Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame: The Winners of 1999-2000, and Books of 2001

The Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame is Goonhammer's long-term, reader-participation initiative to recognize those novels that have "cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance" to the Black Library.

Through the votes of readers as well as our community panel of community voices, we'll examine the entire history of the Black Library, induct the latest winners, and vote for the next round's candidates every other week.

In our last installment we announced the winners of the Class of 1989-1998, those novels that represented the best and most memorable of the early, proto-Black Library catalogue. Not only that, but readers and the community panel voted for the winners of the Class of 1999-2000 and we'll be announcing those five books today!

Finally, you'll have the chance to review the nine books that the Black Library released in 2001 and vote for the ones you feel should be included in the Hall. Remember, you can vote for as many (or as few) books as you want!

A Note on Voting

We've had a few questions about the nuts-and-bolts of the voting process, and we're happy to shine a bit more light on how it all works.

In short, there are eight members of the community panel, each of whom gets a vote (more on who they are and how they are selected here). Then there's the "Vox Populi" vote- that's you, the readers- who vote in the polls below each week to let your voices be heard. Any book that gets a positive majority of the yes/no Vox Populi polling (we ignore abstentions, naturally) gets four votes in favor of induction.

From there it's just a matter of tallying up the votes (out of a maximum of 12), and any book that receives a supermajority of votes (60%) is in! It's a high bar, of course, but the end result will be a list of the all-time most significant entries in the Black Library.

Be Heard!

Want to share more than just your vote, but your opinion as well? We'll be posting every article in this series up for discussion at both the Black Library subreddit as well as the Black Library Nutters Facebook Community. Let us know what books you're voting for and why, and we may just share your take in the next article!

Now, on to the winners!

The Envelope Please

Once the dust settled and all the votes were counted, we had an impressive five of the thirteen books of 1999 and 2000 inducted into the Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame, reflecting just how foundational and influential this era was.

The winners are...

AJ, The Paladin Journal: "In an established IP, you generally read stories that maintain a status quo and shine a light on things as they are meant to be. It takes years for those IPs to buck the trend and focus on something quite different and unexpected. That’s what Dan Abnett did, except he did it the start of the 40k franchise. First & Only is a fantastic novel that serves to present the world of 40k as it is and delves into all sorts of different story beats to show how the characters are not your typical heroes and villains. It set the stage for how other authors would write in the setting for years to come and serves as a timeless classic."

Michael, Track of Words: "If Ian Watson’s Inquisitor was the first ever 40k novel, First & Only was - I believe - the first ever novel actually published by Black Library (as opposed to Boxtree, GW Books etc.), and for that alone it simply must be in the Hall of Fame. Not only that, but while it’s not quite the full Gaunt’s Ghosts experience - wait until Necropolis for that - it’s nevertheless a genuinely fun read, and the only place to start if you want to read (or re-read) this incredible series."

Jay, Goonhammer: "It may not be the best of the Gaunt's Ghosts series, but then it doesn't have to be- it's the start of an incredible legacy for the Black Library that still thrums with resonance and influence today. Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt's adventures began in the pages of Inferno!, the bimonthly short story magazine that was the foundation of the modern Black Library₁. Not only that, but when the Black Library offered him a novel they suggested he cobble one together from his existing short stories (such as what William King did with Trollslayer). There's nothing wrong with that approach, but I give Abnett credit for insisting on writing something new for his first offering (saving the 'cobble' approach for the succeeding Ghostmaker)."

Michael, Track of Words: "This is it. The big one. Nobody does huge-scale, multi-POV siege narratives like Abnett does (see also: Saturnine), and this is an absolute masterclass combining dry, historical narration with pulse-pounding on-the-ground perspectives to show both the strategic overview of events and the horrific reality of city fighting. It’s the point at which Gaunt’s Ghosts finds its feet and truly becomes a classic series, and still one of the best 40k novels ever written. Some might say the best."

AJ, The Paladin Journal: "In a series that has expanded up to something like 15+ novels and several audio dramas and short stories, it is still the third installment that stands as the most impactful of the lot. Necropolis gets right down to the absolute nitty-gritty of the setting and exemplifies what grimdark really means. Corrupt bureaucrats, massive infantry battles, urban tank battles, Chaos corruption, greed, desperate heroes, and everything combine to present a fierce template of the best of 40k fiction that is still unmatched in many ways."

Lenoon, Goonhammer: "Before Necropolis 40k books are rooted in Rogue Trader- afterwards they are rooted in Necropolis, the first of the 'modern' 40k books and the progenitor of a preposterously long line of novels."

Jay, Goonhammer: "The first of the Space Wolves series which would span six books, an early example of an Astartes 'coming of age' story that is still widely regarded as required reading for its chapter. Spare a thought for the early contributions of William King to the Black Library. You only ever get one origin story, and King's a big part of ours."

Parker, r/BlackLibrary: "The blending of Norse aesthetics with grim dark sci fi couples flawlessly and it makes for a fun, engaging read that goes by for too fast. Space Wolf laid the ground work for all the stories of the wolves that came after it, and Ragnar remains one of our favorite heroes."

AJ, The Paladin Journal: "An all-time classic. It is the only novel to date we’ve had that goes into the space marine recruitment and training processes in great detail, and that too for one of the most fascinating chapters of the Astartes. Ragnar is also an old-school classic hero of the setting and with the way that King structures the novel (and all others) still stands as unique amongst the entirety of 40k fiction twenty-six years later. King touches on all sorts of elements that makes the Space Wolves unique and intriguing, and he delivers on a romper of an action-adventure story."

Lenoon, Goonhammer: "It establishes so much of the world of Warhammer and pulls it away from the extremely dark and gritty WHFRP vibe that has grown up around it. It’s light, it’s funny, it’s suffused with the musk of fear. It’s the first must read fantasy novel."

Michael, Track of Words: "Gotrek and Felix books might be written to a formula, but it’s a bloomin’ brilliant formula- and Skavenslayer marks the moment that William King hits on the right combination of elements. One of those elements is, of course, the enemy faction. Over the course of their series Gotrek and Felix fight all manner of enemies, but none are as iconic as the verminous skaven- and in particular, the legendary Grey Seer Thanquol. You simply cannot beat Skavenslayer for pure, unadulterated G&F fun, and a big part of that lands squarely at the paws of Thanquol (and Boneripper mk1, of course)."

Jay, Goonhammer: "This book is a great example of how Black Library fiction can have a wider influence on the lore even well beyond the story contained within its pages. Skaven had existed in Warhammer before Gotrek & Felix ran up against them in Skavenslayer, of course, but much of the skaven identity- their speech patterns and mannerisms, the mix of the grimly horrific and comically absurd, their cultural touchstones of paranoia and backstabbing all were cemented by King's work."

AJ, The Paladin Journal: "If there’s one author who can surpass Dan Abnett as the best of the best of the late '90s and the '00s of Warhammer fiction, it is William King. Skavenslayer brought to the fore yet another now-classic character of the Warhammer Fantasy setting and it is an absolute trip start to finish. Not only is the world more fleshed out but King strikes gold yet again with the anthological nature of the book. This book is practically the genesis of some of the greatest characters we’ve had in Warhammer."

Parker, r/BlackLibrary: "One of the things I remember most fondly was how well it blended humor with action. Plus, rats snorting warpstone will never not be a lovely touch, yes yes."

AJ, The Paladin Journal: "The Gotrek & Felix series is an all-time classic series amongst all of Warhammer fiction and Trollslayer kicked it all off beautifully. The anthological nature of the novel was a great introduction to two of the most enduring characters of Warhammer and this is a must-read if you’re a fan of the setting."

Michael, Track of Words: "This might not be the best Gotrek & Felix novel…in fact it isn’t a novel at all but rather a short story bind-up (like Ghostmaker)…but it was a generation of readers’ introduction to the most iconic Warhammer double-act of all time. And in stories like The Mutant Master and Wolf Riders it sets the tone for the whole series to come - and in many ways the very landscape of the Warhammer Old World."

Jay, Goonhammer: "While King did take the 'compositional novel' approach here, repurposing a series of short stories into an overall loose narrative, the story still works as the point of entry for Gotrek and Felix for most Black Library readers. Terrifically written and frequently amusing, King's frantic output in these two years wouldn't necessarily be consistent, but at his peak he crafted some of the best fiction in the Black Library for its day."

Congratulations to winners Dan Abnett (2 wins) and William King (3)! They take their place alongside previous winners Ian Watson (2) and Kim Newman (1)

Now, let's look at the candidates from 2001, where you can vote in the polls and make your choices known!

The Ballot: The Class of 2001

Thus far we've grouped years together because of the smaller number of books released by the Black Library, but by 2001 the operation was in full swing.

All readers are invited to make their voices heard and vote for which books they believe should be inducted into the Readers’ Hall of Fame. These polls will be active for one week before their results are compiled and added to the Committee’s voting.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Warhammer 40,000

Image credit: Games Workshop

Book: Execution Hour, by Gordon Rennie

Synopsis: "The vile and unholy shadow of Chaos falls across the Gothic sector at the onslaught of Warmaster Abaddon's infernal Black Crusade. Fighting a desperate rearguard action, the Imperial Battlefleet has no choice but to sacrifice dozens of worlds and millions of lives to buy precious time for their fleets to regroup. But what possible chance do they have when Abaddon's unholy forces have the power to kill men and murder entire planets?"

Note: Book one of the Gothic War series

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Honour Guard, by Dan Abnett

Synopsis: "In disgrace after a catastrophic war, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the Tanith First are sent to retrieve precious artefacts from a world lost to Chaos. With enemy all around them and time against them, Gaunt's Ghosts and their allies must prevent the holy relics of Saint Sabbat from falling into their foes' hands, and as mysterious events begin to occur, Gaunt begins to suspect that the Saint herself might be aiding them from beyond the grave."

Note: Book four of the Gaunt's Ghosts series

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Kill Team, by Gav Thorpe

Synopsis: "Languishing in an Imperial detention centre, Lieutenant Kage – convict soldier of the 13th Penal Legion – is at the end of the line. That is, until his ruthless old commanding officer returns with one more deadly assignment. Now Kage must whip into shape a new team of the very worst the Imperial Guard has to offer, before leading them on their one and only mission: to assassinate a warmongering enemy general, one of the mysterious alien tau!"

Note: Book two of the Last Chancers series

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Malleus, by Dan Abnett

Synopsis: "A century after his recovery of the alien Necroteuch, Gregor Eisenhorn is one of the Imperial Inquisition's most celebrated agents. But when a face from his past returns to haunt him, and he is implicated in a great tragedy that devastates the world of Thracian Primaris, Eisenhorn's universe crumbles around him. The daemon Cherubael is back, and seeks to bring the inquisitor to ruin - either by his death, or by turning him to the service of the Dark Gods."

Note: Book two in the Eisenhorn series

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Pawns of Chaos, by Brian Craig

Synopsis: "In the grim future of Warhammer 40,000 mankind is engaged in an eternal conflict with armies of Chaos. On the medieval world of Sigmatus, the hated Imperium is flexing its power with ruthless efficiency. The rebels have a plan to fight back: summon a powerful daemon from the warp and unleash it upon their enemies!"

Note: ‘Brian Craig’ was pseudonym for Brian Stableford.

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Xenos, by Dan Abnett

Synopsis: "The Inquisition moves amongst mankind like an avenging shadow, striking down the enemies of humanity with uncompromising ruthlessness. When he finally corners an old foe, Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn is drawn into a sinister conspiracy. As events unfold and he gathers allies - and enemies - Eisenhorn faces a vast interstellar cabal and the dark power of daemons, all racing to recover an arcane text of abominable power: an ancient tome known as the Necroteuch."

Note: Book one in the Eisenhorn series

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Warhammer Fantasy

Image credit: Games Workshop

Book: Beastslayer, by William King

Synopsis: "The storm clouds are gathering over the icy city of Praag as the evil forces of Chaos lay murderous siege to the frozen lands of Kislev. Standing between the massed hordes of darkness and the city's destruction are dwarf slayer Gotrek Gurnisson and his sworn human companion, Felix Jaeger. But Gotrek's quest to die a heroic death in battle may soon be granted as the enemy advance to claim the city for their dark gods."

Note: Book five in the Gotrek & Felix series.

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Gilead's Blood, by Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent

Synopsis: "Gilead Lothain, shadowfast warrior and last of the line of Tor Anrok, travels the land slaking his thirst for vengeance on the dark creatures that stalk the forests and mountains of the Old World. With his faithful retainer Fithvael at his side, the doom-laden Gilead battles corrupt humans, beastmen, warriors of the Dark Gods and more in this collection of action-packed tales."

Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]

Book: Vampireslayer, by William King

Synopsis: "Dwarf slayer Gotrek Gurnisson and his sworn human companion Felix Jaeger are beset by a new and terrible foe in their unceasing war against Chaos. When a powerful evil forms in darkest Sylvania, it threatens to reach out and tear the very heart out of the Empire – and out of Felix's relationship with Ulrika. But when this foe is a powerful, centuries old vampire, the deadly battle can only result in death and tragedy."

Note: Book six in the Gotrek & Felix series.

[poll id="43"]

Good luck to all, and we'll be back in two weeks to announce the winners- and move on to the next group of books!