Warhammer 40k: Best "Encyclopedia" Book?

[Lancelot]

So here's an odd question. I've always been quite fascinated by the "fluff" of Warhammer 40k... but, at the same time, I have no interest in actually playing it (either the tabletop wargame or any of the RPGs).

I was browsing through a secondhand bookshop and came across an old copy of what I assume was the 1st (or perhaps 2nd) edition of the tabletop rules. And it was good stuff! A half-page on the Emperor, and a couple pages on the classification of Imperium worlds, and various other goodies. And many, many pages of army lists. Now, I don't mind the army lists... even though I'll never use them... but I'm wondering:

What is the best single book out there which gives an overview of the 40k universe, particularly from a fluff perspective? A simple overview of the Horus Heresy, the relationship between Eldar and Dark Elder, the Warp, etc.

I'm suspecting it'll be a "core tabletop ruleset", but I'm curious as to which version of the core rules is the best for encyclopedic fluff. Also note that I'm really looking for a general guide to the universe, not a really detailed drill-down on just inquisitors or space marines. This, I'm guessing, would rule out most of the Dark Heresy RPG stuff.

Does such a beast exist, or am I clutching at straws?

 

[Stormonu]

Actually, they have (or did have) a pretty good set of books that were pure fluff, produced as "Black Library" books. I don't think they are novels, but instead books that delve into the Warhammer 40K universe without game stats and the like.

Liber Chaotica (about Chaos)
The Imperial Munitorium Manual (Weapons of 40K)
Hellforged (Souldrinker Marines)
Salamander (Salamander Marines)

I believe there were also a couple of books that expanded upon the story of the space marines, telling the story of the Rise of the Emperor, the Horus Heresy and giving detailed information about the various space marine chapters. Unfortunately, I don't see them on the GW site, and I don't remember the name of them.

Of course, there are also several novels set in the 40K universe.

 

[Lancelot]

Actually, they have (or did have) a pretty good set of books that were pure fluff, produced as "Black Library" books. I don't think they are novels, but instead books that delve into the Warhammer 40K universe without game stats and the like...

Hmmm, interesting. Thanks.

They seem perhaps a little too specific for what I'm really hoping for, though. I guess what I'm really after is something like the old Rules Cyclopedia for BECMI D&D, or even the old Expert rulebook. I don't mind if 80% of the book is full of army lists and miniature photos and suchlike, as long as it has that 20% that details the "campaign setting" with an overview of the major races and cultures and key fluff in a single book (even if the treatment is only a couple pages per race).

I'm definitely not after any of the novels. I'm looking for more of a reference work. Liber Chaotica sounds interesting - might keep an eye out for that one.

 

[Stormonu]

Hmmm, interesting. Thanks.

They seem perhaps a little too specific for what I'm really hoping for, though. I guess what I'm really after is something like the old Rules Cyclopedia for BECMI D&D, or even the old Expert rulebook. I don't mind if 80% of the book is full of army lists and miniature photos and suchlike, as long as it has that 20% that details the "campaign setting" with an overview of the major races and cultures and key fluff in a single book (even if the treatment is only a couple pages per race).

I'm definitely not after any of the novels. I'm looking for more of a reference work. Liber Chaotica sounds interesting - might keep an eye out for that one.

In that case, I think your best bets for info are Rogue Trader (either the 80's 1st edition or latest release RPG) and perhaps the 40K main rulebooks (1st-3rd ed had a separate "world book" sans game stats, if I remember correctly).

 

[Stormonu]

Unfortunately, I just looked back at the books I had - thinking that the 2nd edition ruleset had a separate book detailing the 40k universe. Apparently, I was wrong - there was a 2nd book, but it had a half-page of info on various subjects followed by army list info. It didn't discuss the Horus Heresy, that I saw (to me, the most interesting part of the 40K universe).

It seems that I've read bits and pieces from various books, games and White Dwarf magazines that where I learned stuff from is all jumbled together (and the story did evolve over the years and editions).

Warhammer Fantasy did have a book that was a pure fluff overview of the Old World - I picked it up at my local Books-A-Million a few years back. It might be worth looking around on google to see if there was a similar overview book published for 40K.

 

[Mindseye]

If you can hold out a few months, you might find some of this info in the new RPG set in the background that Fantasy Flight is producing.

Fantasy Flight Games [Deathwatch] - Leading publisher of board, card, and roleplaying games.

 

[The Great Unwashed]

Honestly, your best bet might be wikipedia...I am also a fan of the Warhammer 40k lore, but not really the games themselves, and there is a huge compilation of info over there.

 

[Obergnom]

Well, first of all I recommend FFGs RPG Books, both Rogue Trader and Dark Heresy have huge amounts of background for the setting.

Personaly, I love browsing Lexicarnum.

 

[gtJormungand]

You could also get a lot of information from Fantasy Flight's Dark Heresy or Rogue Trader games.

 

[guivre]

Does such a beast exist, or am I clutching at straws?

Apparently there aren't many GW fans here

Such a beast exists, and contains only the fluff you are interested in. Look around for the 40k Fluff Bible. It's existed in several forms, here is one: http://www.electric-rain.net/w40kRPG/Warhammer 40k FluffBible.pdf

It's not as pretty as what you would get from a GW game book, but it's nearly 300 pages of solid fluff that some lunatic compiled. I believe there was a 800 page version around at some point.