Warhammer 40,000, also known as Warhammer 40K, is a vast and expansive universe with numerous books, novels, and stories. The optimal reading order for Warhammer 40K books can vary depending on your interests and what aspects of the lore you want to explore. However, here's a suggested reading order to help you get started:
"Horus Rising" by Dan Abnett: This is the first book in the Horus Heresy series, which serves as a prequel to the events of Warhammer 40,000 and explores the origins of the Imperium and the tragic fall of Horus.
"False Gods" by Graham McNeill: The second book in the Horus Heresy series, it continues the story of Horus' corruption and betrayal.
"Galaxy in Flames" by Ben Counter: The third book in the Horus Heresy series, it depicts the devastating events of the Dropsite Massacre and the escalating war.
"The First Heretic" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden: This book delves into the origins of the Word Bearers Legion and their betrayal of the Imperium.
"Eisenhorn" by Dan Abnett: This is the first book in the Eisenhorn trilogy, which follows the story of an Imperial Inquisitor and his investigations into heresy and corruption within the Imperium.
"Gaunt's Ghosts: First and Only" by Dan Abnett: The first book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, it focuses on a regiment of Imperial Guard soldiers known as the Tanith First and Only and their campaigns in the Sabbat Worlds.
"Ciaphas Cain: For the Emperor" by Sandy Mitchell: This book introduces the character of Commissar Ciaphas Cain and his humorous adventures in the midst of war.
"The Night Lords Trilogy" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden: This trilogy provides a deep dive into the Night Lords Chaos Space Marine Legion and their dark exploits.
"The Ultramarines Omnibus" by Graham McNeill: This omnibus contains three novels that follow the Ultramarines Chapter and their battles against various enemies of the Imperium.
"Ravenor" by Dan Abnett: This is the first book in the Ravenor trilogy, which is a spin-off from the Eisenhorn series, focusing on another Inquisitor and his team.
These are just a few recommendations to get you started, and there are many other great books and series within the Warhammer 40K universe. Feel free to explore different factions, characters, and time periods based on your interests.
Abnett and Mitchell's books are all good. I remember enjoying book one of HH series but just didn't care enough to slog through the series so I don't really have an opinion on those. If you're starting a series start from book 1. Order doesn't really matter, just pick a book and start reading
I have not read a single warhammer book.
As long as C.S. Goto's name doesn't appear anywhere on that list, it really doesn't matter what order you read 40k lore in to be honest. Learning the Horus Heresy first is probably a good idea, it's the foundational event for the setting.
Na Na Na Na DOOMRIDER!
Read the HH, brother.
Somewhere between "False Gods" and "Galaxy in Flames" you should fit "The Outcast Dead" and "Mechanicum" (both by Graham McNeill)
"The Outcast Dead" is the story of a psyker who is psychologically damaged when a Gellar Field fails. Knowledge of The Isstvan Massacre centers heavily on the plot.
"Mechanicum" follows the activity on Mars as Horus prepares his trap on Isstvan and deals with Fabricator General Kelbor Hal's support of Horus and the Death of Innocence.
start from eisenhorn, ciaphas cain and gaunts ghosts to get a feel for the world at the lower soldier/inquisitor levels, ciaphas cain in particular introduces the world and enemies in a more humorous manner, the audiobooks really get the wry humor across with very good voice acting with multiple actors almost like a dramatization
It's a big galaxy. All the different series do not overlap, so there's no issue with reading one before the other.
Ciaphas Cain is the most normie-friendly 40K series, basically Space Blackadder about a commissar driven by enlightened self-interest. I'd start with that, and then try Gaunt's Ghosts, Eisenhorn or one of the other more standard 40k series.
Read Ciaphas Cain, ignore literally everything else. I read the first Gaunt's Ghosts and while it certainly wasn't woke or retconning anything I noticed, it was such a slog to get through. Mostly because of Gaunt himself.
Grimdark becomes boring really fast, especially when it's all supposed to be a parody, but not really.