Unofficial reader's guide

Where to start with Warhammer 40,000

The fiction spans 400+ books across ten thousand years. You don't need to read it in order, or read all of it. Pick a path.

Beginner-friendly first reads

Accessible, well-loved starting points — each stands on its own.

Common questions

Where should I start with Warhammer 40,000 books?

Most readers start with a self-contained novel rather than reading chronologically. Popular first reads include the Eisenhorn trilogy, Gaunt's Ghosts, and Ciaphas Cain — each stands on its own and needs no prior knowledge of the setting.

Do I need to read Warhammer 40,000 in order?

No. The fiction spans hundreds of books across ten thousand years and there is no single required order. Pick a series or faction that appeals to you and branch out from there.

Is the Horus Heresy a good place to start?

It is a great entry for the setting's galaxy-spanning origin story, but it is a long series of more than fifty books. Many readers enjoy a shorter, self-contained series first and come to the Heresy later.

How many Warhammer 40,000 books are there?

Hundreds — across novels, novellas, audio dramas and anthologies. This atlas catalogues 609 of them, each placed on a chronological timeline with an original summary.