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Quick answer: If you liked Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts, read First and Only, then try the Eisenhorn books, Horus Rising and the Ciaphas Cain novels. For similar military adventure outside Warhammer, read Sharpe's Rifles, Starship Troopers and The Forever War.
Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts series follows the Tanith First and Only, an infantry regiment in the grim far future of Warhammer 40,000. It mixes war stories, character drama and large battles. The books below include more Warhammer novels and other military fiction in a similar spirit. All are for older teens and adults, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| First and Only | Dan Abnett | Adult | the series starter |
| Ghostmaker | Dan Abnett | Adult | series readers |
| Necropolis | Dan Abnett | Adult | siege warfare |
| Xenos | Dan Abnett | Adult | Warhammer detective fiction |
| Horus Rising | Dan Abnett | Adult | origin of the setting |
| For the Emperor | Sandy Mitchell | Adult | humorous Warhammer |
| Sharpe's Rifles | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | historical soldiers |
| Starship Troopers | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | military sci-fi |
| The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | Adult | war and time |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | snappy military sci-fi |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | grimdark roots |
| Legend | David Gemmell | Adult | heroic stands |
| The Killer Angels | Michael Shaara | Adult | battle fiction |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | far-future war |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | epic space politics |
1. 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.
2. Ghostmaker by Dan Abnett
The second book follows the regiment's early campaigns with linked stories. Dark and rich in detail.
Best for: series readers.
3. Necropolis by Dan Abnett
The Ghosts defend a city under siege by the forces of Chaos. Fast and gripping.
Best for: siege warfare.
4. Xenos by Dan Abnett
The first Eisenhorn novel follows an inquisitor hunting heresy. Dark, stylish and a fan favorite.
Best for: Warhammer detective fiction.
5. 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.
6. For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell
A cowardly commissar becomes a hero by accident. Funny and sharp, a Warhammer comic classic.
Best for: humorous Warhammer.
7. Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
Richard Sharpe fights in the Peninsular War. Fast and gritty.
Best for: historical soldiers.
8. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
A young man joins the Mobile Infantry and fights alien bugs. Controversial and influential.
Best for: military sci-fi.
9. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A soldier fights across time and distance in an endless war. A bleak and clever classic.
Best for: war and time.
10. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Seniors join the army and get new bodies. Funny, fast and clever.
Best for: snappy military sci-fi.
11. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A band of mercenaries serves a sorceress. Gritty and darkly funny.
Best for: grimdark roots.
12. Legend by David Gemmell
Warriors defend a fortress against huge odds. Heroic and gritty.
Best for: heroic stands.
13. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Battle of Gettysburg told from the commanders' points of view. A Pulitzer-winning novel.
Best for: battle fiction.
14. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner infiltrates the ruling class in a hierarchical future. Violent and gripping.
Best for: far-future war.
15. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes over a desert planet and its spice. Political, philosophical and vast.
Best for: epic space politics.
How to Choose
For more Gaunt's Ghosts, read the series in order. For Abnett's detective stories, Xenos. For humor, For the Emperor. For history, Sharpe's Rifles and The Killer Angels. Warhammer novels are part of a large universe, so you can start with any series and branch out. Warhammer novels can be daunting because of the size of the universe. Pick one series and follow it for a few books before branching out. Online guides list reading orders for Gaunt's Ghosts, Eisenhorn and Horus Heresy. Audiobooks narrated by skilled actors are popular with fans.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Gaunt's Ghosts about?
They follow the Tanith First and Only regiment, led by Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, on a long crusade through the galaxy.
Do I need to know Warhammer 40,000?
No. The books explain what you need, and many readers enter through the novels.
How many Gaunt's Ghosts books are there?
More than a dozen novels plus short stories and anthologies.
Is Gaunt's Ghosts violent?
Yes. It depicts war and death in detail.
What is the best Dan Abnett book?
Fans often pick Xenos and First and Only.
Who is Gaunt?
Ibram Gaunt is a commissar-colonel who leads the Tanith First and Only, known as the Ghosts, and is honorable and tough.
What are the Tanith?
They are the soldiers from the destroyed world of Tanith, recruited as scouts and infiltrators.
Is Warhammer 40,000 grimdark?
Yes. Its setting is bleak and violent, with endless war.
Are Abnett's novels good for newcomers to Warhammer?
Yes. Many fans call them the best entry point.
Who else writes Warhammer fiction?
Authors like Graham McNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden and Sandy Mitchell are popular.
Which Warhammer series should I read after Gaunt's Ghosts?
Eisenhorn and the Horus Heresy are favorite follow-ups.
Do the Ghosts have a TV series?
No, though fans of military drama may enjoy other Black Library series in audio.