Where to START with WARHAMMER 40K LORE | Warhammer 40,000

Warhammer 40k Lore is HUGE and it can be difficult to know where to start. With content creator, with rulebooks, or by diving into the novels? Well, have no fear - in this little video I give a brief guide to the main themes of 40k, and then go through where to find it, from Wikis to KZbinrs!
Wikis
Lexicanum ► wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main...
KZbinrs
Oculus Imperia ► / @oculusimperia
Leutin09 ► / @luetin09
The Remembrancer ► / @theremembrancer
Snipe & Wib ► / snipeandwib
Support the channel:
Patreon ► / arbitorian
Get your discount HOBBY FIX (and buy me toys in the process!!)
Firestorm Games ► www.firestormgames.co.uk/?aff...
Elsewhere on the internet:
Twitter ► / arbitorian
Instagram ► / arbitorian
00:00 Intro
01.30 Why is 40k so BIG?
02:45 THEMES
10:15 Gamebooks
11:30 Novels & Videogames
13:30 A word on CANON
14:17 Wikis & Reddit
16:34 Content Creators
Copyright: Unless noted in the video, all images © Games Workshop 1987-2022. All music by Karl Casey @White Bat Audio
#warhammer #news #warhammerlore #spacemarines #primaris #chaos #history #horusheresy #spacemarines #imperium #astartes #boardgames #tabletopgaming #warhammer40k #warhammerworld #gamesworkshop #warhammer30k

[@OculusImperia]

Thanks so much for the shoutout you hero!

[@Mortys_Toilet_Attendant]

Oculus watches Ian and Ian watches Oculus. That gives me a warm feeling! 😂❤

[@Dracobyte]

Your channel is awesome!!

[@toxos265]

Totally deserved

[@ImmortaleyeStudio]

It's well deserved, keep up the awesome work :D

[@fiftyv2.076]

​@@Mortys_Toilet_Attendant Occulus has appeared on Ian's channel.

[@JamesHodden-rk6ks]

There are some Lore videos where it's like hearing someone describe how romantic Every Breath You Take by The Police is, you don't know if they've missed the obvious subtext, or if they're wilfully ignoring it for bad faith reasons.

[@ecta9604]

“The lore of Warhammer 40K is huge” It’s bigger than that Ian, it’s large

[@bentilbury2002]

It's larger than that, it's big.

[@Yandarval]

Its at least room sized...

[@velstadtvonausterlitz2338]

It's bigger than that, its small.

[@JukeBredd10]

@@velstadtvonausterlitz2338 It's bigger than that. It's microscopic.

[@mostcomplicatedman8115]

its vast

[@mariottbunbury1985]

MULTIPLE IAN VIDEOS IN A SINGLE WEEK? Oh I'm eating good No more awkward silence while I eat my tendies

[@Marinealver]

None of them address the 🐘 in the room. When are Female Space Marines going to be added in Warhammer 40,000 (or Age of Sigmar IN SPACE!)?

[@Dracobyte]

He is on a roll!

[@Thetasigmaalpha]

Ian did a vid on fe mail space marines ages ago.

[@ErrrorWayz]

Start with Custodes. Oh wait, comes back in a bit..

[@KateHolden]

Lots of love for Oculus on the comments already (deserved) so I'm going to wave the flag for Snipe & Wib, who really capture the irreverent punk vibe of classic Warhammer and delve into some really weird, old, niche stuff! Anyone who hasn't watched their Codex Compliant playlist definitely should.

[@king_milkfart]

Love S&W

[@Gnomelotte]

Codex Compliant is a gem.

[@morayonkeys]

I was going to have a productive afternoon but now I have to watch all of Codex Compliant. Again.

[@Greycatuk]

They are also Lovely People, which helps 😊

[@acerock013]

step one: ignore fan groups and influencer hottakes.

[@Prederick]

SERIOUSLY.

[@Acatarro]

This need to be the first comment.

[@samurairex7825]

The most important fr

[@mus_cetiner]

Ian, you've become my main one-stop channel on 40k lore, narrative and videos around it, I enjoy your content and the execution of the delivery. It's not over the top, dramatically bombastic, sensational or annoying. Your videos are informative, entertaining, honest and really good. It's, well..... a little bit of calm in crazy world and the KZbin.

[@Bluecho4]

Not to mention Ian's videos _get to the point._ They are brief, and cover all the important information in a way that is both well-researched and not reductive. I like a good hour-long video while I'm painting as much as the next Warhammer nerd. But sometimes, that's too much detail. Especially for people new to the franchise, who just need a solid overview.

[@Anarcho_slimer]

Ian your answer is wrong. To start with 40k lore you start with Jaq Draco and the inquisition war, and then you don't need to read further because you've learned all the important bits.

[@meatmech]

oh no no no NO NO NO

[@velstadtvonausterlitz2338]

I... Thanks for reminding me that now. It seems I require another session with the mind cleanser...

[@MrBanditoRazor]

I mean the first step is to constantly say "These stories are a marketing tool to sell toys, and not to get overly attached" THEN start with the Inq War, followed by the anti imperium stories pretending to be pro inquisition aka Eisenhorn, then Gaunts Ghosts ....which also paint the Imperium is a REALLY bad light....then Soul Drinkers...then jump to Dark Imperium and then stop 😂😂😂😂

[@aztecjaguar6571]

I very much enjoyed Ian Watson‘s The Inquisition War - an excellent introduction to the weird and dystopian Imperium and 40k grimdark atmosphere.

[@joshuacouture479]

“I long for genestealer ass”- Jaq Draco

[@basileerla]

The last part of this video, just after the week-long madness about the golden girls, hits peculiarly on point.

[@Mugdorna]

Spot on

[@Hakazu]

Damn nice to hear that others are also so done with the drama 😁

[@rycolligan]

Occulus Imperia is easily my favorite lore channel, I cannot recommend it enough.

[@sphyre1196]

If we are doing shout-outs let me give one to Vox in the Void for really immersive fan fiction. I would love it if he had the could voice GW made content.

[@philipzahn491]

It is a bit too specific for newcomers, I think.

[@Sir_Tomoyuki]

Same! And Luetin09 too!

[@Bluecho4]

@@philipzahn491 I agree. Oculus Imperia is the channel I would recommend to people after they've already learned a fair amount of the broad strokes of the setting. Because it operates very much on the idea that you're already so invested in the setting, you're willing to sit for hours listening to a deep dive about a single subject, from a person role-playing a person living in that universe. That said, if you ARE in that level of setting awareness, Oculus Imperia is one of the best channels for 40K lore (and to a lesser extent Age of Sigmar lore) I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Because, more than any other channel, he makes you FEEL for the subjects of his videos. You don't listen to an Oculus Imperia video to get a primer. You listen to be _told a story._

[@a.k.summers5633]

Same.

[@chrissyross]

Younger me remembers when it was called fluff, as there was no real depth or seriousness to it, it was merely background context for the toy soldiers, derivative of a lot of sci-fi tropes of the time. I don't know if the shift to "lore" is particularly healthy for the hobby, especially as it has made "heroes" of certain faction protagonists and therefore links into the issues you mentioned in the last video about fandoms..

[@ArkadiBolschek]

It's weird to realize that, as a _really_ old player/fan, I can remember a time when I could say with certainty that I knew most, if not all, the lore of WH40K.

[@Mugdorna]

Back in the late 1990s? I got into 40K circa early 1994. Stopped playing/painting in 2008 but have keep reading since then.

[@ArkadiBolschek]

@@Mugdorna More like late _1980s._ I didn't have the money to buy miniatures, but I borrowed the Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness book from a friend and read it cover to cover several times. Plus every WD issue I could lay my hands upon ^^

[@Bobahat]

I'm so happy that Ian started this channel. He's the absolute best 40k KZbinr out there.

[@SC1ENCEP1E]

I gotta nominate Valdor: Birth of the Imperium as starting point

[@khangcraft729]

I'm so sorry, when I first started out and was thirsty for lore, I listened to this as an audio book. I was extremely bored with it even though I knew the framework of the lore. The payoffs were lost on me and I was unable to appreciate them. If you could help reframe my approach to this novel I would appreciate it.

[@SC1ENCEP1E]

@@khangcraft729 I listened to it after Chris Wraights other two custodes books "The Watchers of Throne" series as well as being 50 books in to the Heresy so all I can say for me is it came at time when I couldn't get enough Custodes

[@michaelstevens5712]

I just finished the audiobook yesterday and I have to agree. It's probably the best "taste test" for whether someone is going to enjoy reading Heresy vs contemporary 40k. It's short and the prose is sharp, but it's also self-contained and features most of the main themes of Heresy alongside a bunch of secretly key lore moments.

[@johnstrelley3917]

This and then the Last Church are my starting points.

[@glandhound]

Dunno, the big details of Horus Heresy are somewhat irrelevant in 40k, no one in 40k, not even the primarchs that are back have any idea of it all. Pick a great 40k novel (like Eisenhorn), if it touches some special place in you read more. Horus Heresy as a whole is very intricate and deep and then after it's done it's irrelevant in the larger scheme of things. You need some special set of patience to go through ALL the HH novels because some of them are really bad and you're better off skipping some. Even the great Abnett has his Unremembered Empire. Trying to finish HH as your first act in will burn you out.

[@darkflame8]

The better content creators for lore? Thinking to myself that Snipe and Wib better be on that list. And I do indeed see that all is right with the world.

[@disceva6443]

I have a mate who was thinking of getting into 40k, ill have to show them this!

[@hotrodheart26]

If I may suggest a few novels to peak his interest w some lore: Storm of Iron, Helsreach, Devastation of Baal and any Cain novel. Good luck on his journey to 40K.

[@disceva6443]

@@hotrodheart26 oh I’ve already recommended him some lol, Necropolis, Last chancers, and the night lord trilogy.

[@hotrodheart26]

@@disceva6443 Emperor is certainly with you. Hail!

[@georgwilliamfriedrichhegel5744]

One of my favorite things about 40k is that it's so vast that you can have any kind of story in it. Sometimes I like to pretend that every other fiction book I read is also taking place within the 40k universe. It made a lot of the books I had to read for school more bearable. Personally, I just googled for a list of the best 40k novels and picked the cheapest one, which happened to be the Eisenhorn omnibus. That and spending time on the wikis during work meetings and finding new factions and people that I wanted to read about.

[@euansmith3699]

"Lord of the Flies" is thematically and tonally appropriate to the Grim Dark. 👍

[@georgwilliamfriedrichhegel5744]

@@euansmith3699 It does contain an ambiguous war...

[@Insanir]

My introduction to 40K was the Ravenor Omnibus. It became a yearly ritual to read through the Gaunt's Ghost's series. I'd say, Dan Abnett's Xenos is a great starting point.

[@Tango_41]

This is the correct answer.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Honestly, I have to say any 40k rule book is a great place to start. You get a good overview of the setting and excellent illustrations. I haven’t checked, but one would think that older editions should be available at a discount.

[@gathasofpersia6432]

The best place to start is by joining an actual Warhammer 40K club, as I did in Phoenix, AZ. They were very accepting of a NooB. I was invited to play a 3 x 3 match. They were explaining and showing off their miniatures. I was shock by the friendliness and information I received.

[@Mutant1988]

Another important thing to consider when discussing the lore of 40K is to remember that at the end of the day it is a fiction created to support the sales of plastic toys. That is the single immutable aspect of Warhammer and any consumer product really. Every concern about canon is secondary to the fact that GWs business is primarily and overwhelmingly about selling plastic toys.

[@System-Update]

Such a Gulliman Ian. Embrace the chaos of content creators. Let the Fandom Burn!

[@atimelycat1258]

I'm always genuinely charmed by how easy an introductory story Spear of The Emperor is. Like, there is absolutely deepend comprehension of the Warp, the institutional rot, the nature of Chaos, Imperial infighting, marines and their psychology. Deepend portrayals of all these things, and their presented so simply and easy to comprehend. It's own running metaplot made also, easily digestible.

[@chrisc1719]

The scene in that book when the ship falls into the warp was the highlight of that book. I absolutely love it.

[@rangerlongshot]

I've never played the game and never will. I got into the lore because a few good friends have been playing since the 80's, and because I have 8 hours a day to listen to audiobooks at work. 70+ books in Spear of the Emperor is my absolute favorite Space Marine book. It's not even close.

[@bradypus55]

You forgot another lore venue, homoerotic warhammer fanfics on AO3. Just saying, you may learn a lot about the world and society of 40k in between the lines of a romance scenes between an ork warboss and a black templar captain

[@ArbitorIan]

Homoerotic Warhammer fanfics have a long and verified history in 40k. Just ask Ian Watson

[@0hMax]

General warning of Janovich. The only time I've had to leave a discord purely because there was just *so much* racism.

[@Mr_Bunk]

I checked out the moment he went on Carl Benjamin’s podcast. I refuse to refer to him by his online moniker, for it would be a grievous insult to the real founder of the Akkadian dynasty.

[@linamishima]

comment for the algo-god, engagement for the engagement throne! Excellent summary, and really loved the bit at the end about "written by a load of people having fun". When I've introduced the setting to people, they've often rightly responded with "wait, so this whole setting is just the whole six kids in a playground trying to one-up eachother's ideas?". And from a reader/player perspective, it feels a lot more healthy to take a story setting as something to enjoy, rather than to stick on a pedestal.

[@alexsmith7313]

Friend: This doesn't seem very much like satire... Me: Let me tell you about the Inquisitor named "Obi-Wan Sherlock Clouseau."

[@Hebuspm]

there are some guys on the 40kLore subreddit who almost immediatly find every book reference possible to a certain topic and one guy said, after beeing asked how he doesnt it, that he got ALL publications of written lore in PDFs and just crtl+F until he finds the source. Absolute mad lad.

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Excellent primer ArbitorIan. I like that you took the time to break down why you made the recommendations you did & gave some things to be on the lookout for.

[@lewisdavies9998]

Hi, great video. You had three books in the picture when you were talking about the four books that are no longer canon- what's the fourth? Deathwing?

[@TrentRosenbaum]

A good refreshing reminder of why 40k is just fun and you can finish the story or play a new one. When you feel clued up on an area or faction then some theories are fun to hear while painting.

[@MHR1001]

Glad to see so many Ian Watson fans voicing out on this one. After the early rule books and codex's the Ian watson line was my first foray into the books and since then the hook was set well in. Keep up the good content Ian 👍

[@astupidface1645]

As much as I love TTS and it got me into this setting, I think it hasn't aged the best, especially looking at Alfabusa's current output. Hunter the parenting is far more faithful to the setting's tone, has better characters, wittier and funnier writing and the animation blows tts so far out of the water it's ended up on tallarn. it's genuinely a night and day difference.

[@garryame4008]

This channel is such a godsend. What an incredible resource

[@DrockTheClock]

Aw the Inquisition War. That was the trilogy that hooked me on the setting. Every time I see it referenced it brings on the feels. Amazing that one of the 4 delisted artifacts is the one that locked in a fan for life within the hobby.

[@Mr_Bunk]

I know you said to avoid any channel with ‘Theory’ in it if you’re a newcomer, but 40K Theories do have an excellent ‘40K Lore for newcomers’ series with no theorising, just a nice, clean, quick summary of the topic in question. They even managed to narrow down the entirety of Vraks to under 40 minutes with the help of one of your recommendations, Oculus Imperia!

[@Speakhardly]

Great introductory video Ian! Gonna show this to a few loved ones...

[@Lemonhead209]

Absolutely stoked you listed Oculus, him , and the other three are superb creators

[@Kincoran]

Loved the comment about how the in-universe satire is funny if you're in-the-know, and then the (quite correct and wholly necessary) mandatory Arch warning being an OUT of universe funny-if-you're-in-the-know bit! Great video as always!

[@Aberinkula9]

Of all the Warhammer's content creators here in KZbin, I say wholeheartedly that you are my favourite and one of the - objectively speaking - very few that has real knowledge on the hobby. It is very verifiable that you are a veteran in the hobby and that you understand many - if not all - of the points of the franchise, specially that the main one is to simply have FUN with plastic toys on steroids! This video is just one more prove of a master in his craft! Thank you very much! ❤

[@greendalf123]

Honestly best place to really start is the main rulebook. You get a full coverage of all the factions, setting and timeline. Then codex's for faction specific lore. Then novels where things get personal.

[@leovalenzuela8368]

Absolutely brilliant video, loved it!

[@Bubbowie]

Stop being Humble! Your first video is the best introduction to 40k I've ever seen. After that you can check out the rest of the recommended channels. Stay awesome!

[@dak4303]

Another great video. Thanks Ian!

[@darkora_]

Highly recommend Adeptus Ridiculous; a seasoned 40k veteran takes a newcomer to the fandom on a deep-dive of the 40k universe, it's a fantastic way to learn, also 'Isyander & Koda' and Numbskulls. Also Snipe & Wibb are a fantastic channel to go into the meta history of 40k once you get the bug 😅

[@morayonkeys]

The only thing more based than Ian's KZbin recommendations is Ian shouting out Snipe and Wib. How they don't have a 6-figure subscriber count is truly the greatest mystery in all 40k lore.

[@billybongos957]

You already had pretty much the best and most concise "intro to 40k" type video, but this is even better. Really appreciate talking about its influences and real-world contexts and not just straight lore, this really is great for beginners. Will definitely share whenever I'm indoctrinating people.

[@pi8chyt]

you provide the essentials with context, luetin the long from. Nothing more needed :-) Thanks for your content! Aways enjoyable!

[@Yandarval]

A well reasoned and easy to understand presentation, Ian.

[@dismaspickman773]

WH lore is derivative of LOTR, Judge Dredd, Starship Troopers, and Dune (in particular). You can see shades of Alien, Terminator, and anime sci-fi in its current iteration. Of course, they put their own spin on it, and the lore is at its best when it doesn't take itself too seriously IMO. Also, GW can and does change it at will if they think it will allow them to better sell miniatures--ultimately, the lore exists to aid in selling toy soldiers. EDIT: Let me add that there are very talented creatives who work on the lore in novels and other stories, just like there are many talented artists who are involved (now uncredited). I am not taking away from their work, but ultimately they answer to suits who always seek to increase profits via selling overpriced toys.

[@honeybear278]

Love your content ❤

[@drexciya8083]

Super helpful … with lore I spent a lot of time trying to get a glass of water only to be blown away by fire hoses. Thanks for another crisp and fun video Ian

[@petersmith6513]

RE 11:38 love the Ian Watson reference. Strangely my books had different covers.

[@ricoqwertz123]

Good one, as Always!

[@andrewbehrens3540]

Great video as always.

[@JoelTheKven]

I started with Luetin09 via a Bricky recommendation back when I started getting into painting and he is my favorite Loremaster (sorry, Ian, but you're pretty high up the list, too). Oculus Imperia is another favorite. I regret I did end up watching some Arch videos, but he became extremely... caustic.

[@mattsstuff5626]

I really appreciate your level headed take on all things 40k. Thank you.

[@LexIconLS]

Love to see Oculus in your recommendations. Probably my personal favorite lore channel.

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

Yeah but he's a leftist so who the hell cares about him

[@DoomsToys]

You are the only man I trust to explain 40k to new converts

[@alexandrebelinge8996]

omg I had forgotten about the football !!

[@EyeOnTheTV]

Definitely dropping this video into my friend-group chat.

[@snip105]

My first introduction into 40k was the dawn of war games. And after that I started reading the lexicanum wiki before I started to watch KZbin videos. I never played the tabletop game so I didn’t read the rules books. Didn’t even buy any books, mainly because I couldn’t get them.

[@Greycatuk]

I got given the first Horus book... and had read the initial trilogy in two days. Off and running into the lore! Bless Dan, Graham and Aaron 😊

[@The7guys]

Based mandatory Arch warning. I'm black, and I remember when he was making stink about Ferren Aerios, the black Ultramarine on the cover of the first Dawn of Fire novel. It was my very first 40k book I'd read. I'm glad you don't tolerate his racism.

[@Yandarval]

I believe it was more to do with the cover art having Bobby-G in the background. When the book is about him as the protagonist. Book one is called Avenging Son after all.

[@bbaii16]

Those kinds of guys make a stink about the most insane stuff

[@430CurlyJo]

​@@Yandarval given the rest of Arch's content and actions it really really wasn't... he has history with pretty horrific views

[@hpph7133]

Years ago, before I found out about his outright racism, I stopped after 2 vids on Arch when he went on a weird mysoginst tirade mid lore dump. That guy doesn't seem to like anyone.

[@daniellogue8365]

The horus heresy books hit the exact right tone. Some of the guard books do it really well too with describing the endless logistics and administration work that goes in various campaigns

[@merci_ann]

Yaaay, Oculus shoutout. I always wondered whats Ians opinion abuut other best loretuber out there

[@smallspacearcade8158]

Excellent video as always. So many of your videos would also work as podcasts. Any chance of uploading more of the 40K book clubs to Amazon's Audible service?

[@drunknnirish]

I am just glad Spear of the Emperor was shown, mainly because it goes into the only UM successor worth anything (also my favorite chapter so yes I am very bias).

[@maxlowthian884]

Love your buds Ian best part of the week

[@andrewdowler4479]

Ian..you are my fav WH 40 /so K youtube creator...keep up the great work...and your description of Orks as Fottyball Holligans made me spit /spill my coffee in laughter!!!

[@xavierengels2420]

Snipe & Wib's channel is an absolute gem ;)

[@TTKarlheins]

SOOOO GOOOOOOD! Thank you Arbitor Ian, this is THAT perfect video I can share with people when I struggle to explain what's so special and different about 40k as a grand piece of sci-fi. Curiously, what do you think of Warhammer TV?? I've just signed up for a month and I'm DEVOURING their lore series though I personally think they should employ you for it cause I really dig your delivery of this stuff 😃

[@oldex6564]

Really enjoying this concerted pushback against the undesired parts of the community I'm seeing across 40K content. Thanks for the enjoyable and informative video.

[@Omniescent]

"Beware of Hyperbole" [several Wes Hammer videos in scrolling] lolol I love Wes, but this is too funny

[@ArbitorIan]

I think I just searched for '40k 10 strongest' or something

[@randomacademypilot]

Thank you.

[@Mortys_Toilet_Attendant]

I was hoping you would recommend Oculus Imperia and you did ❤

[@jakeseger4395]

My favorite part of warhammer lore is when James Workshop finally collected the 40,000th warhammer and smited Pierre Peacemallet with it

[@Subninja2012]

With the new stuff. The narrative choice to focus on adding albino Pygmy Custodes is suuuuuper important.

[@mynameisphil86]

I know it's not, but I feel like this video was made special for me! Thanks!

[@ZeZwede]

Well timed video. i feel a lot of people in these days have forgotten about how absolutely bonkers the setting is, and gone into "how cool and dark it is" instead. i blame youtube and novels. xD

[@andyshaw5378]

Nice introduction 👍🏻

[@tomrulz11]

Very best way I would recommend is just get Dawn of war 1 and play that … you will then be a fan for life

[@AntonPNym]

I'm a very late convert to the Ciaphas Cain novels, but the first three make me think they might work as a decent starter for folks who haven't been exposed to the universe before; the events are dramatic and fairly representative, the style is breezy and tone is comedic enough that they're a fun read, and Cain's viewpoint is a lot closer to a modern person's and so easier to absorb... while character interactions, footnotes and "historical" inserts point out where he's different from the Imperium mainstream. Can't wait to get the next 3 from BL's "print on demand" offer, which should arrive right around my birthday conveniently enough.

[@harryallen1175]

Yay snipe & wib.

[@nakenmil]

This just highlights why I tend to think of Ian as a making warhammer video for adults. Cutting through the specific surface gubbins and getting into the mentality behind things. One thing that's been annoying me over the last decade or so with the growth of warhammer youtubers and the like, is that it seems to promote this ideas that a) Warhammer lore is uniquely expansive. It's not, really. American superhero comic universes like DC and Marvel are even more sprawling and mind-boggling. The old Star Wars EU was also completely impenetrably vast. What serves all of these is that they have flagship media to get across the basic ideas. b) that you "have to learn the lore". I mean, I got into Warhammer 40k back around 1998-99, and honestly I'm going to say there is no need to binge lore. A lot is contextual and something you can learn by dripfeeding. Warhammer is A LOT MORE about the *vibes*, the aesthethics, the mood that it gives off through the artwork, the style of prose and word choices. You don't need to constantly know the how's and why's, it's fine.

[@W_P_92]

I thought the only way to read the lore was to take it as absolute truth and then ignore any retcons until they conflict with your extremely narrow, social media informed worldview at which time you should become frothing at the mouth in anger!

[@mankdeems251]

"It is a setting" perfect 😗👌

[@xtremeranger30]

I think it would also be accurate to describe Gaunt's Ghosts as "Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe meets 40k". I think Dan Abnett even said he initially envisioned Ibram Gaunt as Sean Bean's depiction of Richard Sharpe in the Sharpe TV series.

[@davidcollins9213]

Good video Ian. If I may ask though could you do a video about the satire in 40k? Like with all the ways to enjoy the setting where does one find it? Where does it and does not work and so on? If a person is so distant from the subject being satirized in the first place would it ever land for them? Stuff like that.

[@jhavent1]

New Ian and Occulus Imperia iin the same day? Excellent stuff

[@Powaup]

There’s books that are short collections of books like “Nexus and other stories” great intro point imo

[@pete5847]

It's just really sad that Lexicanum is sometimes incomplete and often seems like it has been discontinued

[@gcartigny]

My take: Watch a youtube video about the complete 40K timeline. Most of these will tell you similar things. Beyond that I started with reading short story bundles to get your feet wet and get a taste of many types of factions and viewpoints. For example, I liked Heroes of the Space Marines very much to get a feel for Space Marines (and a bit of Chaos and Orks). After that, just pick some stories that seem cool to you.

[@Eschatonin6666]

After happening upon the novel Space Wolf in one of the used book stores in my suburb (USAmerican translation: district), I decided to start collecting 40k books. 6 used book stores in range of me in my city, will be checking them each month. Also recruiting friends and family in other towns to spot them for me. Sadly I have to balance anything that isn't about Tau or Emperor's Children (for now) against my money collection.

[@TheRealOfficialAmazingAdam]

I stared with Yarrick Pyres Of Armaggedon I say start anywhere find a character you find interesting The Guard just kicks ass lore wise.

[@Kristian.B.Kristiansen]

Mandatory Arch warning!

[@ArbitorIan]

Very important.

[@bumgilligan]

The real hateful people will show themselves if you wait long enough...

[@Kristian.B.Kristiansen]

@@ArbitorIan Very true. He was the first Lore-KZbinr I watched, when I entered the Hobby in 2019. I clearly remember watching one of his videos on the Sisters of Battle. I wanted to learn about an interesting faction, not listen to a bunch of tasteless PMS-jokes.

[@Dracobyte]

​@@Kristian.B.Kristiansenwhat does PMS mean in this context.

[@MrDecelles]

@@ArbitorIan The early implantation of the sisters... was rough. Arch is... very very focused. It took years (and a more modern codex) for sisters of Battle to feel real. :)

[@theblackjubalharshaw]

I would love a novel or even a comic about the age of strife/golden age. I always imagined the peak of humanity to be like Iain m Banks culture series

[@DamienJones77]

A great tip is to visit one's local library! My local libraries, here in the West Midlands of the UK, have a good selection of Warhammer novels which, by themselves, are fun books with interesting stories. Just pick whichever cover speaks most to you and start reading!

[@sphyre1196]

The first books that really resonated with me were the Night Lords trilogy. Been in love ever since.

[@jazzyb4656]

Brilliant first introduction to Chaos and the 40k universe.

[@sphyre1196]

​@@jazzyb4656Ave Dominus Nox brother 🦇. I first read Gaunts Ghosts and gave up midway book 2 then bored myself to death with Devastation of Bhaal. After those two I was ready to give up on 40 k books when I gave one last recommendation a try and ADB delivered. He has been my favorite Black Library author since then. Dan Abnett won me back with Eisenhorn trilogy and I am now starting to get into Chris Wraight. What's your journey if you still remember it?

[@pardusfreeman6703]

10:27 "Space Wolf" (1999) and "Ragnar's Claw" (1999) by William King were marketed as novels for people who knew nothing about the setting. Ragnar is young and thinks for a about travel through the warp, the nature of orcs and the work of the Inquisition, and much more... The point of view of a savage from Fenris - suitable for a beginner. The first book is an introduction to Space Marine culture. The second novel expands the exposition with Eldar, Demons, Tyranids, Orcs and other base. But... I didn't like the books.) By that time, King had been writing stories for GW for 10 years.

[@TygonPanthera]

I have always considered the only absolutely reliable source of information to be the most recent iteration of the rulebook, codices and campaign books. Everything else is secondary or worse.