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.
Man, that's a clunky title, isn't it? But all the same, it's reflects that we've now entered a time of relative abundance for the Black Library as the number of offerings continues to increase. I don't know about you, but the prospect of sifting through two dozen books and polls at a go might be just a bit too much, and this way every title can get a proper focus.
As always, before we get to the books up for voting, let's take a moment to recognize the winners from
last time.
The Envelope Please (Update)
Three books got a lot of support but couldn't quite get there.
Dan Abnett's The Guns of Tanith,
Graham McNeill's Nightbringer, and
Zavant by
Gordon Rennie were knocking on the door to greatness, but fell just shy of it opening.
Nevertheless, two books kicked it open with no room for debate.
AJ, The Paladin Journal: "Boy did Graham McNeill deliver fabulously. If I’m not mistaken this is the first novel we get where the Imperium is fighting against a Tyranid planetary invasion, and this is the purest form of bolter-abundance fiction that is a staple of 40k.
"It is a book of contrasts that continues to elevate the Ultramarines as a chapter that is something beyond the internet memes and gives us one of the most enduring characters of 40k. The size and scope of the battles remind me a lot of
Dan Abnett’s Necropolis and I think that this is a worthy companion to that novel among the annals of Black Library fiction."
Jay, Goonhammer: "McNeill was second-try-lucky here as
Nightbringer didn't manage to make it into the hall, but Uriel Ventris's sophomore outing had little difficulty. This suggests that the character of Uriel Ventris- however heroic he otherwise was- wasn't quite enough on his own, and that elements of Warriors pushed him over the top.
"As AJ correctly notes above the use of the Tyranids here as a planetary threat were highly memorable. For a lot of fans of the day, much of their impressions of Tyranids may have been either as horrors-in-the-dark (a la Genestealers in the
Space Hulk board game) or simply as enemy armies for the tabletop.
"'There weren’t really any books that featured the Tyranids in any meaningful way,'" noted McNeill in commentary about
Warriors of Ultramar1. "'This made them the perfect villains for the book... The invasion of a planet by the Tyranids happened from the microscopic level to the gargantuan and that what we saw on the tabletop was simply the tip of the iceberg. I tried to convey the feeling that this invasion was happening on such a massive scale that, even were the defenders to repel the alien attack, that their world would never be the same again.'"
Spalanz.com (
Web review)
: "The story is actually really good, with so many moments that made me want to cheer and that had me in paroxysms of delight. Graham McNeill certainly has a cinematic writing style, and there were a whole bucket-load of set-piece action sequences that felt really visceral, not least among them the final mission into the heart of the hive ship. That was quite disgusting, but really quite exciting all the same!"
Jay, Goonhammer: "Ultimately I think the enduring appeal of this book lies in its historical significance rather than the telling of a gripping yarn. This was
William King's seventh Gotrek & Felix story, and for many readers it seemed some signs of fatigue were setting in. All the same, it was the first time Teclis appeared in story, and King would later revisit the character for the Teclis & Tyrion trilogy about a decade later."
The Unseen Library (
web review)
: "This was another amazing book from William King, and I felt that he ended his run on this series on a great note, especially as
Giantslayer contained a fantastic and fast-paced story. Taking place in the immediate aftermath of
Vampireslayer,
Giantslayer quickly thrusts the protagonists into the midst of the action while simultaneously introducing the reader to the character of Teclis, who serves as a great additional central character."
Our First Committee Rotation
As you may recall, entry to the Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame is determined in part by popular vote as well as Committee vote. We've always intended to have our Committee made up of regularly rotating cast of prominent community voices, and as we enter the first quarter of 2026 it's time for our first rotation!
Our good friend Mira Manga will be stepping onto the "reserves bench" for awhile, though you can certainly see her expect to jump back in further down the road.
Keri Honea, WH40K Book Club
Keri is one part of the dynamic duo that hosts the bi-weekly
WH40K Book Club, where she and her best friend discuss, gush, and rage about the Black Library novels set in the WH40k universe.
"Every two weeks, we read and discuss one book from the Black Library. We try to focus on current books, but more often than not, the Black Library's publishing schedule forces us to tap into older books. Which is fine. We just love reading WH40k novels.
"I didn't get into WH40k until Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine released in 2011. Then I learned there were books about the tabletop game's lore and I've been hooked ever since.
"My favorite books are about the Astra Militarum, Loyalist Space Marines, and Orks. My favorite book might be
Cain's Last Stand. I'm a sucker for hilarity and shenanigans."
Welcome aboard, Keri! Now, on to the books of the second half of 2003.
Reminder: this is not a knockout competition. You can vote in as many books as you feel are worthy of inclusion- every book that ultimately gets enough votes will be inducted!
The Ballot: The Class of 2003 (August to December)
Image credit: Games Workshop
Warhammer 40,000
Image credit: Games Workshop
Book:
The Bleeding Chalice, by Ben Counter
Synopsis: "Long years have passed since the Soul Drinkers Space Marines were declared excommunicate traitoris and many Imperial agents have been despatched to destroy this once loyal Chapter. Sarpedon, the stoic leader of the fallen Marines, has become hellbent on finding some way of curing his battle-brothers of the cursed mutations inflicted upon them."
Note: Book two of the Soul Drinkers series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Crossfire, by Matthrew Farrer
Synopsis: "The bustling dockyards of the Hydraphur system are home to the mighty Imperial warfleets, which dock, rearm and repair in an endless cycle of war. Newly assigned Arbites officer, Shira Calpurnia, finds herself in the thick of the action when she investigates a series of assassination attempts. With the corruption and double-crosses of the Hydraphur elite dogging every step of her investigations, Calpurnia must survive the crossfire, and bring her faceless enemies to justice."
Note: Book one of the Enforcer series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Fire Warrior, by Simon "Si" Spurrier
Synopsis: "Amidst the war and destruction of the grim far future, the fledgling T'au Empire has but one aim - to unite the galaxy under its benevolent banner. But when one of the T'au's ruling elite crash lands behind Imperial battle lines, it falls to Kais, a young Fire Warrior, to attempt a desperate rescue mission and offer his life for the greater good. But as the mission begins and the death count rises, Kais quickly learns that the brutal reality of battle is a far cry from the training grounds of his home world."
Note: A T'au Empire novel.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
For the Emperor, by Sandy Mitchell
Synopsis: "On an Imperial outpost world on the fringes of T'au space, the renowned Commissar Ciaphas Cain and his fractious regiment of Valhallan Guard, newly created from the remnants of two devastated units, find themselves in the middle of a war. As the Astra Militarum struggle to contain worldwide civil insurrection, can the wily Commissar Cain identify the real villain before the planet is lost to the Imperium forever?"
Note: Book one of the Ciaphas Cain series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Sabbat Martyr, by Dan Abnett
Synopsis: "With the future of the Sabbat Worlds campaign balanced on a knife edge, new hope arises in the form of Saint Sabbat herself, reincarnated to lead the Imperium to victory against the dark forces of Chaos. The living saint calls for Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First to be her guardians. Doubting that she is who she claims, Gaunt must discover the truth while fending off enemy troops and lethal assassins. But treachery within the Ghosts will not only threaten the mission, but will rip the Tanith asunder."
Note: Book seven of the Gaunt's Ghosts series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Wolfblade, by William King
Synopsis: "The ancient Navigator House of Belisarius has long been bound to the mighty Space Wolves as allies. In return for the means to navigate the treacherous warp, the Space Wolves provide an honour guard of elite warriors – the Wolfblade – to protect the House. When Ragnar, exiled to Terra for his role in the loss of the Spear of Russ, takes up his duties on ancient Terra he soon becomes embroiled in an assassination plot that reaches into the very depths of Imperium! Unused to the delicate political machinations, Ragnar must resort to the howling fury of the Wolves if he is to save this noble dynasty and regain his honour!"
Note: Book four of the Space Wolf series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Warhammer Fantasy
Image credit: Games Workshop
Book:
The Ambassador, by Graham McNeill
Synopsis: "Grizzled ex-general Kaspar von Velten finds himself unprepared for his duties as the new ambassador to the court of Tsarina Katarin, the dangerous and unpredictable Ice Queen of Kislev. Not ready for the power struggles and politics, Kaspar is soon using his battlefield experience to cajole, influence, and get his way. But when a member of the Tsarina's family is murdered in Kaspar's homeland, relationships become strained to the point of war. Can Kaspar unravel the mystery and stop the impending conflict?"
Note: Book one of the Ambassador Chronicles.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
The Blades of Chaos, by Gav Thorpe
Synopsis: "Following the cataclysmic events in The Claws of Chaos, Kurt Leitzig sits uneasily as a chosen warrior of the Gods. To prove himself to the Norse tribes, Kurt gathers a war party and sails to the fabled lands of Araby. There, they discover a deserted city of rising pyramids and long forgotten tombs. Overtaken by their lust for gold, the pillagers awaken an army that has been dead for thousands of years - the dreaded Tomb King Nephythys has been unleashed."
Note: Book two of the Slaves to Darkness series.
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Mark of Heresy, by James Wallis
Synopsis: "In the sequel to Mark of Damnation, former Empire soldier Karl Hoche suddenly finds himself the target of Witch Hunters, thanks to the development of a dangerous mutation himself, and his only hope lies in finding the remnants of the Untersuchung, an anti-Chaos group destroyed because of their study of the Dark Powers."
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Riders of the Dead, by Dan Abnett
Synopsis: "In the Chaos-infested wastes, the strongest of friendships can easily be manipulated into the deadliest of rivalries. Far to the north of the Empire lies the dreaded Chaos Wastes, a dark landscape permeated by the corrupting magic of Chaos and home to the servants of the Dark Gods. Standing between this gateway to hell and the civilised world lies the frozen land of Kislev, bastion against the rising tide of evil. Two Empire soldiers get their first taste of battle as they join the campaign to repel the savage Northern Tribes. As the winter draws in, the last major battle sees their destinies thrown into turmoil as circumstances tear them apart and throw them onto opposite sides. Such is the mutating power in this dark and terrible land that the strongest of friends can soon become the bitterest of enemies. As they race towards a final cataclysmic showdown the fate of their souls will be sealed forever."
Image credit: Games Workshop[/caption]
Book:
Taint of Evil, by Neil McIntosh
Synopsis: "Searching desperately for his former companion Alexei, before his soul can be irretrievably lost to the Dark Powers, Stefan Kumansky confronts new dangers from the forces of Chaos as he moves ever closer to the source of power."
Note: Book one in the Stefan Kumansky series.
[poll id="76"]
Good luck to all, and we’ll be back in two weeks to announce the winners- and move on to 2004!
The Banner of Glory
Finally, here’s a look at all of the current members of this most prestigious Hall!
Footnotes
- As always, McNeill's site is a treasure trove. Here's his full commentary, but make sure to poke around while you're there.
Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.
Thank you for being a friend.
This website uses cookies. Learn more.
Goonhammer Hobby Round-Up: March 2026
Goonhammer Reviews: Tribal Conquest
Conquest: Weaver Courts Gemred Knights and Scaile Dancers Model Review
