Warhammer 40,000

[Sneeki Two]

Anyone recommend a few good novels from Warhammer 40,000. Im currently reading Ian Watson's "Draco", and his writing style is a bit long-winded and wordy. That normally wouldn't be so bad, but after grinding through the fluff I find little return for the effort.

Thanks for any help.

[Thoran]

I avoid those sorts of "corporate fiction" series' like the plague. They're trying to sell product, and they DON'T pay the money it'd take to get top quality talent. I think they might be appropriate for young readers, because they tend toward simple plots and storylines, the subtlety of a warhammer upside the head, little character development, and LOTS of action (I enjoyed Dragonlance when I read it as a teen, started rereading one last year and it was laughably bad [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

[Sneeki Two]

To be honest I've never played Warhammer, but the idea of a looking at a fantasy world that has evolved from its "medievel" time setting seems very interesting. Ive always wondered what part technology might play in a universe where sorcery has most of the answers.

It seems that the wielders of magic would try to suppress technology to keep their craft valuable while scientist would be constantly proving the world operates on the concepts of physics and that wonderous things are available to anyone with a good head on their shoulders. And then there would be those in-between.

Also throw in the different types humans and demi-humans and you could have something fairly different.

On it being simple, Draco is not really kiddy reading. I think a lot of younger readers might even find it a bit of a pain (I was kinda expecting it to be as you thought Thoran). Though I do agree. When I read most D&D stuff now I find it a bit lacking, though it can still be entertaining. I really picked Draco because it is a series and that leaves room for a story to actually go somewhere. If it were just a stand alone novel I wouldn't even bother.

All in all Draco isn't a wash. I just find it a bit on the slow side. It may actually pick up, but right now I'm still waiting for it to kick into gear.

Just my 2.

[Tancred]

Originally posted by Thoran: I avoid those sorts of "corporate fiction" series' like the plague. They're trying to sell product, and they DON'T pay the money it'd take to get top quality talent. I think they might be appropriate for young readers, because they tend toward simple plots and storylines, the subtlety of a warhammer upside the head, little character development, and LOTS of action (I enjoyed Dragonlance when I read it as a teen, started rereading one last year and it was laughably bad [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

That's true for the vast majority. But there are a few pearls.

Track down Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn Trilogy - Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus. Forget Warhammer 40,000 - these three are by far among some of the greatest works of fiction I've ever read. Most of the 40,000 stuff is dross, but not these. Similar to 'Draco' in that the main character is an Inquisitor, but the story and the characters simply outplay the Inquisition War trilogy (Draco, Harlequin, Chaos Child) by a mile.

[Sneeki Two]

Thanks Tancred. I picked up Xenos today and reads a lot better than Draco. Do you know if Abnetts "Gaunt's Ghosts" novels are any good also?

Just my 2.

[Tancred]

Originally posted by Sneeki Two: Thanks Tancred. I picked up Xenos today and reads a lot better than Draco. Do you know if Abnetts "Gaunt's Ghosts" novels are any good also? Just my 2.

They're not bad. Do you like army-film cliches? Do you like action? If so, Gaunt's Ghosts are just what you need.

[DameonRules]

<font color=green>I have never played 40k just for the simple fact taht i dont have the money but i was curious. i actually researched everything that i was going to buy. i was going to get a space wolf army and i saw that they have novels out that are about them are they anygood?</font>

[Tancred]

Hmm. The Space Wolf novel series... um... yes, they're good, if you like action and your fiction a little pulpy. I would recommend the first book, 'Space Wolf', as that will give you a vast amount of Space Wolf lore and background. Beyond that, it's all a bit more mindless. Up to you.

[Queen Kalindra]

I loved the Eisenhorn trilogy and Gaunt's Ghosts is very good, too. I recommend to read Eisenhorn all together but wait a while between each GG and not just fly through it. Farseer (William King) was OK, Eye of Terror (Bayley) not so good, Space Wolf series (King) above average, Nightbringer (MacNeill?) was pretty boring. Gav Thorpe's Last Chancers series (13th Legion & Kill Team) is very gory with dark-humor. If you're enjoying the WH40K universe you can't go wrong with any of the anthologies.