The Best of the BL, What to (or not to) read from the BL

[flyinghippo]

The title is sort of self-explanatory. whats ur favourite book. least fav. best author (not much competition here tho )

I guess I'll start it off...

I'm not a complete BL junkie (yet). So far my recommendations would definately be for the Eisenhorn series. As well as Gaunt's Ghosts, so far I've only read First and Only but it seems pretty good so far But the short-story compilation: "Bringers of Death" probably isnt worth it...

[Iron Trooper]

FH:

Required BL reading for IWs - Storm of Iron, the quintessential fluff on the IW's.

Dead Sky, Black Sun - More IW goodness based on IW homeworld of Medrenngard.

The Ciaphais Cain novels are all good reads and funny too.

I've read most of the First & Only series, the Grey Knights books and the Soul Drinkers novels - all nice works too.

Troop

[flyinghippo]

Storm of Iron's definately on my to-read list.

Ravenor's pretty good too...

[Khargoth]

Ravenor Returned is one of the best BL publications I've ever read, I really recomend it. Lord of the Night is pretty much essential if you want to know what the Night Lords were like during Heresy times, it's a great read.
Some 'classics' are Nightbringer, Storm of Iron, Space Marine, Angels of Death, Inquisitor, Harlequin and Chaos Child.

[Kraull the Rampager]

I have a ton of Black Library novels. For the most part, as long as you go into the novel with the realization that you are not reading Pulitzer Prize winning material, they are all pretty good, in their own fashion.

That being said, I do have some that I prefer over others. I really enjoyed the Space Wolf novels, the Gaunts' Ghost series, and most of the novels by Graham McNeill. The Soul Drinkers series was also pretty good, as is the stuff by Simon Spurrier and C.S. Goto.

The ones that I have not liked as much are the Ciaphas Cain novels, and the Iron Hands novel. Nothing really particular about them; they just didn't strike my fancy.

Overall, I find a good deal of Black Library fiction entertaining. I go into most novels not expecting to find the next Tom Clancy or J.R.R. Tolkien, and as such I am able to enjoy the novels that much more.

[Insane Psychopath]

As said Storm of Iron & Dead sun - black sky. Bother great Iron Warriors books & a must for any of us IW players.

On that note, Greame McNeil talk about having another two book full of our glories Warsmith from SoI. Basicly the first new one will be how he gose of dose his own thing, the Ultrmarine dose his own thing.... the second book will basicly be a BIG fight with both them (DS-BS). Not sure dates, this was back in March 2005 that the Scottish Conflict, but I will find out as he will be attending the Conflict this year & well I am not gaming so mean more time talk about forth coming stuff.

But again Storm of Iron & DS-BS are both great reads.

[Khargoth]

Hmmm. Honestly, I think some of the writers have more talent than most of the novels I see on the shelves these days. Simon Spurrier is definately a rising star, and so far I haven't read a novel by Dan Abnett that isn't a work of art.

[Grand Warmaster Pinto]

One of my favorites is the Dark Imperium collection of short stories, very cool stuff if you like Chaos. Another one that I liked was Lord of Night, I liked the main character a lot, almost got me to play Night Lords.

[Khargoth]

Yeah, I wrote up some rules to use Zho Sahaal in 40k, he's quite a powerhouse, but not unstoppable. Go check out the Chaos Marines Discussion board.

[Grand Warmaster Pinto]

Very nice work, I like the restrictions placed to even him out. I hope more books are released with him in it.

[Khargoth]

Yeah, I hope so. I was a bit naughty by creating fluff that he meets a regiment of renegade Night Lords, but you could always say he takes off on his own again to finish whatever quest he's on now... I'm interested to see what's happened to the sanctioned psyker (forgotten her name)

[blackcell8]

Apart from Storm of Iron and Dead Sky Black Sun (the obvious), I've read Fire Warrior (good read), some of Dawn of War (not that good in my opinion) and Execution Hour ( ing amazing)

[Khargoth]

So far I have not read a bad Gaunt's Ghosts novel, so far my favourite would be Ghostmaker, the Khorne Berzerker assault on the Volpone Basilisks is just... insane. Now, if only they were as hard to kill on the tabletop as they are in DoW and fluff... maybe make the Mark of Khorne more expensive and include 'feel no pain' into it?

[blackcell8]

I haven't read any Gaunt's Ghosts novels, I don't know why, but they don't seem to interest me too much. I still need to get Shadow Point, I think Abaddon is after a Blackstone Fortress...

[Cassius Ironclaw]

Personally I think the best is the Space Wolf series.
Something about these barbarians is funny...possibly because they seem to be more human than any other Space Marine Chapters. They make jokes, play games, insult each other, banter, and having drinking contests. And they're Space Marines...it's just great!