Which ones to read and why

[Brian]

I have read the first three books in the Horus Heresy. I am wondering what to read next outside of the Heresy books. What non-heresy book is your favorite and why?

[Tim]

I love the Space Marines, but Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts books are probably the best I've read from 40k.

The Ciaphas Cain books are also good and easy to get in to because of the humor.

[Brian]

Thanks, Tim. I am a big fan of the Space Marines as well. I recently received the Eisenhorn omnibus from a relative and I am intrigued by the Inquisitors. Which is the first of the Guant books?

[Tim]

There's eleven books altogether, but luckily for our pockets they've been spread in to three omnibus' and then the last book is on it's own.

Books 1-3 are collected in the omnibus, [Book: Gaunt's Ghosts: The Founding]
Books 4-7 are collected in the omnibus, [Book: Gaunt's Ghosts: The Saint]
Books 8-10 are collected in the omnibus, [Book: Gaunt's Ghosts: The Lost]

Last book is Only in Death.

I've finished the second omnibus and keep checking the local book stores to see if I can find the third, but they never have it, and I'm too cheap to buy the books separately lol. I'll probably just end up ordering it on Amazon (only ten bucks new!).

Dan Abnett is just a great writer. He's not only great at developing characters that you love to read about (whether you love or hate the characters themselves), but also in creating a great military story.

The Eisenhorn books are also great, just a little harder to get in to if you're new to the 40K universe since there's more Warhammer... jargon used with the Inquisition than there is with the Imperial Guard which we have a modern day equivalent of. I was originally a little put off at the time between each book (80-100 years I think?), but it suits Gregor Eisenhorn's and the Inquisition's progression. Like I said though, Abnett is great at creating characters you love to read about, and I was disappointed when I finished the last of Eisenhorn and there was no more left for me to read.

[Sarah]

lol I am trying to figure out which non-heresy ones to read....heresy is pretty fun for the most part:D

[Brian]

Sarah wrote: "lol I am trying to figure out which non-heresy ones to read....heresy is pretty fun for the most part:D"

I read Eisenhorn and really liked it. The inquisitors have a unique perspective versus the Space Marines. It also incorporates so thiller or mystery conventions.

[Sarah]

Thanks i'll check that out next time I go book shopping:)

[John]

I just finished reading Sons of Dorn and really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it as a read. I'm also currently reading Salamander and would recommend it as well. While I'm enjoying Salamander, it did start off pretty slow & didn't pick up until about half way through - it is the 1st in a trilogy though. After I finish Salamander, I'm going to start Rynn's World.

[Brian]

Has anyone read Helsreach?

John, when does Sons of Dorn take place and what chapter is it, Imperial Fists?

[John]

Brian wrote: "Has anyone read Helsreach?

John, when does Sons of Dorn take place and what chapter is it, Imperial Fists?"

Yeah, it is an Imperial Fist novel and it's post Heresy if that's what your asking. Vladimir Pugh is Chapter Master & Lysander is Captain of 1st Company. I'd say it's set towards the end of the 41st millenia with the rest of the current 40k stuff.

[Tim]

[Book:Helsreach] seems to be coming out at the end of this April.

I'd never heard of the author before, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and it seems like only recently has he published any novels. The only one I could find old enough to have ratings (on Amazon) was Cadian Blood which looked pretty good.

[Brian]

Thanks John and Tim. I'll have to add both of those to my "to read" list. Cadian Blood is I think already on there.

Also Tim, there was a fan review of A Thousand Sons on Black Library's Facebook page. It sounds really quite good. The reviewer said he was familiar with the White Dwarf materail on the Thousand Sons and thought he had it all figured out, but he said it was not how he thought after all and was really quite pleased with it.

[Brian]

Just started The Flight of the Eisenstein. I am glad it is the Death Guard they are one of my favorite Legions.

[Tim]

I liked The Flight of the Eisenstein a lot. I think it's the last one involving the main characters from the first few books.

[Brian]

Tim wrote: "I liked The Flight of the Eisenstein a lot. I think it's the last one involving the main characters from the first few books."

Tim, Do you know which one comes next? Or doesn't it matter after the first four?

[Tim]

It matters a little.
Fulgrim (5), which is next, is actually the last one involving the beginning story arc so far. I was wrong, sorry. It was one of my favorites.

Battle for the Abyss (8) a couple characters make an appearance from the first story arc.

Descent of Angels (6) should be read before Fallen Angels (11) since those two are directly connected.

[Book: Tales of Heresy] and Mechanicus could essentially be read any time.

[Steve]

Tim wrote: "There's eleven books altogether, but luckily for our pockets they've been spread in to three omnibus' and then the last book is on it's own.

Books 1-3 are collected in the omnibus, [Book: Gaunt's ..."

I've read #1-3 and #8. Unfortunately, the bookstore didn't have "The Saint" omnibus when I went last time. Guess I'll have to go back and pick those up, since I love the series.

[Steve]

One of my favorites is "Fifteen Hours" by Michael Scanlon. A great story about a new recruit assigned to a Imperial Guard unit. The WH-40K stories are often on such a grand scale that we don't see what the regular soldier must endure. I highly recommend this one!

[Brian]

Just finished The Flight of the Eisenstein. It was a really good addition to the Heresy books so far. It brings to light more of the "God-Emperor" cult without burdening the reader with the three remaining rememberancers. It was interesting to see how the "Saint" and Garro were developed more.
Now I would like a book that picks up with Garro, Qruze and the Silent Sister after all of this.

[Tim]

The Flight of the Eisenstein was a pretty good bridging book I felt. I was interested in the story, but never really super excited about the individual characters until the very end. Which was kind of disappointing because I kept hoping that one of the next books would be about those three that you mentioned, but so far no luck.

[Tim]

Finished reading Rynn's World a little bit ago. It was really, really good. I would recommend it to anyone wanting some more Space Marine action.

[Brian]

Tim wrote: "Finished reading Rynn's World a little bit ago. It was really, really good. I would recommend it to anyone wanting some more Space Marine action."

Tim, What chapters are in it?

[Tim]

The Crimson Fists. They're defending their Chapter's home planet from a Waaagh!

Apparently it's a pretty infamous battle. My friend who has been in to 40K for a long time knew about the battle for Rynn's World already, but not the book. I think they never really explained what happened or how until the book, but basically the entire Chapter is almost eradicated before the Orks even finish touching down, and I think the fighting lasts a year and a half maybe.

[Brian]

Tim wrote: "The Crimson Fists. They're defending their Chapter's home planet from a Waaagh!

Apparently it's a pretty infamous battle. My friend who has been in to 40K for a long time knew about the battle f..."

I had heard of it before. But I thought it was Raven's Guard (and I was hoping it was a little bit).

[Brian]

So is Raven's Flight only an audiobook? There is another title I have seen also that I saw as an "audiodrama."

Has anyone any knowledge of these and how they are? I have only listened to one audiobook and while the story was decent the guy reading it was pretty bad.

[John]

Brian wrote: "So is Raven's Flight only an audiobook? There is another title I have seen also that I saw as an "audiodrama."

Has anyone any knowledge of these and how they are? I have only listened to one..."

If you want something with the Raven Guard there is a new Space Marine Battles book coming up called Hunt for Voldorius. http://www.blacklibrary.com/Warhammer...

Don't have any info on Raven's Flight other than it takes place as part of the Horus Heresy so it's about 10,000 years before the current story lines. I would recommend the Horus Heresy series though.

I also read Rynn's World & thought it was great. I would recommend it to everyone. I would also recommend Sons of Dorn.

[Brian]

John wrote: "Brian wrote: "So is Raven's Flight only an audiobook? There is another title I have seen also that I saw as an "audiodrama."

Has anyone any knowledge of these and how they are? I have only lis..."

Thanks, John.
I have both Rynn's World and Sons of Dorn on my to buy list at amazon. I am going to check out the battle book also.

[Tim]

I'm pretty sure Raven's Flight is only on audiobook. As far as I know they haven't released any of their previous Horus Heresy audiobooks in a text format, so it's probably the same case with this one.

[Nathen]

I enjoyed Soul Hunter by Aaron Dembski-Bowden. It's a superb novel, and kept me occupied and entertained for a good few days. It was one of the better Chaos Space Marine novels I've read, and puts a lot of effort into characterization, as well as fairly well written action scenes. I would heartily recommend it.

[Brian]

Nathen what other CSM novels would you recommend?

[Nathen]

Haven't really read many. Storm of Iron was good, but I haven't read any others, really.

[Brian]

Nathen wrote: "Haven't really read many. Storm of Iron was good, but I haven't read any others, really."

Thanks, I'll check it out. Did you see we are thinking of doing a group read in June. Are you interested? It is Helsreach

[Nathen]

Sure. Seems interesting. I'll pick up a copy when it comes out.