Warhammer 40,000 — Multiple Authors

Iron Warrior Graham McNeill  

The Skull Harvest Graham McNeill  

The Heraclitus Effect Graham McNeill  

The Enemy of My Enemy Graham McNeill  

Devil's Marauders William King 1990

Lacrymata Storm Constantine 1990

Deathwing Bryan Ansell; William King 1990

Inquisitor // Draco Ian Watson 1990

Pestilence Dan Abnett 1990

Warped Stars Ian Watson 1990

The Alien Beast Within Ian Watson 1990

Suffer Not the Unclean to Live Gav Thorpe 1990

Monastery of Death Charles Stross 1990

Unforgiven Graham McNeill 1990

Seed of Doubt Neil McIntosh 1990

Space Marine Ian Watson 1993

Harlequin Ian Watson Sep-1994

Chaos Child Ian Watson 1995

First & Only Dan Abnett Mar-2000

Into the Maelstrom Marc Gascoigne Apr-2000

Eye of Terror Barrington J. Bayley Jun-2000

Space Wolf William King Jul-2000

Ragnar's Claw William King Aug-2000

Ghostmaker Dan Abnett Sep-2000

Status: Deadzone Marc Gascoigne Nov-2000

Necropolis Dan Abnett Dec-2000

13th Legion Gav Thorpe Jan-2001

Dark Imperium Marc Gascoigne Feb-2001

Pawns of Chaos Brian Craig Apr-2001

Xenos Dan Abnett May-2001

Honour Guard Dan Abnett Jul-2001

Execution Hour Gordon Rennie Aug-2001

Kill Team Gav Thorpe Oct-2001

Deathwing Neil Jones Nov-2001

Malleus Dan Abnett Dec-2001

Nightbringer Graham McNeill Feb-2002

Grey Hunter William King Mar-2002

Chains of Command Graham McNeill Apr-2002

Business as Usual Graham McNeill Apr-2002

Loyalty's Reward Simon Jowett Apr-2002

Barathrum Jonathan Curren Apr-2002

Words of Blood Ben Counter Apr-2002

Defixio Ben Counter Apr-2002

Deus ex Mechanicus Andy Chambers Apr-2002

Ork Hunter Dan Abnett Apr-2002

Missing in Action Dan Abnett Apr-2002

Raptor Down Gav Thorpe Apr-2002

Titan Dan Abnett May-2002

The Guns of Tanith Dan Abnett May-2002

Farseer William King Jun-2002

Storm of Iron Graham McNeill Aug-2002

Hereticus Dan Abnett Aug-2002

Obvious Tactics David Pugh Oct-2002

Soul Drinker Ben Counter Nov-2002

Straight Silver Dan Abnett Dec-2002

Shadow Point Gordon Rennie Feb-2003

Angels of Darkness Gav Thorpe Mar-2003

Warriors of Ultramar Graham McNeill Apr-2003

Daemon World Ben Counter May-2003

Crucible of War Marc Gascoigne Jun-2003

Crossfire Matthew Farrer Jul-2003

Crusade for Armageddon Jonathan Green Aug-2003

Sabbat Martyr Dan Abnett Sep-2003

Fire Warrior Simon Spurrier Oct-2003

Wolfblade William King Nov-2003

For the Emperor Sandy Mitchell Dec-2003

The Bleeding Chalice Ben Counter Jan-2004

Caves of Ice Sandy Mitchell Feb-2004

Ravenor Dan Abnett Mar-2004

Annihilation Squad Gav Thorpe Apr-2004

Thorn Wishes Talon Dan Abnett May-2004

The Beguiling Sandy Mitchell May-2004

Grey Knights Ben Counter Jun-2004

Deathwatch Jim Alexander Jul-2004

Double Eagle Dan Abnett Jul-2004

Legacy Matthew Farrer Aug-2004

Iron Hands Jonathan Green Sep-2004

Traitor General Dan Abnett Oct-2004

Dead Sky, Black Sun Graham McNeill Nov-2004

Dawn of War C.S. Goto Dec-2004

Deus Encarmine James Swallow Jan-2005

Sector 13 Sandy Mitchell 2005

Lord of the Night Simon Spurrier Feb-2005

Crimson Tears Ben Counter Mar-2005

Ravenor Returned Dan Abnett Apr-2005

Deus Sanguinius James Swallow May-2005

The Traitor's Hand Sandy Mitchell Jun-2005

Fifteen Hours Mitchel Scanlon Jul-2005

Bringers of Death Dave Stern Sep-2005

Warrior Brood C.S. Goto Sep-2005

His Last Command Dan Abnett Nov-2005

Ascension C.S. Goto Dec-2005

Dark Adeptus Ben Counter Jan-2006

Conquest of Armageddon Jonathan Green Jan-2006

Death or Glory Sandy Mitchell Mar-2006

Faith and Fire James Swallow Apr-2006

Liberty Gav Thorpe Apr-2006

Deliverance Gav Thorpe Apr-2006

Let the Galazy Burn Marc Gascoigne May-2006

Horus Rising Dan Abnett May-2006

Warrior Coven C.S. Goto Jun-2006

Blind Matthew Farrer Jul-2006

False Gods Graham McNeill Jul-2006

Rogue Star Andy Hoare Sep-2006

Tempest C.S. Goto Oct-2006

Galaxy in Flames Ben Counter Oct-2006

The Armour of Contempt Dan Abnett Dec-2006

Death World Steve Lyons Jan-2007

Sons of Fenris Lee Lightner Feb-2007

Eldar Prophecy C.S. Goto Mar-2007

Ravenor Rogue Dan Abnett Apr-2007

Chapter War Ben Counter May-2007

Fight or Flight Sandy Mitchell Jun-2007

Echoes of the Tomb Sandy Mitchell Jun-2007

Duty Calls Sandy Mitchell Jun-2007

Brothers of the Snake Dan Abnett Jul-2007

Rebel Winter Steve Parker Aug-2007

Fulgrim Graham McNeill Aug-2007

Star of Damocles Andy Hoare Sep-2007

Dark Apostle Anthony Reynolds Oct-2007

Scourge the Heretic Sandy Mitchell Nov-2007

Desert Raiders Lucien Soulban Dec-2007

Only in Death Dan Abnett Dec-2007

Hammer of Daemons Ben Counter Mar-2008

Wolf's Honour Lee Lightner Apr-2008

Legion Dan Abnett Apr-2008

Relentless Richard Williams May-2008

The Killing Ground Graham McNeill Jul-2008

Planetkill Lindsey Priestley Aug-2008

Battle for the Abyss Ben Counter Aug-2008

Red Fury James Swallow Sep-2008

Titanicus Dan Abnett Oct-2008

Cain's Last Stand Sandy Mitchell Nov-2008

Mechanicum Graham McNeill Nov-2008

The Citadel Steve Parker Dec-2008

Knee Deep Mitchel Scanlon Dec-2008

Better the Devil Steve Lyons Dec-2008

Dark Disciple Anthony Reynolds Dec-2008

Ice Guard Steve Lyons Jan-2009

Traitor's Gambit Sandy Mitchell 2009

Gunheads Steve Parker Mar-2009

Dawn Of War II Andy Hoare Mar-2009

Tales of Heresy Nick Kyme Apr-2009

Hellforged Ben Counter Apr-2009

Heroes of the Space Marines Nick Kyme May-2009

Courage and Honour Graham McNeill Jun-2009

Fallen Angels Mike Lee Jul-2009

Salamander Nick Kyme Aug-2009

Emperor's Mercy Henry Zou Aug-2009

Cadian Blood Aaron Dembski-Bowden Oct-2009

Innocence Proves Nothing Sandy Mitchell Nov-2009

Blood Pact Dan Abnett Nov-2009

Sons of Dorn Chris Roberson Jan-2010

Dark Creed Anthony Reynolds Jan-2010

Rynn's World Steve Parker Feb-2010

Soul Hunter Aaron Dembski-Bowden Feb-2010

Black Tide James Swallow Feb-2010

A Thousand Sons Graham McNeill Mar-2010

Prospero Burns Dan Abnett Apr-2010

Flesh and Iron Henry Zou Apr-2010

Legends of the Space Marines Christian Dunn May-2010

Redemption Corps Rob Sanders May-2010

Helsreach Aaron Dembski-Bowden May-2010

The Chapter's Due Graham McNeill Jun-2010

Path of the Warrior Gav Thorpe Jul-2010

Fear the Alien Christian Dunn Sep-2010

Hunt for Voldorius Andy Hoare Sep-2010

The First Heretic Aaron Dembski-Bowden Nov-2010

Firedrake Nick Kyme Nov-2010

The Purging of Kadillus Gav Thorpe Jan-2011

Savage Scars Andy Hoare Feb-2011

Throne of Lies Aaron Dembski-Bowden Mar-2011

Blood Gorgons Henry Zou Mar-2011

The Fall of Damnos Nick Kyme Apr-2011

Victories of the Space Marines Christian Dunn Apr-2011

Blood Reaver Aaron Dembski-Bowden May-2011

The Age of Darkness Christian Dunn May-2011

Battle of the Fang Chris Wraight Jun-2011

Atlas Infernal Rob Sanders Jul-2011

Imperial Glory Richard Williams Aug-2011

Path of the Seer Gav Thorpe Sep-2011

Salvation's Reach Dan Abnett Oct-2011

Of Their Lives in the Ruins of Their Cities Dan Abnett Oct-2011

Nocturne Nick Kyme Oct-2011

A Good Man Sandy Mitchell Oct-2011

The Iron Star Dan Abnett Oct-2011

Blueblood Nick Kyme Oct-2011

Cell Nik Vincent Oct-2011

Regicide Aaron Dembski-Bowden Oct-2011

The Headstone and the Hammerstone King Matthew Farrer Oct-2011

Apostle's Creed Graham McNeill Oct-2011

The Outcast Dead Graham McNeill Nov-2011

Hammer and Anvil James Swallow Nov-2011

The Gildar Rift Sarah Cawkwell Dec-2011

The Emperor's Will Jon Blanche Dec-2011

The Emperor's Finest Sandy Mitchell Feb-2012

The Last Ditch Sandy Mitchell Feb-2012

Path of the Renegade Andy Chambers Mar-2012

Know No Fear Dan Abnett Mar-2012

Legion of the Damned Rob Sanders Apr-2012

• «
• 1
• 2
• »

Series Premise

The Warhammer 40,000 series presents a wide range of military science fiction and dark fantasy stories set in a shared grimdark universe. Each book delivers a self-contained tale of warfare, intrigue, or survival against existential threats. The narratives explore different corners of the galaxy through the perspectives of Imperial agents, warriors, and civilians.

Warhammer 40,000 Series Reading Order

The Warhammer 40,000 series does not need to be read in order. Each book tells a complete story with its own resolution focused on a specific conflict, character, or faction. Continuity is limited to recurring characters in certain sub-series and the consistent grimdark setting of the 41st millennium. Reading out of order does not cause confusion, as individual novels provide all necessary context while fans gain extra enjoyment from recognizing shared elements like the Imperium’s institutions, Chaos gods, or xenos races.

Explanation of reading order types

Warhammer 40,000 Series Characters

Protagonists vary widely by book and include Inquisitors such as Gregor Eisenhorn who hunt heretics and daemons, Imperial Guard commissars and regiments like those in Gaunt’s Ghosts, and Space Marine captains from chapters such as the Ultramarines. Stories also feature Chaos Space Marines, Ork warlords, Eldar warriors, and ordinary Imperial citizens caught in larger galactic struggles.

Setting of the Warhammer 40,000 Series

The series is set in the 41st millennium across a galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man filled with decaying gothic cathedrals, war-torn planets, and void ships. Locations range from the crowded hive cities of Holy Terra to distant battlefields, alien worlds, and the warp itself. The universe features a consistent backdrop of technological stagnation, religious zealotry, and endless warfare.

Tone & Themes of the Warhammer 40,000 Series

The tone is relentlessly grimdark, blending black humor with horror and epic-scale tragedy. Central themes include the fragility of humanity in a hostile universe, the corruption of power, faith versus reason, and the dehumanizing cost of eternal war. Stories often highlight irony, sacrifice, and the thin line between hero and monster.

Is the Warhammer 40,000 Series Worth Reading?

This series appeals to readers who enjoy dark military science fiction, expansive shared universes, and stories rich in lore and faction-based conflict. It suits fans of grimdark fantasy, large-scale battles, political intrigue, and tales that explore moral ambiguity in a hopeless yet compelling galaxy.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

Content features extreme violence, body horror, psychological trauma, and themes of religious fanaticism, genocide, and corruption, often depicted graphically. Heat level is generally low, with any intimate content rare and secondary to the action and horror elements.

The Warhammer 40,000 series offers a vast and immersive grimdark galaxy built through hundreds of interconnected yet mostly independent stories. Its mostly standalone structure lets readers explore favorite factions or themes without a fixed sequence. Black Library’s multi-author approach has created one of the richest shared universes in speculative fiction.