What’s in my in-world 40K library? Books!

Continuing with the theme of in-world props, I have amassed a significant quantity of books from the 40K universe. My admittedly totally made up requirements are the books be actual in-world books, made to look like they’re an actual book (so no glossy cardstock covers) and are not just a pretty faux leather cover (which eliminates most of the high-end forge world books).

So, what makes the grade? Read on!

Gaunt’s Ghosts – The Warmaster (Black Library)

Two books came out of this limited edition set, “Concerning the Liberation of Forge World Urdesh” and “Tactica Tanith”. The first is the actual novel “The Warmaster” and the second is a blank notebook. The books are what I’ve come to consider the standard of this era of production, with cloth covers. Most of the rest of the in-world books are like this.

Gaunt’s Ghosts – The Vincula Insurgency: Ghost Dossier (Black Library)

The second set of books from a Limited Edition run (which also features a claymore mine…). The first is the actual novel “The Vincula Insurgency: Ghost Dossier 1” and the second is an art book filled with maps, map symbols, and emblems. While the first one somewhat doesn’t pass the in-world test, the second definitely does. Both have the cloth covers and perfect bindings of this style of book.

The Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer and the Imperial Munitorum Manual (Black Library)

These were the first three in-world books I collected. They are the usual cloth covered books with perfect binding, but the titles and images on the covers are a metallic ink. The first two are actual in-world books representing the primers issued to every infantryman. My favorite page is the death certificate to be filled out if the poor soldier dies. The Damocles Gulf edition has some more information about Tyranids, which was the primary enemy of that campaign.

The Imperial Munitorum Manual goes over the maintenance rituals and diagrams of all of the major Imperial Guard weapons, from the lowly lasgun to the mighty lascannon.

Warhammer 40K Apocalypse (Games Workshop)

From the epic limited edition Apocalypse set, we get three softcover bound books designed to look like something you’d issue to officers on the ground as briefing materials, and one cloth-bound “book” which is a reference to the “Jane’s Fighting Ships” series we have today. The book is in quotes because it is actually just a front and back cover protecting a foldout series of photographs showcasing the new superheavies and such that came out with this version of the game. Still, it is an in-world publication and gives a nice bit of lore.

Astra Militarum Codex (Games Workshop)

Again, not quite an in-world book, but the style of the book itself is in the same vein. Cloth cover and perfect binding, so it fits on the shelf nicely. This version of the codex is notable for the form to request a full set of kit for an Imperial Guard Soldier, which was also where they cunningly hid the printing, in this case #1754 out of 2000. Hilarious.

Warboss (Black Library)

A step away from the Imperium here, as this purports to be Da Grotboss’ Manifesto, Snaggi Littletoof: Da Revolutionary Leader, Most Kunnin’ of Grotbosses, and Prophet of Gork N’ Mork.

I mean, how can you resist? Okay, so it’s an edge-case but so silly! Plus, the limited edition set came with six Ork teef! I’m not exactly rich, but I’m sure I can buy something that explodes.

Tactica Imperialis (Black Library)

A nice collection of essays written in-world. Sadly, the book itself is just a crappy softcover. I keep pondering rebinding it to make it look better and fit into the theme better. Inside great, outside meh.

Deathwatch Collector’s Edition (Fantasy Flight Games)

Saved the best for last. Surprisingly not a Games Workshop product! This was from FFG’s, one of two limited edition rulebooks for their 40K campaign. Just beautiful! They also made a chaos-themed Black Crusade box set which I have less interest in, but I might collect someday. The purity seal parchment was apparently customizable, so I got someone’s who chose “Brother Talon of the Dark Angels”. I’m hip.