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how do i start reading warhammer?
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lorenzo_macamp
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Jul 04, 2023 11:13AM
I want to enter this huge universe but I don't know where to start.
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I would start with a short series. Depending on what you like, Uriel Ventris, Ravenor, or Grimaldus would be my recommendations. Uriel for what I believe is the archetypal Space Marine 'good guy' and 'bad guy' if you read the corresponding Iron Warriors book. For the human side of 40k, you can try the Inquisitor Ravenor series. Both explain things very well for first time readers. Ravenor appeals to a more steam punk universe with less brawn and more brains. Lastly, Grimaldus, with the series centered on a certain single planet called Helsreach. This is one of my personal favorites. If you're looking for a single stand alone book that can, possibly, convey the richness of the technology and peculiarities of the 40k Universe, Titanicus is almost legendary and is my go-to recommendation for high first impressions with experienced science fiction readers.
But if your wallet and your reading time is vast and deep, you can always start Horus Heresy and go by the reading list found on any of the first books of the Solar War.
As far as Realmgate or Age of Sigmar. I'd probably recommend Plague Garden or Gotrek and Felix. I read the latter to my sons and they loved it. Though the deep Dwarf voice did a number on my throat, I'll admit I had a good time reading it to them.
I'd recommend Eisenhorn as a start rather than Ravenor, as Ravenor was a spin off from Eisenhorn (It's also a superb series and was my first 40k) - You can't go wrong with Dan Abnett
Gaunts Ghosts has a lot of material to start with too, that's one of the longest running series I believe, and it's almost entirely human characters, based within an Imperial Guard regiment named the Tanith First and Only.
Gaunt's Ghosts and Eisenhorn were my first step into W40K universe so many years ago and still my most favourite series together with the Horus Heresy saga. Gotrek saga span from the Old World to Age of Sigmar settings so is a good choice to start too. If you wanna try something from the bad guys' point of view, Night Lords and Word Bearers trilogies are just perfect, in my opinion. As Keith said above, Dan Abnett is just the Lord of the Dark Millennum, an anthology with this name exists to celebrate one of best Black Library authors, pick something random from him and enjoy.
I shouldn't fail to mention the Humble bundle deal 12 days away from expiring. If the link doesn't work, go to the website and choose Books on the dropdown list on Bundles. That Horus Heresy anthology has some amazing shorts in it like The Last Church. There's a lot there I haven't read yet, but 18 bucks is the price of just a single omnibus these days. Check it out!https://www.humblebundle.com/books/ch...
The Last Church is the best Back Library short story ever written IMO - A genius short form work.
Keith wrote: "The Last Church is the best Back Library short story ever written IMO - A genius short form work."Yeah. That one stuck with me. The Board is Set, After Desh'ea and Dreams of Unity are also some of my favorites. The words of that priest in The Last Church were so poignant and portentous.
After Desh'ea was great too - the others I haven't got to yet - I'm about 65% through the Horus heresy, reading semi-chronologically and semi-grouped with a twist of anthology practicality. Probably be done around Christmas '25 at this rate...
I started with Horus Heresy and i think it was the right choice. Im in love with the saga, already reading the 15th book.Greetings.
I'd have to, so far, highly recommend anything by Mike Brooks - he's fast becoming one of my favourite authors (both is Black Library stuff and recently his God King Chronicles series) after being introduced via his Primarchs book for Alpharius which, if you take the Horus Heresy route, is a superb book to follow up Dan Abnett's Legion that remains solidly in my top ten of all the BL books I've read so far.
I just started with the faction I liked and began reading anything related to them. I did try to find an actual starting place such as the HH, but that felt like work.
AJ wrote: "I just started with the faction I liked and began reading anything related to them. I did try to find an actual starting place such as the HH, but that felt like work."If you purchase Solar War or any of the Siege of Terra books. They have a nice list of the Horus Heresy books in order on the first pages of the front flap, and on the ebooks as well. Most of the shorts that were released separately have been included in many of the anthologies, so don't break your head thinking you're missing anything. Enjoy your reading! The HH is one of my favorite science fiction works.
For 40k, I started with the first 5 of Horus Hersey.
I have found that I like the short stories (HH anthology) and tactical overviews on lore you can find on youtube. I haven't a lot under my belt, but enough to see a pattern with some of the writing styles that come off excessively nuanced, which for me is a bit grating.
