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Quick answer: If you loved Eisenhorn, read Dan Abnett's Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus, then Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, then Isaac Asimov's Foundation, and Iain M. Banks's Consider Phlebas and The Player of Games and Pierce Brown's Red Rising. All are military and inquisitor science fiction.
Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn trilogy follows an inquisitor in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. These picks share its blend of crime and war.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xenos | Dan Abnett | Adult | Warhammer detective fiction |
| Malleus | Dan Abnett | Adult | the second book |
| Hereticus | Dan Abnett | Adult | the third book |
| Ravenor | Dan Abnett | Adult | the spin-off |
| First and Only | Dan Abnett | Adult | the series starter |
| Horus Rising | Dan Abnett | Adult | origin of the setting |
| Necropolis | Dan Abnett | Adult | siege warfare |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Adult | sci-fi fans |
| Foundation | Isaac Asimov | Adult | readers who want a grand scale |
| Consider Phlebas | Iain M. Banks | Adult | Culture start |
| The Player of Games | Iain M. Banks | Adult | game and empire |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | 15+ | older teens who like sci-fi epics |
| Rendezvous with Rama | Arthur C. Clarke | Adult | readers who like exploration |
| Gridlinked | Neal Asher | Adult | action space opera |
| Dauntless | Jack Campbell | Adult | space fleet strategy |
1. Xenos by Dan Abnett
The first Eisenhorn novel follows an inquisitor hunting heresy. Dark, stylish and a fan favorite.
Best for: Warhammer detective fiction.
2. Malleus by Dan Abnett
Eisenhorn faces enemies and his own choices. Bigger and more morally complex.
Best for: the second book.
3. Hereticus by Dan Abnett
The trilogy reaches its end. Dark and thoughtful.
Best for: the third book.
4. Ravenor by Dan Abnett
Inquisitor Ravenor, a disabled investigator, leads his own team. Intense and tactical.
Best for: the spin-off.
5. First and Only by Dan Abnett
The first Gaunt's Ghosts book introduces Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and his regiment. Start here if you have not read the series.
Best for: the series starter.
6. Horus Rising by Dan Abnett
The first Horus Heresy book shows the great civil war in the Imperium. Epic and tragic.
Best for: origin of the setting.
7. Necropolis by Dan Abnett
The Ghosts defend a city under siege by the forces of Chaos. Fast and gripping.
Best for: siege warfare.
8. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is recruited to a battle school in space. A classic of young genius and manipulation.
Best for: sci-fi fans.
9. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Hari Seldon predicts the fall of a galactic empire and sets up a plan to shorten the dark age. A landmark of big-idea sci-fi.
Best for: readers who want a grand scale.
10. Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
A mercenary takes part in a war between the Culture and the Idirans. Wide-ranging and witty.
Best for: Culture start.
11. The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks
A master gamer is sent to play a game that decides an empire. Often the best entry in the Culture.
Best for: game and empire.
12. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow, a miner on Mars, infiltrates the ruling class to overthrow it. It is violent and mature, but fast and gripping.
Best for: older teens who like sci-fi epics.
13. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
Humans explore a mysterious alien spacecraft. Hard science and mystery.
Best for: readers who like exploration.
14. Gridlinked by Neal Asher
An agent is pursued by a murderous machine. Fast and violent.
Best for: action space opera.
15. Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Captain John Geary wakes after a century in survival sleep to lead a fleet home through enemy territory. The first Lost Fleet novel is strategic and fast.
Best for: space fleet strategy.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Eisenhorn: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Eisenhorn. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For the same universe, read First and Only. For space military, try Ender's Game. For dark worlds, pick Dune.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Eisenhorn?
Dan Abnett.
Where do I start?
With Xenos.
Do I need to know Warhammer 40,000?
No, but it helps.
Which book here is best for space fleet strategy?
Try Dauntless by Jack Campbell, which suits readers looking for space fleet strategy.
Which book here is best for action space opera?
Try Gridlinked by Neal Asher, which suits readers looking for action space opera.
Which book here is best for readers who like exploration?
Try Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, which suits readers looking for readers who like exploration.
Which book here is best for older teens who like sci-fi epics?
Try Red Rising by Pierce Brown, which suits readers looking for older teens who like sci-fi epics.
Which book here is best for game and empire?
Try The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks, which suits readers looking for game and empire.
Which book here is best for Culture start?
Try Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks, which suits readers looking for Culture start.