed Tide of Iron, Fulgrim, Horus Rising, False Gods, and The Saint omnibus.

[jcflanker]

My favorite are in no specific order

Galaxy in Flames
Legion
Angels of Darkness
13th Legion
Flight of the Eisenstine

[Warmaster Primus]

Anything by ADB. First Heretic is one of my favorites in the HH series, and the Night Lord novels are great.

[bfmusashi]

I've only read Legion and Deliverance Lost in the HH series, I don't think I'll be reading any more as I didn't think they were good. I have been liking the Ciphias Kain books though. The little throwbacks to ye olde times of recharging plasma guns and genestealer hybrids makes me happy.

[Soss]

Anything by ADB. First Heretic is one of my favorites in the HH series, and the Night Lord novels are great.

I have to 2nd this. I love all of his books.

[Maleclypse]

Ravenor Omnibus is definitely a must.

[wittdooley]

All the HH novels are must reads for a 40k fan. Some are obviousy much better than others. Personally I really like Prospero burns, Thousand sons, Fulgrim, Deliverance Lost, Legion and the first 3 are must reads. To be honest just read them all.

I still can't figure out why you like Deliverance Lost so much ;-)

Here's mine:

HH
1. Prospero Burns - Abnett
2. Know No Fear - Abnett
3. Nemesis - James Swallow
4. The First Heretic - ADB
5. Mechanicum - McNeill

Regular 40K
1. Battle of the Fang - Chris Wraight
2. Soul Hunter - ADB
3. Rogue Star - Andy Hoare
4. Titanicus - Abnett
5. Xenos - Abnett

[Shadow Walker]

1. Titanicus.
2. A thousand Sons.
3. First Heretic.
4. Mechanicum.
5. Helsreach.

[Wolfshade]

My top 5:

Eisenhorn
The Founding
Prospero Burns
Caiphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium
Legion

Hmm, seems I have a bit of a Dan Abnett thing going on...

[Etriagn]

HH, some are better, some worse, but as a whole the series is great.

Dark Apostle and the follow-ups are good, too, They give a nice view of the Word Bearers.

[VTSvsAlucard]

Limiting myself to only one from each series:

1. The Last Chancers (My first 40k book, holding a special place in my heart)
2. The Flight of the Eisenstein (I've only read HH through Fulgrim, but I'm looking forward to Legion when I get there)
3. Caiphas Cain
4. Fall of Damnos
5. And of course, the first Gaunt's Ghost

Looking to continue HH, check out Eisenhorn and the Salamanders novels. I've read the Ultramarines Omnibus, and it's alright. Read the first Soul Drinkers book and omgwtfidonteven.

[Dubledox]

My favorite 40k books thusfar have been Abnett's Tanith First and Only ones. The character development in them just puts all other 40k books to shame. I'm not a huge fan of mindless action from the prospective of space marines. I strongly disliked the Space Wolf Omnibus, wasn't even a big fan of thousand suns. I've heard great things from Soul Hunter but am taking a break from 40k stuff right now. My top five probably something like this...

1. Traitor General
2. Only In Death
3. Guns of Tanith
4. Necropolis
5. Ghostmaker

Incidentally all Gaunt's Ghosts novels. That being said I'm not even really a huge Abnett fan, I read the first 3 Ravenor books and was somewhat disappointed. I think any 40k fan should read the Gaunt novels, though.

[chromedog]

Eisenhorn trilogy.
Malleus
Hereticus
Xenos.
Ravenor
Ravenor returned.

I've read one HH novel and it doesn't rate compared to these 5. The rest of them are just marine re-tellings of Paradise lost and biblical tales and about as interesting to me as the bible to read (or Lotr).

[Corvidae]

Storm of Iron
13th Legion
Legends of the Space Marines (I miss Warhammer 40k Short Stories, so this was nice)
Dark Angels
Xenology


Not trying to be negative, but the new Horus Heresy Novels ( I read the first three) I think are not worth the read, don't really like the writing, and I liked the Legend of the times a lot more than the very detailed description which kind of takes away the mystery and power of what happened, and to me personally made it kind of lame. I realize I am in the minority on this one. :rolleyes:

[Tepogue]

I still like Kal Draco the original Inquisitor book, despite the 2nd and 3rd books being let downs.

The Horus Heresay series has good and bad books and still makes to chuckle to think the origin of the grey knights are possibily loyal Death Guard.

Storm of Iron caused me to make an Iron Warriors army that I recently brought out of retirement, hoping the 6th ed and chaos 40k rumors are true.

[Haggis McMutton]

from the books iv'e read or am reading:

1. Eisenhorn omibus
2.Helsreach (I play Black Templar)
3. Kill Team (currently reading, alot better book than I thought it would be.)

Yeah it seems there's a consensus when it comes to Dan Abnett.
Eisenhorn, Ravenor, Gaunts Ghosts,and the Horus Heresy books seem to be the best choices.

[Captain Khorne]

It's gotta be Eisenhorn trilogy, Ultramarines trilogy, All of the Gaunt's Ghost books, Helsreach and the first 3 of the Horus Heresy

[Spectral Dragon]

My opinion of must reads for 40k:

1) Any and all of Dan Abnetts Inquisitor books (Eisenhorn or Ravernor.) (As noted in another thread the next of these books comes out later this year.)
2) The first 4 Horus Heresy Books, plus mechanicum and The one about assassins (can't be bothered to remember the name. Prospero Burns was also especially good.
3) The two Space Wolf Omnibus's
4) Atlas Infernal
5) The Current Eldar Books Being put out are quite good.

There are more, but you only wanted 5 ;)

Currently Reading: Legion. Extremely good so far.

[bladeofdeath3]

HH (In no particular order, these are all great):
1. Legion
2. A Thousand Sons
3. Fulgrim
4. Know No Fear
5. Deliverance Lost

40k
1. Titanicus
2. Gaunt's Ghosts
3. Ciaphas Cain
4. Eisenhorn trilogy
5. Ravenor

Is it odd that Abnett dominates the list...

[rebvamp13]

cain last stand
dead men walking
horus rising
gun heads
fall damons

[Colonel Kreitz]

1) Execution Hour - This book is amazing. It's by Gordon Rennie, who only wrote (to my knowledge) two books for BL, but it's really worth reading if you can find a copy.

2) Only in Death (Gaunt's Ghosts) - By most measures, it probably isn't the best book in the series, but it resolves a couple subplots I found really interesting and I love the "battle in a haunted house" setup.

3) Necropolis (Gaunt's Ghosts) - Back to back Gaunt's Ghosts, I know, but massive city battle and the inception of the Vervunhivers? Hard to top.

4) Eisenhorn Omnibus - I'm cheating and getting all three of these in here. They're all outstanding.

5) Traitor's Hand - I can't wrap up without a Ciaphus Cain novel.

I should add, I also really enjoyed Storm of Iron and Dead Men Walking for its utter bleakness. I think it captured the spirit of 40K and of the Krieg regiments perfectly.

I see Titanicus is really popular, but I actually didn't enjoy it that much (and as you can see, I am an Abnett fan). Why did you guys enjoy it so much?

[Terence]

1. Prospero Burns
2. Eisenhorn trilogy
3. Ravenor trilogy
4. First and Only
5. Mechanicus

[doom-kitten]

I've only just started reading 40k novels but from what I have read and own, I'd go with:

1.Horus Rising
2.Flight of the Eisenstein
3.Legion
4.Faith and Fire (I play sisters so yeah)
5.Red and Black (barely makes the list and only because I haven't read more books)

I own the HH up to Legion and the first two SoB books by James Swallow, not getting the audio book because I hate the idea of books on CD, will continue the HH and have read a spattering of other novels here and there.

[Gorechilde]

My two cents worth...

1.Horus Rising
2.Double Eagle
3.Execution Hour
4.Storm of Iron
5.Ravenor

These are not in any order.

[The AKH]

In no particular order;

Only In Death
Ravenor
Know No Fear
Double Eagle
Eisenhorn

[rakshasa]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned "Lord of the night".
It's not only very good 40k fiction, it's also a good book in general. A recomended read even for people that don't know 40k and just want to read good SF.;)

[alshrive]

1. Eisenhorn Omnibus (i know it is 3, but they are in 1 book- deal with it!0
2. Necropolis- the best gaunts ghost novel to date
3. Iron Hands- just love it!
4. Soul hunter
5. For The Emperor

these are my personal favourite so far....

ALShrive

[spaceman91]

Ultramarines omnibus 1 &2
Fulgrim
First heretic
Eisenhorn omnibus
Any of the ghost books all are epic reads.

[Hurons_Champion]

1. Prospero Burns
2. Battle of the Fang (I love Space Wolves)
3. The Badab War part 1&2 (for non-factual Battle Plans and Fluff they are excellent reads)
4. Battle for the Abyss (I'm one of the few people that liked it)
5. Finally the Tome of Fire Trilogy (Nick Kyme is a good though sporadic writer)