Pick up anything by,
-Dan Abnett
-Adam Dembski Bowden
-Graham McNeill
-Ben Counter
-Sandy Mitchell
They are easily my favourite Black Library authors, Dan Abnett is usally solid but the quality of his work can vary. I think he is being rail roaded into churning out book after book and sometimes his heart isn't in a particular novel try Titanicus as well as its about the crews of a Battle Titan and a huge "Engine War" as the Adeptus Mechanicus unleash their most powerful machines to defend a Forge World, Adam Dembski Bowden only started writing for them recently and holy shit is he good. He equals Dan Abnett at his very best. Graham McNeill writes stuff like the Ultramarines novels, the Smurf novels are enjoyable enough with some uber hero action and the main character is a bit deeper than some Astartes characters. He gets himself into a right mess over the course of the series and has to overcome mental challenges and sort himself out, he also stomps uncounted heretics and xenos in the process.
Ben Counter wrote the original Grey Knights books, that was before GW ruined them. Grey Knights back then where Space Marines that used different equipment and had a very specialised role, Daemon hunting. The GW decided they had to become the ultimate most powerful bad asses in the galaxy and OTT with the fluff and the TT rules.
Sandy Mitchell wrote the Commissar Cain series, these books are very different to all the other novels. In a world of war and horrific monsters and Daemons and hostile aliens these books are comedies about a self interested high ranking Imperial Guard political officer. In his own words all he wants is "some fine drink, some female company, a gambling den with no house limit and players that believe cards and dice are games of chance". Yet he has earned himself the reputation of being the greatest hero since Warmaster Macharius, this reputation enhances his quality of life yet constantly puts him in danger.
He gets into all kinds of ridiculous and bizarre situations, the novels go from being stranded behind enemy lines to having problems with one of his "companions" who just happens to be the daughter of a planetary Governor.
For something a bit different to galaxy wide warfare and alien monsters try the Shira Calpurnia: Enforcer series by Matthew Farrer, its about the Imperiums version of police the Adeptus Arbites who are basically an interplanetary paramilitary police force that have everything from warships to APCs and are in the same vein as Judge Dredd and the Halls of Justice.
There are loads of other novels, some are arguablly better and deeper but these books and writers are a good introduction and you can get a feel for what type of novels and which stories you like. Thats one of the best things about 40k, its so huge and varied there is a story for everyone. Some critics dont like the over the top nature of 40k and think its overdone, the thing with that is that 40k stories are not just about that because there are many smaller and intimate stories of hope and loss that dont have that "woo thunder hammer jetpacks!" thing that exist in other parts of the 40k world.
-Dan Abnett
-Adam Dembski Bowden
-Graham McNeill
-Ben Counter
-Sandy Mitchell
They are easily my favourite Black Library authors, Dan Abnett is usally solid but the quality of his work can vary. I think he is being rail roaded into churning out book after book and sometimes his heart isn't in a particular novel try Titanicus as well as its about the crews of a Battle Titan and a huge "Engine War" as the Adeptus Mechanicus unleash their most powerful machines to defend a Forge World, Adam Dembski Bowden only started writing for them recently and holy shit is he good. He equals Dan Abnett at his very best. Graham McNeill writes stuff like the Ultramarines novels, the Smurf novels are enjoyable enough with some uber hero action and the main character is a bit deeper than some Astartes characters. He gets himself into a right mess over the course of the series and has to overcome mental challenges and sort himself out, he also stomps uncounted heretics and xenos in the process.
Ben Counter wrote the original Grey Knights books, that was before GW ruined them. Grey Knights back then where Space Marines that used different equipment and had a very specialised role, Daemon hunting. The GW decided they had to become the ultimate most powerful bad asses in the galaxy and OTT with the fluff and the TT rules.
Sandy Mitchell wrote the Commissar Cain series, these books are very different to all the other novels. In a world of war and horrific monsters and Daemons and hostile aliens these books are comedies about a self interested high ranking Imperial Guard political officer. In his own words all he wants is "some fine drink, some female company, a gambling den with no house limit and players that believe cards and dice are games of chance". Yet he has earned himself the reputation of being the greatest hero since Warmaster Macharius, this reputation enhances his quality of life yet constantly puts him in danger.
He gets into all kinds of ridiculous and bizarre situations, the novels go from being stranded behind enemy lines to having problems with one of his "companions" who just happens to be the daughter of a planetary Governor.
For something a bit different to galaxy wide warfare and alien monsters try the Shira Calpurnia: Enforcer series by Matthew Farrer, its about the Imperiums version of police the Adeptus Arbites who are basically an interplanetary paramilitary police force that have everything from warships to APCs and are in the same vein as Judge Dredd and the Halls of Justice.
There are loads of other novels, some are arguablly better and deeper but these books and writers are a good introduction and you can get a feel for what type of novels and which stories you like. Thats one of the best things about 40k, its so huge and varied there is a story for everyone. Some critics dont like the over the top nature of 40k and think its overdone, the thing with that is that 40k stories are not just about that because there are many smaller and intimate stories of hope and loss that dont have that "woo thunder hammer jetpacks!" thing that exist in other parts of the 40k world.