It might seem odd that the killing, maiming, and burning servants of four malevolent gods could end up as protagonists in Black Library novels, but this is the world of Warhammer 40,000 we're talking about – they’re only marginally more diabolical than anyone else you’d meet.
In fact, the rigours of the Long War and their exposure to the warp gives these exiled traitors some extremely compelling viewpoints through which to see the 41st Millennium, so with the new Codex: Chaos Space Marines on the way we’ve been reliving some of their greatest novels from Black Library. If you’re just starting out with your own Chaos warband, these are five of the best introductions to this strange and complex faction.
Renegades: Harrowmaster by Mike Brooks
The devious Alpha Legion have always been masters of the double-cross, but now they’re about to discover that deceit can be a double-edged sword. Solomon Akurra and his warband encounter the fearsome Primaris Space Marines deep within the Ultima Segmentum, and must decide between fading into the shadows or striking back. Whatever they choose to do, they need to adapt fast – Solomon intends to claim the legendary title of Harrowmaster and bind the disparate strands of his Legion, and only then can he unleash the ultimate weapon upon the Imperium – the truth.
Read it because: Discretion is the better part of valour – See a subtler side of the Traitor Legions as they too grapple with the Great Rift, and look to exploit a reeling Imperium for their own gain. Not all Chaos Space Marines are screaming berzerkers, after all, and nobody does secrecy and sabotage quite like the Alpha Legion – even when they’re secretly sabotaging each other.
Angron: The Red Angel by David Guymer
Angron has returned to the mortal plane and the World Eaters will heed his call to slaughter – whether they like it or not. Aboard the World Eaters’ malevolent flagship, the Conqueror, Kossolax the Foresworn fights to keep his old dreams of the Legion alive, but will the return of his hated father prove to be an opportunity or a threat to the fragile unity he’s forged amongst his warriors?
Read it because: Khorne’s favourite killing machine is back – Angron’s return was one of the defining moments of the Arks of Omen saga, and continues to shake the foundations of the 41st Millennium to this day. Plus, seeing the monstrous Daemon Primarch through the eyes of his own sons is a character-defining experience for World Eaters fans.
Night Lords: The Omnibus by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Driven by their hatred of the False Emperor, the Night Lords stalk the galaxy seeking revenge for the death of their gene-father. Guided by the visions of a mysterious prophet named Talos, a warband from this sinister Legion struggles to survive in a constant war against the forces of the Imperium. But when they come into conflict with fellow renegades and are hunted by the Aeldari of Craftworld Ulthwé, the Night Lords find themselves returning to the scene of their greatest defeat and drawn into a battle they cannot possibly win.
Read it because: It’s good to be bad – This classic trilogy is one of the most acclaimed series in Black Library history, and really delves into just how bad Chaos Space Marines can be at their worst. We mentioned that not all of them are maniacal murderers, but that doesn’t apply here – the Night Lords are terror incarnate, and enjoy every moment of their blood-soaked rampages.
Lords of Silence by Chris Wraight
Speaking of returning Primarchs, Mortarion’s renewed assault against the galaxy brought with it a wave of unstoppable Plague Marines the likes of which had never been seen before. With the Cadian Gate shattered and the galaxy riven in two, warbands carve bloody paths through the void – and yet for all their dread might in arms, there is no escape from the vicious legacies of the past. Ones that will pursue them from the ruined daemon-worlds of the Eye of Terror and out into the smouldering wastes of the Imperium Nihilus.
Read it because: Grandfather Nurgle asked nicely, and you don’t want to upset him – The Death Guard are one of the original Chaos Space Marine Legions, and their sense of inevitable decay gives them an especially morbid view of the galaxy. The warriors of the Lords of Silence warband are loaded with personality, and offer a fresh (figuratively speaking) perspective on what it means to worship the Lord of Decay.
Ahriman: The Omnibus by John French
The name of Azhek Ahriman is infamous – the greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons, who doomed his entire Legion with a single spell. Despite being exiled by his Primarch, he has not given up the hunt for a way to reverse the curse of the Rubric, and he’ll wield the greatest sorceries of Tzeentch against anyone foolish enough to get in his way – be they human, Necron, or the Aeldari guardians of the Black Library* itself.
Read it because: He’s a good lad, really – Ahriman’s struggles to right the grievous wrongs of his past are strangely relatable for a story set in the 41st Millennium, as he cares deeply for his fellow Thousand Sons. Despite his monumental hubris, which comes through on every page, he’s still one of the more sympathetic characters to wear a suit of power armour. We actually hope he finds his solution one day.
There are dozens more stories told from the perspective of the Chaos Space Marines, like the saga of Fabius Bile that began with Primogenitor by Josh Reynolds, or Huron Blackheart’s piratical power struggles in Master of the Maelstrom. Of course, there’s also the great stories that you can tell with your own army of renegade Space Marines, so make sure to pick up Codex: Chaos Space Marines when it goes up for pre-order this Saturday, and show those loyalist dullards what they’re missing.
* The one in the webway, not the one that prints books.