Best novel for a non-fan?

[jifel]

Basically, I am looking for a good "stand alone" 40k book, for someone who has no knowledge of the universe. I won a bet with my father, and he is now obligated to read a Warhammer book, as he often teases me about the hobby. It's all in good fun, but I'm looking for a book that won't confuse him and that he might actually enjoy. He reads Sci Fi plenty, but not 40k at all. Some of my thoughts include Fifteen Hours, as its a stand alone novel and covers the idea of 40k pretty well. 

[Plaguecaster]

An Imperial Guard novels stands as probably your best bet, I would say if you had the Imperial Guard omnibus volume one it would be perfect as it has 3 of the greatest guard novels Rebel winter, Fifthteen Hours and Death World which are easy to follow with a great story that doesn't bombard from the start with 40k stuff that could be confusing .Some of the marine ones can be a bit too much sometimes especially for new readers, another good set may be the Gaunts Ghost or Ciaphas Cain series. Probably stay clear of Horus Heresy as some can be a bit confusing especially  if you know nothing about warhammer, one of the first few novels I tried reading when I started to get into warhammer was Horus Rising but found it a bit hard to understand.

Tha'ts my opinion others may have different ones but generally go with something you have read that you really liked and believe he would like too.

[TRIBUN]

Try "Last Chancers",

 

it's about a penal Legion (Schaeffer's last chancers) unit and is a mix of con air, italo-western and inglorious basterds....NO Bolter-porn!

[Grotsmasha]

Although a trillogy, it would have to be the three Inquisitor Eisenhorn books, without a doubt.

 

Cheers,

Jono

[Conn Eremon]

Abnett's books tend to be easier on first-time readers, was the advice I got. I first read Horus Rising and had an easy time grasping things. Went after Gaunt's Ghosts next and that really helped get me familiar with the setting and branch out.

 

Other authors are good, even better at times, but Abnett goes easier on newcomers, I feel.

 

As a side note, Legion, though not one of my favorites, is the only 40k book I've heard described as not just a good 40k book but a good sci-fi book as well. Its a notable distinction.

[Xin Ceithan]

I suggest "Brotherhood of the Snake" to a lot of people as I feel it has a nice introduction to the 40 K setting and the Astartes in general.

I´d imagine the Ciaphas Caine books are fun o read if you are not adversed to their brand of humour and especially if someone just wants to enjoy a fun read.

"Soul Hunter" is a damn fine book as well if your reader-to-be doesn´t mind going a bit "darkside" (and you do not mind explaining your fascination for a bunch of mudering backstabbers after hand^^)

"Pariah" is not an easy read but a fine book as well. It might be an interesting tease to pick up the Eisenhorn and /or Ravenor books afterwards for some eyeopeners as well

[Chaplain Seneca]

Soul hunter. Is awesome

[Sevatar]

Fifteen Hours is a great one, as are the Gaunts Ghosts. They are very domestic novels - not that many 40k terms early on, so are easy to understand.

[Rime]

The first Space Wolves Omnbius isn't a bad start way to introduce Marine's to someone. They may not follow the typical standard, but I think that is a plus. Everyone is full of character and humor is plentyful. Also you go through the induction phase from beginning to end.

[Antarius]

I would stay away from the Ciaphas Cain books. They rely too much on knowledge of the universe, from what I've seen of them. Their whole deal is basically that they're funny because they turn the stuff you already know about 40K on its head.

 

For starters I would echo Soul Hunter, because it's great and it's mostly character-driven.

 

I would actually recommend Horus Rising as well. If your father's into sci-fi he shouldn't be thrown by Horus Rising, I'd think (as Cormac said, Abnett isn't all that hard on newcomers). In fact I imagine the initial weirdness with "The Emperor" wouldn't throw a newcomer the way it might a veteran 40Ker. 

Plus it's a great introduction to the backstory of 40K.

[Grey Mage]

If he likes novels, Id say givem the first Gaunts Ghosts book. If hes not much of a reader, or more of a comic type guy you might be better off with tales of the heresy.

 

Id just about always reccomend Gaunts Ghosts though.

[kdruthless]

_{Horus Rising or Ravenor: damn good books even if the rest of the universe doesn't exist in the mind of the reader, so to speak}

[Raulmichile]

Fifteen Hours.  Sure he will like it, a lot.

[Raensleyar]

Quite frankly, I find that the majority of 40k novels are garbage. it seems alot of it is just bolter porn or so deeply immersed in 40k lore that its only interesting to fan. Unfortunately, quite a bit of it is Poorly written and pretty much just "bolter porn." Thus, in my opinion, if you are looking for literature and a positive introduction to the universe, there is actually very little worth reading out there. I would say that this is probably true for the vast majority of books that are set in game-specific IP's ... Forgotten Realms, Star Wars, etc.

Of course, given I'm 40, it could also be that I am just becoming a cranky, bitter old man who thinks only "literature" is worth reading.

With this caveat in mind, there are some works that can be recommended. Books that are good reading and just happen to be set in the 40k universe. Generally, anything by Abnett is a good introduction and read. More specifically, I would consider the following two works by him:

Double Eagle - essentially air combat that just happens to take place in the 40k setting

Titanicus - titans and political intrigue

Aside from these two, you could also look at some of Abnett's other work. But, aside from him, I don't really think much of 40k stuff is worth reading unless you are a 40k fan or player.

Even though a space wolves player, personally, I would stay away from anything dealing with space marines. I have found very little worth spending time on in that lot. I managed to get about halfway through The Space Wolves omnibus before slamming my head in sheer tedium. In fact, those books soured me on Ragnar as a whole. Can't stand the guy.

My 2 cents.

[facmanpob]

Quite frankly, I find that the majority of 40k novels are garbage. it seems alot of it is just bolter porn or so deeply immersed in 40k lore that its only interesting to fan. Unfortunately, quite a bit of it is Poorly written and pretty much just "bolter porn." Thus, in my opinion, if you are looking for literature and a positive introduction to the universe, there is actually very little worth reading out there. I would say that this is probably true for the vast majority of books that are set in game-specific IP's ... Forgotten Realms, Star Wars, etc.

Of course, given I'm 40, it could also be that I am just becoming a cranky, bitter old man who thinks only "literature" is worth reading.

Well, I'm a little older than you, so I must be old and cranky too

I would expand your statement and say that the majority of published fiction is rubbish. There is actually very little worth reading out there, from an intellectual standpoint. I even read a Booker Prize winning novel once, and got to the end thinking that the author had simply used the book as a platform for showing the world how clever he was at writing prose, as the story itself wasn't particularly good!

That said, you don't have to read for the sake of anything other than entertainment, and the two books you mention, Double Eagle and Titanicus, are both very good, although I suspect that the latter would be less accessible if you know nothing about 40K. An alternative owuld be to pick up one of the omnibus books of short stories, which contain anything between 10 and 30 short stories of varying quality and subject matter, and can be a good way of introducing the 40K milieu in bite-size chunks.

[Shuggnuggath]

I think Eisenhorn and Ravenor are a good sci-fy read tbh.

[Firepower]

Assuming you're looking to give him a Space Marine book-

 

If he knows nothing about the fluff, I would recommend Salamander.  The novel stops to spell things out repeatedly (what gene-seed is, what a Librarian is, stuff like that), which I found tedious, but the uninitiated would likely appreciate.  

 

If he knows the basics, give him Horus Rising.

 

If he knows it quite well, the Soul Hunter trilogy.

[Joeyray]

+1 to Last Chancers

Storm of Iron and Firewarrior where my first reads, so I would recomend them as well.

[deathspectersgt7]

Legion of the Damned found it to be a good read. liked the main character I think this would be a good book to start with. 

[battle captain corpus]

Personally I would recommend Blood of Asaheim, or Soul Hunter.

 

I would actually avoid Abnett if you can, as in my opinion I actually think he could be too immersive on a new reader. Plus, with rereading some of his work (Horus Rising, Ghosts etc) I actually find them pretty mediocre now.

 

Corpus

[FashaTheDog]

Dead Men Walking is a rather good book and probably my favorite 40K one, but it is a bit more depressing than your standard 40K fare, which featuring the men of Krieg it should be.  I actually just had my brother, who knows (now knew) nothing about the game or fluff, read Storm of Iron and he quite enjoyed it and was able to enter in with no trouble after reading that summary page every 40K book has.  He now looks forward to reading more of Honsou.

 

Titanicus and Double Eagle are, as another has said, other good ones to consider as they sit alone and are good stories. 

[Brother_Alric]

Abnett's books tend to be easier on first-time readers, was the advice I got. I first read Horus Rising and had an easy time grasping things. Went after Gaunt's Ghosts next and that really helped get me familiar with the setting and branch out.

 

Other authors are good, even better at times, but Abnett goes easier on newcomers, I feel.

 

As a side note, Legion, though not one of my favorites, is the only 40k book I've heard described as not just a good 40k book but a good sci-fi book as well. Its a notable distinction.

I'd like to add my vote for Legion by Dan Abnett as well.  I have been trying to convince my wife to pick up a HH book or Warhammer and she is reluctant but she enjoys historical fiction and mystery.  I thought the character of John Grammaticus and the suspense of the novel and that it's  spy like at times would appeal to her.  There is John Grammatiuc's love interest as well so I really think the book is perfect for someone who claims they are not into sci-fi.   It's a well written book, great story and it just so happens to be sci-fi :)

[redmapa]

Im going to recommend Helsreach, its a great introduction to a marine's way of thinking and what it means to be a living weapon, its a great read

[d3m01iti0n]

Gaunts Ghosts by far.  Great characters, easy to relate to, and great writing with believable action.  Plus Sphess Mahreens are rare which gives them more mystery and prestige.  First three HH books are solid too.

[Octavulg]

My fiancee quite liked Soul Hunter and its sequels (and her knowledge of 40K is effectively nil). I'd recommend them over most other options, in part because they show off 40K in a better fashion than most others. Ciaphas Cain is entertaining as hell, but it doesn't show off the unique elements of the universe in quite the same way, IMO. Soul Hunter does "grim darkness" better than almost any other.<br />