Starting Your Journey into the Warhammer 40K Universe
If you’re new to the Warhammer 40K universe and feel overwhelmed by its vastness, you’re not alone. With over 370 books and more being added every year, there’s plenty of content to keep you occupied for a long time. But where do you begin? Here are some of the best Warhammer 40K novels to help you dive in.
The Origins of Warhammer 40K
Warhammer 40K started as a miniature wargame called Warhammer Fantasy Battle, which was released in 1983. Just four years later, the first Warhammer 40,000 game hit the shelves. It wasn’t just kids in basements playing; the fanbase has always been broad. Even celebrities like Henry Cavill and Ed Sheeran are known to be fans. As one of the most popular miniature wargames in the world, it continues to grow, especially with a new series on the way featuring Cavill himself. In 1990, the first novel, Inquisitor, was published, marking the beginning of decades of books set in this expansive universe.
A Guide for New Readers
This list is tailored for those new to Warhammer 40K fiction, rather than focusing on the best novels for long-time fans. The stories are written to be accessible, so if none of these resonate with you, you can explore other options and jump in wherever you like.
The Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume 1
This collection includes the first three novels in Graham McNeill’s popular Ultramarines series: Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, and Dead Sky, Black Sun. It also features bonus short stories that expand on the adventures of Space Marine Captain Uriel Ventris. If you’re new to Warhammer 40K, this is an excellent starting point.
In these stories, you follow Uriel as he takes command of the Ultramarines Fourth Company, one of the most powerful factions in the Warhammer universe. He embarks on various campaigns, each time facing different enemies.
The Eisenhorn Trilogy
Written by Dan Abnett, the Eisenhorn Trilogy follows the career of Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn of the Ordo Xenos. Unlike the near-godlike Space Marines, Eisenhorn is very human, though he has cybernetic modifications and Warp powers that draw telepathic energy from a parallel dimension. Alongside his kill team, he is tasked with rooting out heretics and daemon threats to humanity. He also battles the pull of Chaos, a corrupting force of negative psychic energy and disorder.
Dan Abnett is a New York Times bestselling author, and his work appears on almost every “best Warhammer 40K novels” list. This trilogy is an excellent starting point for beginners, as it provides enough context without overwhelming the reader.
Gaunt’s Ghosts: The Founding
Another legendary series by Dan Abnett, Gaunt’s Ghosts offers a definitive look at life in the Imperial Guard, the regular human soldiers of the Imperium. They have firepower, numbers, and strategy, but they’re nothing like the superhuman Space Marines. These are ordinary men and women thrown into the meat grinder of endless galactic war.
The Founding gives you the first three novels and a few short stories, making it a reasonable starting point for newcomers. The entire series is lengthy, but this volume offers a solid introduction.
Ciaphas Cain
While many Warhammer novels are dark and grim, Ciaphas Cain brings a refreshing sense of humor to the universe. Written by Sandy Mitchell, the series follows Commissar Ciaphas Cain, who is tasked with keeping morale high and rooting out cowardice or heresy. Unlike traditional iron-fisted commissars, Cain is a coward himself, trying to stay alive in a dangerous world.
The series includes witty, self-deprecating memoirs of his adventures, along with his loyal aide, Jurgen, who is almost as iconic as Cain himself.
Space Wolf: First Omnibus
If you love Norse mythology, you’ll enjoy this space-viking action novel. It follows the youngest Wolf Lord, Ragnar Blackmane, from his feral upbringing on the icy death-world of Fenris, through a near-death experience and his recruitment into the Space Wolves chapter, to his legendary battles against the dark forces of Chaos.
The Space Wolf: First Omnibus includes three novels: Space Wolf, Ragnar’s Claw, and Grey Hunter.
How We Selected the Best Warhammer 40K Novels
With so many great Warhammer 40K novels available, we focused on stories that are easy for new readers to jump into. These selections provide a solid taste of the universe, mythos, factions, and lore without feeling overwhelming. While the list is geared toward beginners, most of the novels are good enough that longtime fans can still enjoy them.
