EisenHorn vs Inquisition Wars (was Dark Heresy/Warhammer 40K RPG)

So overall, what were everyone's favorite and least favorite 40K novels?

Here's my short list;

Best:
Eisenhorn Trilogy by Dan Abnett
Ravenor Trilogy by Dan Abnett
Soul Drinkers (First 2 Novels) by Ben Counter
Inquisitor by Ian Watson

Worst:
Last Chancers by Gav Thorpe
Second and Third Inquisition Wars novels by Ian Watson

I also thought the 3rd Soul Drinker Novel and the 3rd Ultramarine novel by Graham MacNeil experienced sharp changes for the worse in both content and theme.

Here's my list!

Gaunt's Ghosts (the 1st and 2nd Omnibuses)
Eisenhorn
Purge The Unclean
Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium
Souldrinkers (books 1-3)

Apparently I've been having a lot of luck in reading only those 40k novels that were worth their money.

- Dark Imperium (short story anthology)
- Faith and Fire
- Inquisitor

If we're also taking graphical novels into account, then I can say there's one series I had mixed feelings: Daemonifuge. The first book was just awesome and every page featured artwork of such a high quality that it might as well have been a compilation of drawings. The story was also quite intrigueing, although I sometimes had the impression that it evolved too fast and there should have been more room for things in-between, especially when it comes to the political fighting and the little intrigues within the Imperium that the books were hinting at.

However, in the midst of the series, it appears as if the budget was cut by 90%, for the beautiful artwork was replaced by what looked like fan-art I could have as well been doing myself. The story kept being good, but as for the images, I have to say I was extremely disappointed. Luckily, though, they changed the artist yet again, so this horror was over after about 20 pages.

I still feel kind of "let down" as the series is lacking a proper end, though. Ephrael is still on the loose, with that crazy Inquisitor trying to kill her just because he cannot see what's really going on. I wish they'd continue this plot sometime, for there's still a lot of potential in it.

In no particular order:

Caphias Cain
Scourge the Heretic
Dawn of War Omnibus
Space Wolves: Omnibus
Blood Angers: Omnibus
Ravenor: Omnibus
Gaunt's Ghosts (1st Omnibus)
Souldrinkers Omnibus

Haven't gotten into Eisenhorn, but I plan to read it someday

Cryiron wrote:
Scourge the Heretic

I meant this one instead of Purge the Unclean, but for some reason I put down the wrong book

Best - Gaunt's Ghost-series (as a whole), Dan Abnett
Worst - Daemon World, Ben Counter

Enjoyed the majority of them.............I do love fiction associated with my games

wether that be Shadowrun or Battletech

Probably liked the Cain novels most, then Guants Ghosts/ Eisenhorn and Scourge the Heretic and Simon Spurrier's Lord of the Night and Fire Warrior were superb..........

to be honest few have dissapointed and I find them consistantly good and form a favoured part of my book collection - about 2-3000 novels

I, on the other hand, felt that the majority of the novels suck. They have a place of embarrassment on my book shelf, since they don't really stand shoulder to shoulder with many of the other novels. (With the possible exception of Michael Crichton's Sphere, one of the few novels where the film is actually better.

)

Good ones, for me, would be:

Eisenhorn.

Inquisition War.

Farrer novels.

Cain.

And that's about it for me. There is a larger "B-list" of BL novels, but the majority or "C-list."

But that's just me.

Kage

Best?

-Calpurnia
-Last Chancers
-Ciaphas Cain

true that I haven´t read Eisenhorn yet (comming soon)

So, in short, buy one of the novels, see if you like it, and if you don't like it then maybe try another one. If you don't like that one, have more care for the next one and if you don't like that one, perhaps this is what is called a pattern.

Some love the books, some hate the books, some tend to go "meh." Whatever twiddles your biscuit.

Kage

I find most people like the Cain novels because of his view of the 40k universe. He finds it almost as silly as some of us do at times, but follows along for the masses.

And I find most people like Abnett cause he is the head writer hired to recreate the setting.

Lynata wrote:
If we're also taking graphical novels into account, then I can say there's one series I had mixed feelings: Daemonifuge. The first book was just awesome and every page featured artwork of such a high quality that it might as well have been a compilation of drawings. The story was also quite intrigueing, although I sometimes had the impression that it evolved too fast and there should have been more room for things in-between, especially when it comes to the political fighting and the little intrigues within the Imperium that the books were hinting at.

However, in the midst of the series, it appears as if the budget was cut by 90%, for the beautiful artwork was replaced by what looked like fan-art I could have as well been doing myself. The story kept being good, but as for the images, I have to say I was extremely disappointed. Luckily, though, they changed the artist yet again, so this horror was over after about 20 pages.

I still feel kind of "let down" as the series is lacking a proper end, though. Ephrael is still on the loose, with that crazy Inquisitor trying to kill her just because he cannot see what's really going on. I wish they'd continue this plot sometime, for there's still a lot of potential in it.

I agree, although, after the death of Inquisitor Silas Hand, there was a sharp drop in the writing as well...

Ephrael makes an ally, an enemy comes after her, the enemy kills the ally, but Ephrael defeats the enemy and moves on...

...add, rinse, repeat...

[quote=peacekeeper_b]I find most people like the Cain novels because of his view of the 40k universe. He finds it almost as silly as some of us do at times, but follows along for the masses.

And I find most people like Abnett cause he is the head writer hired to recreate the setting.[/quote]

He also wrote most of the background for Dark Heresy...and did a good job in reworking the 40K fluff.

What, worlds of peace, prosperity and ennui? NO WAY!!

[quote=peacekeeper_b]I find most people like the Cain novels because of his view of the 40k universe. He finds it almost as silly as some of us do at times, but follows along for the masses.[/quote]

Don't forget Cain's actual character. Someone who tries so hard to slack off that he actually winds up doing more work than necessary, often saving the day in the process, is worth reading about, if for no other reason than to find out how he got into the mess and back out of it THIS time!

I have just been through a massive Dan Abnettathon. From best to worst:

Brothers of the Snake (really surprised how much I liked this one)

Eisenhorn Omnibus (loved the slide towards corruption)

Ravenor Omnibus (found the bad guy much less compelling than in Eisenhorn, loved the depiction of the hive world)

Gaunt's Ghosts Omnibus (seemed too limited after the inquisitor novels and the characters were much more cardboard cutout - and didn't die enough! I can see inquisitors cutting through legions of enemies but ordinary guardsmen?)

Yeah, he's too in love with his own characters. If you follow the series beyond the first three novels people start to die, though. Slowly.

I've not read much 40k literature really, I find some of it very silly and laden with poorly-written gun-porn. But I like Abnett's stuff.
My list of favs goes:

- Ravenor series
- Eisenhorn omnibus
- Double Eagle
- Deff Skwadron (ORKS!)

Just finish Relentless, I´ve got that feeling that I should add it to my list

Oh, when we are talking about comics, don´t forget on Kal Jerico!

I was in worse situations than this. That I can´t recall any of them in the moment is another matter...

TorogTarkdacil wrote:Just finish Relentless, I´ve got that feeling that I should add it to my list

Oh, when we are talking about comics, don´t forget on Kal Jerico!

I was in worse situations than this. That I can´t recall any of them in the moment is another matter...

Good call, Kal Jerico rocked!

Sardauk wrote:Yeah, he's too in love with his own characters. If you follow the series beyond the first three novels people start to die, though. Slowly.

At least he does do that though - so many authors won't. Same in TV shows and in Comics (or at least stay dead) - at least in the former you may not want to make someone unemployed ...............

evilscary wrote:I've not read much 40k literature really, I find some of it very silly and laden with poorly-written gun-porn. But I like Abnett's stuff.
My list of favs goes:

- Ravenor series
- Eisenhorn omnibus
- Double Eagle
- Deff Skwadron (ORKS!)

"Whos that flash git flying without wings"

"thats Killboy Boss"

"Good O'l Killboy"

Deff Skwadron - much fun

DaBoss wrote:

Sardauk wrote:Yeah, he's too in love with his own characters. If you follow the series beyond the first three novels people start to die, though. Slowly.

At least he does do that though - so many authors won't. Same in TV shows and in Comics (or at least stay dead) - at least in the former you may not want to make someone unemployed ...............

On the other hand, I prefer the deaths to have some sort of dramatic impact, rather than just including enough red-shirts that one gets killed off by each new adversary.

There's far too much of that.

I'd rather an author be in love with his characters than be in love with the way he writes death scenes.

Don't get me wrong, I do the same thing as a GM, but then, I never claimed to be a novelist.

I agree - the occasional death of a well loved character can contribute to a good story - whether that be in a novel or a rpg. Its when characters are all seemingly invulnerable (in both genres) that it can become tiresome / counterproductive to the story.

DaBoss wrote:I agree - the occasional death of a well loved character can contribute to a good story - whether that be in a novel or a rpg. Its when characters are all seemingly invulnerable (in both genres) that it can become tiresome / counterproductive to the story.

Good call...remember when virtually EVERYONE was killed off by Pontius Glaw in the 3rd Eisenhorn novel, and after reading about them for 3 novels, you just felt like you'd been gut punched?

/agree BlkSabbath74

[quote=peacekeeper_b]I find most people like the Cain novels because of his view of the 40k universe. He finds it almost as silly as some of us do at times, but follows along for the masses.

And I find most people like Abnett cause he is the head writer hired to recreate the setting.[/quote]

Funnily, I find the Cain novels irritating just because of that. They're well written and have a lot of humour, just like the 40k universe in itself. It's just that I wonder how the hell Cain got through the Schola Progenium (if he was even there) without being given the Emperor's Mercy.

On my part, I like Abnett because he's a storyteller who loves to spin a tale. Most of the time, the fun he had in writing the novel shines through. IMO, he creates believable and interesting characters. Also, he's a stylist who actually tries to find variation in how he tells his stories.

Love the universe and it's very relaxing to sit down with a read from the 40k novel line. Sometimes you want the full banquet, sometimes you just want a hot dog. Gotta take it for what it is.