[Dexter]

Hi,
I'm usually not really attracted to sci-fi novels (with the exeption of ian m. banks), however i really enjoy reading the novels pushed out by gw-workshop (uk tabletop-wargame company). They play in the universe their game is located and are obviously no big addition to human art, but as already said: imho quite entertaining.
and i rate them way higher than all sw and st novels, which i personally think are utter crap ( all of you who like them, pls take no offense, just my personal taste)
to get to the point; i would like to know what major sci-fi readers think about games-workshop books, so if you got an opinion shoot...

thx

[Monty Mike]

I play the game (with models etc) but have never read any of the books.

[Jules Dante]

Well, the literary standard of some the novels published by Black Library is less than credible; but as genre readers, what do we expect? The 40k universe is brimming over with amazing (if partially plagiarised) ideas; and not only this, it's undoubtably the best developed SF alter-universe in existence. It's biblical, it's insane, it's Gothic; it has a certain epic draw that's more powerful than any of the major non-franchise serial universes (such as the Culture; I enjoy Banks, but he's pulp in reality, let's have no illusions. His characters are too familiar and too contemporaneous. The mindsets of Imperial, Tau, Ork etc have more in common with Tolkenian archetypes than what we see around us on a daily basis; which is probably why people don't really get into 40k material that much besides some of the dubious writing. I'm pointing out that people who steer away from fantasy/sci-fi universes that are too ideosyncratic and have characters that can't be immediately identified with are (commercial victims and) phillistines. Check out Fire Warrior and the Eisenhorn Trilogy. Much of the rest is for 40k fans only.

[UberDarkLord]

I don't care much for anything published by the Black Library, because it is mostly trash and if it is not trash it is mediocre at best. But for two writers I make exceptions: Jack Yeovil (the GW-name of Kim Newman) has a cool series centred around a female vampire in the Warhammer universe - the series begins with "Dragenfels". Also, anything written by William (or Bill) King is good. His "Gotrek & Felix" saga are enjoyable as far as hack&slash goes. A big plus for "Gotrek" is that it is all fairly tongue-in-cheek. In 40k: his "Farseer" is simply astounding (even compared to normal SF it certainly stands up firm) and the "Ragnar" series provides a lot of background about the Space Wolves and space marines in general.

[Ouroboros]

I happened to pick up a Warhammer novel today, and I see that they have a list at the back of their complete backlist .... 109 novels!

Now, I knew there were quite a few of them, but I had no idea there were that many.

Personally, I have maybe half a dozen, mostly older novels from the eighties. Its notable that these were from the period which the overall Warhammer / Gamesworkshop was geared much more towards adults ... this was a time when there were death metal bands named after their stuff ! Many of these early novels are dark and actually of surprisingly good quality. They still enjoy a cult status.

My impressions are that the new run of novels, like the 'Gaunt's Ghosts' stuff, seems to be more orientated to the current crop of Warhammer gamers (as are the current incarnation of their various games). Not to tread on any toes, but I think its safe to say that means younger teenagers in general.

[Zanzibar]

... this was a time when there were death metal bands named after their stuff !
Yeah, but Bolt Thrower wasn't any good ;) . Even GW thinks so and they've said it in White Dwarf.

I've read the Gotrex and Felix novels and I think William King's got talent but the stories are just bloody adventure after bloody adventure. How many monsters can that dwarf slay before it becomes tedious? The number's quite low. I've not moved into 40k novels, mostly because I have little interest in the 40k game (I've played Space Marines but that was a long time ago). Overall though, it does seem to be geared towards a younger audience (both books and game). Refering again to King's series, it isn't complicated. Violence and mayhem abound but there's little that is thought provoking. Still, I enjoyed them. The game's setting itself is much more interesting. I love the darkness and Gothic horror of it and that's one of the biggest attractions of the game. I don't really need to read the novels to enjoy it.

[Ouroboros]

The 'Konrad' trilogy has been re-released in an omnibus edition, I must take a look. Likewise the 'Inquisitor' novels.