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Warhammer 40,000 Reading Order

The 52 reading orders below cover 267 of the 594 books in this catalogue; the longest is the Horus Heresy, with 54 books. New to Warhammer 40,000? Gaunt's Ghosts (15 novels, from First and Only), Ciaphas Cain (12 books, from For the Emperor) and Eisenhorn (5 books, from Xenos) each start from book one and need no other reading first.

There is no single “correct” way into Warhammer 40,000 — most readers start with a self-contained series and branch out. Each order below is listed in reading sequence, so you know where to begin and what to read next. The Horus Heresy covers the galaxy-spanning civil war at the setting’s origin. Prefer release sequence? See every book in publication order.

Reading order questions

Should I read Warhammer 40,000 in publication order or chronological order?
Read each series in its own intended order — that is how the authors build the story. There is no single chronology you must follow across the whole setting; each reading order on this page lists a series or arc in its proper reading sequence. If you want release sequence instead, every book is also listed by year on the publication-order page.
What is the best Horus Heresy reading order?
Begin the Horus Heresy at its first book and follow the mainline in sequence; the side novels and anthologies can be added as you go. The Horus Heresy reading order lists every book in order.
Do I have to read every book in a series?
No. Most arcs have a core mainline plus optional side stories. Start with the numbered mainline and add the rest only if you want more.
Where should a complete beginner start?
Self-contained series like Eisenhorn, Gaunt's Ghosts and Ciaphas Cain need no prior knowledge and make the easiest first reads. See the Where to Start guide for entry-point picks.