Best 40k novel (or omnibus) that captures the 40k universe

[El_Machinae]

I'm going to resay Ragnar, now that I have thought about it. The whole way the story is told is that Ragnar finds out about the 40k universe while the reader does

[Sir_Turalyon]

3rd edition rulebook followed by Codex:Imperialis. Seriously, best introductory background pieces there are. BL books are not thought as background sources and shouldn't be used as that - they are good or bad stories inspired by background.

But if we stick to BL books, I'd say Lord of the Night, Caphias Cain series and possibly ADB's Night Lords series and Deamon World. They each give part of feel and complexity of the setting but - even more importantly - are written to be good read for someone not hooked into 40k yet.

[Hrw-Amen]

I'd go for Cain, it gives us a humerous overview of most things and is not too much marine based. (Although they are mentioned.) It also touches on the Inquisition without being about them. It is written from a guard perspective so one that most 'normal' humans can relate to. I would like to think that the way that Cain comes across in his attitude towards those in authority up on high in the Imperium is the way that the everyday person thinks of them. I mean it seems to be how we look at politicians and the like nowadays so I don't suppose much will have chnaged by then. I enjoy reading them anyway.

[Keebrev]

I am munching my way through the Gaunt's Ghosts serie. I think they're brilliant because of the way it portrays the bleakness of the 40k universe.

[snakezenn]

I would say the Cain series, you have orks, tyranids, tau, space marines, chaos marines, cultists, traitors, guard, necron, deamons, inquisition. Plus unlike a lot of the other books that i have read it actually has some good humor in it. I definately think that it is the way to go to start 40k.

[kardar233]

It all depends on what side of 40K you want to show them:

Do you want a dip into the shallow end of the pool, giving you a sense of the technology, various inhabitants etc.?

Then read Ciaphas Cain. It's funny, interesting, and gripping, in a kind of "what is Cai going to get himself into now" kinda way.

Or do you want them to experience the soul-numbing horror and hopelessness of the grim, dark future?

Read Eisenhorn, or the 3rd edition BBB. D(a)emonstrate the brutal fact that Humanity is slowly killing itself to try and save itself, and how it does worse by cutting off the nose to spite the face by pursuing ancient traditions that were once pragmatic but now harm more than help.

I may be biased.

Which side you want to show them should depend on why you want to show them 40K. Do you want them to get into the hobby, to play DoW or something that benefits from knowing the look of the fluff? That would be the first. Or are you looking to, say, play Dark Heresy with them? Try the second.

And try not to mix them. I've tried DH with people who've started out with Cain, and they don't seem to grasp the ominous feel of the fluff. Even those introduced by the Ghosts have similar issues. But I've shown people Eisenhorn as their first 40K experience and they immediately have a feel for the impending doom, the corruption and the uncaring brutality of the universe. It's considerably less approachable as it veers away from standard science fiction into deep madness, but it's always worth a try IMO.

[gitburna]

Eisenhorn. Its the only 40k book my girlfriend (now wife) has actually wanted to finish and then said she enjoyed ( "is there any more?" ) i offered Ravenor but she didn't enjoy nearly half as much. She understands a lot of the background (how could she not, she lives with a 40k nut, and several of her male friends are too) so I would still say that this is the place to start.

An alternative could be Aaron Dembski Bowden's Cadian Blood, especially if you know he likes Zombie films or games. lol.

[Kalarn]

The Night Lords trilogy - dark, gritty and captures the feeling of the long war and the corrupting influence of chaos. If he can stop after Soul Hunter, 40k isn't for him.

[Lothlanathorian]

has actually wanted to finish and then said she enjoyed

'Enjoyed' does not equal 'captures the 40K universe'. In fact, some of the best 40K novels only kind of barely fit in the 40K universe and only mildly touch on the themes the game was built upon (Gaunt's Ghosts, I'm looking at you). Cadian Blood, however, manages to be absolutely excellent (ADB doesn't write bad books and if anyone says otherwise, I will mail them a badger ) while also conveying the right tones for the 40K 'feel'.

This is one of the reasons Fifteen Hours (which I have read for the first time very recently) is my new favorite 40K novel. It captures the monolithic, unfeeling bureaucracy, but also the despair, hopelessness and the whole, 'you will not be missed' vibe. It wasn't the more well written book ever, but, it grabbed the essence of 40K, wrestled onto a page and shoved it write into my brain.

[Sir_Turalyon]

In defence of Cain novels, they are not shallow but written much more in character than most BL novels. 40k setting may be bleak and hopeless to us, but to citizens of the Imperium it's business as usual. Things have been that way ten thousand years - more or less as long as we know farming; what seems as unfair hardships and unbearable strain to us is as obvious and unavoidable to people in-setting as fact that you must sow in spring, gather before the fall and keep some seeds uneaten through winter for further use. Cain novels just take into account that people tend to adapt and thrive in conditions they are born into, rather then whine "oh, my life is so bleak, if only I was born 38 thousand years ago".

[Lothlanathorian]

Has anyone mentioned whining? Who are you defending the Cain novels against?

[bigG]

as one of the chaps mentioned dark heresy i have to agree it is good way to get a feel for the background, and can be amusing, in recent games our tech priest only just discovered what he was doing to his melta gun was tech heresy, in a wrp game one of the lads was amazed by the nastiness of that setting "beastmen eat people?, i thought they were just angry goats". all in all imersing someone in a setting is the best way to introduce them to it