Stories set among the lives of regular Imperial subjects

[Quantum]

Hi all,

 

I am looking for stories that are set in 'regular' Imperial society, and focus on or at least involve 'regular' Imperial subjects. So not about Space Marine Commanders fighting apocalyptical battles or Lord Inquisitors investigating and stopping galaxy-ending rituals, but about the common man/plebeians/deplorables for who the fall of Cadia is a vague rumor, for who the Cicatrix Maledictum is nothing more that another light as the night's sky, and the wider Imperium is mostly unknown. I would like to read more about how those people live their lives (and eventually die), and how their societies function.

 

The exact genre does not matter much to me; so it could be a Warhammer Crime novel where the murder of some inconspicuous merchant sets of the plot; or it could be a Warhammer Horror story about a menial worker encountering a daemonic infuence. As long as some part of his regular life and society is shown.

 

There is already a lot of BL literature available, so I do not know where to start looking. Does anyone have any good suggestions?

 

 

[GarvielEisenhorn]

Not sure if it counts as "regular", but the Shira Calpurnia trilogy (which is about the Adeptus Arbites rather than the common man) might be suitable. I've only read the first book though, so I can't vouch for the other two.

[DukeLeto69]

All the stories in WH Crime fit your requirements.

 

Approx half the WH Horror stories fit your requirements (the others are AoS).

 

As mentioned above, would highly recommend the Enforcer omnibus featuring the three Calpurnia novels by Matthew Farrer as they are excellent (though set before the Great Rift).

 

There are some authors who are great at including some domestic flavour in their more “mainstream” 40k novels too. The Gaunts Ghosts series have a lot as do Abnett’s Inquisitor series. Again though, all set before Great Rift.

 

Chris Wraight’s Vaults of Terra series and his Watchers of the Throne series have sub plots that show more “domestic” settings.

 

Also Mike Brooks’ Rites of Passage.

 

Also have a read of this thread from couple years ago...

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/358240-away-from-the-battlefield/

 

Enjoy

 

Edit to pluralise the Wraight books lol

Edited September 17, 2021 by DukeLeto69

[Indefragable]

One of the Hammer and Bolter episodes fits in here.

[Plasmablasts]

See DukeLeto’s post. If you only want one, I’d probably recommend “Bloodlines”.

 

See also the Administratum scenes in “Avenging Son”.

[Petitioner's City]

Blood pact and it successor novels in the Victory arc of the Ghosts series are probably the most "civilian-focused" of the series, with BP itself set entirely behind imperial lines.

 

Like others, I'd recommend Crime which is the most "civilian" series so far, especially the first novel, Bloodlines. Since Bloodlines we've had an excellent second novel, Flesh and Steel, and three story collections (with the second and third being especially strong). A third novel will be on prerelease this weekend.

 

Anothwr set of novels, again by Wraight, are his Terra novels following an Inquisitor, The Carrion Throne.

 

Finally, like others, read the Eisenhorn series(es) - Eisenhorn, Ravenor, The Magos and then Bequin. They are very much examinations of the imperium from its elites, but well worth it. Abnett is the most important author to have contributed to the setting, and these (alongside the ghosts and his Horus Heresy work) are really why.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Dan Abnett's Titanicus has several storylines featuring "average" Imperial and AdMech citizens.

[Cactus]

The Priests of Mars trilogy has some dock workers being press-ganged and a c!ose look at what happens to people who are made into servitors.

[Petitioner's City]

The Priests of Mars trilogy has some dock workers being press-ganged and a c!ose look at what happens to people who are made into servitors.

Also Flesh and Steel is better - and more horrifying - on the latter front for sure!

[Quantum]

Thanks for all the good suggestions so far.

 

I think I will have a go at 'Bloodlines' novel. I actually disregarded this novel initially, because I thought this was a not-exactly-Necromunda setting about not-exactly-Necromunda gang warfare, but the Petitioner's City's links to book reviews paint a far more interesting picture.

[Plasmablasts]

Thanks for all the good suggestions so far.

 

I think I will have a go at 'Bloodlines' novel. I actually disregarded this novel initially, because I thought this was a not-exactly-Necromunda setting about not-exactly-Necromunda gang warfare, but the Petitioner's City's links to book reviews paint a far more interesting picture.

I think it offers a lot of what you asked for in your OP. Events in wider galaxy are little more than rumoured causes of disrupted trade. The crime, when uncovered, is deeply 40k but not part of the main setting metaplot. It also contains some of the most convincing scenes of 40k family life I’ve seen in a BL book.