A look at Warhammer 40k and its influence on my love of gaming and Science Fiction

 Warhammer 40,000

    I grew up with a voracious appetite for science fiction and read everything that I could get my hands on. Growing up I watched shows like Star Trek, Quantum Leap, and, of course, being British, Red Dwarf. I developed a love of horror through authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, and James Herbert. In that time I discovered tabletops games such as Hero Quest and others through the friendships I had. Through them, I found my way to Warhammer and Space Hulk. In these war games, I found lore steeped in science fiction and its own version of cosmic horror. A world without mercy, without hope, without the aspirations of many science fiction worlds. A galaxy where there was only war, it was unlike anything I had ever seen or read at that point in my life. 

    Warhammer 40,000 remains one of the grimmest worlds out there, where to be one of those living in it is to expect a short a brutal life, either fighting in the ranks of one army or another or toiling behind the scenes of that great war machine. My foray into the lore began with the Ragnar Blackmane Omnibus, a trio of books that trace the Wolf Lords' life from his time on the ice islands of Fenris to his time on the homeworld of Terra. This story written by William King introduced me to the ranks of the Space Wolves, to the fiercest of mankind's defenders, and the curse that lurked within their bloodline. For me, it was the presence of the thousand sons, of the history of the two legions that brought home just how expansive the lore could be of this universe I found myself thoroughly enjoying. The next book to catch my interest was Xenos by Dan Abnett and my love of these books was solidified. 

    Inquisitor Gideon Eisenhorn proved to be a hardline individual that believed in the Emperor and the sanctity of the Imperium above all else, or that's how he began. Through this character and his adventures, we delved into a new region of the galaxy and worlds that I had never heard of before. A whole subsector that was full of danger and mystery. Abnett's best work, in my opinion, is always his character work. And here we find a host of individuals circling the Inquisitor, some that work with and for him, whilst others stand in his path or aid him in his investigations and pursuit of the heretic or alien. This was a dark galaxy, with man and women of vile interest, willing to serve dark powers in the hopes of being gifted dark power of their own, of being elevated to new heights in the eyes of these fell masters. I loved it all and in time I would come to read the trilogy of books and then discover the adventures of Inquisitor Ravenor and his band of misfits. Abnett for me remains at the foremost of the authors that work for Games Workshop. 

    Over the years the lore has expanded massively, with their series of the Horus Heresy and the books detailing the new age of the Dark Millennium with Guilliman's return and the events of the Indomitus Crusade. This is a galaxy beset on all sides with Dark Gods looking to devour all and there remain but the faint motes of hope in the dimming light. I would encourage any fan of science fiction and fantasy to give this world a look, to take a risk, and dive into either the books alone or the tabletop game itself. It is well worth taking a look just out of curiosity. But remember, do not look to hope, for in the grim Dark of the future there is only War!