Top 3 must read 40k books

[Levitas]

Pretty straight forward. I was browsing Narns & Boble in search of new thrills in paper back. It reminded me of the great books I've already read, and inevitably I had to top 3 them.

1. Eisenhorn - just so so so good. Like layer cake.
2. legion - oooh twisty!
3. Horus Rising - The big bad primarch shows he has yeast...

Yours?

[Aegis]

Being new to the dark library (I had scoffed them off for a while, before picking one up out of desperation to read something that was not a history text book), I have only read a couple. Of the ones I have read though, the three Ravenor books stand strong. Having said that, I do love the Eisenhorn books as well, but they just did not impart the same feelings of empathy.

[The AKH]

1. Only In Death
2. Ravenor - the first one.
3. Necropolis

Big fan of the Ghosts, and anything by Dan Abnett is fantastic...

[The West Coast Knight]

Space Wolf by William King
First and Only by Dan Abnett
Caves of Ice a Ciphas Cain novel by Sndy Micthell All the Cain books are top notch.

WCK

[rkiviman]

The Ultra-marine series is excellent also. Really enjpy the different ones with collections of short stories:"Let the Galaxy burn","Dark Imperium", "Words of Blood","Eye of Terror" etc... The Horus heresy series has also been excellent. You want fluff, got to read the books.They are a great introduction into the 40k universe.

[Magos Explorator]

Possibly controversial but Inquisitor, Harlequin and Chaos Child (with Space Marine as an extra) by Ian Watson for me.

I also enjoyed the three Eisenhorn novels by Dan Abnett a lot, too. I like the Horus Heresy series but am not sure which ones I'd pick!

[hummus]

eisenhorn
dark disciple really good action and good portrayl of dark eldar and wordbearers
storm of iron

[imperialsavant]

Hero of the Imperium (Caiphus Cain collection + short stories)
Brothers of the Snake (ah heck--- all the Dan Abnett books)
Crossfire.

Only 3----- really I have so many, Most of the Heresy series,Cadian Blood, Ian Watsons early BL books.
There are some great SF writers for the BL but there are some I cant hack but I will not list them.

[Cryl]

1) Eisenhorn - it's just brilliant
2) Titanicus - it's great because it's such a different take on the 40k universe compared to the normal guardsmen / marine view point
3) Storm of Iron - total bolter porn in comparison to the other two but such a great CSM book

I'd add the Gaunts Ghosts books and the Ultramarine series (with Honsou spinoffs) to the list as well as the Cain books. I also really enjoyed Scourge the Heretic and am looking forward to reading Innocence Proves Nothing when I finally have time to pick it off the 'to read' pile

[Lord Azaghul]

The Founding "Gaunts Ghost Omnibus"

but anything dan anbett is worth your time.