While the Dark Heresy core book does do an excellent job of giving people fluff, I'd like some suggestions on other places to look for more!  Dark Heresy is my first experience with the WH40K universe and I find it quite interesting.

What would you suggest for other sources of inspiration/information about this universe?

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page

It's an excellent source of information, though some of the fluff there is outdated.

Well, aside from buying the 40k TT rules, and a bunch of codexes, or perhaps the BI 40K novels, or even, indeed the FFG main DH site, you could try these online resources (listed in no particular order):

http://www.darkreign40k.com/

http://www.scholaprogenium.com/news.html

http://www.joachim-adomeit.de/wh40k/spacemap/map.html

http://www.lvxmvndi.com./

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07256b.htm

http://dh40k.wikidot.com/start

http://www.tauonline.org/Article/234/ArmouroftheAdeptusAstartes/

http://www.malleus.dk/Ordo/Default.aspx

http://anargo-sector.net/explore/

http://www.cygnusx1.info/sm/

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Warhammer40000

http://hem.spray.se/kendoka2/arbites/pdf/AA_codex_31_part1.pdf

http://hem.spray.se/kendoka2/arbites/pdf/AA_codex_31_part2.pdf

http://www.electric-rain.net/w40kRPG/Warhammer%2040k%20FluffBible.pdf

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Weapons_of_the_Imperium

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Thought_for_the_day

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?s=0ceed4ab4fb972f0e8aa4539ef8e5351&act=idx

http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=937

http://www.philipsibbering.com/

http://z15.invisionfree.com/The_Great_Crusade/index.php

The Lexicanum is certainly a good place to start.

The Black Library has a metric bucket load of novels and graphic novels. Unfortunately I can't say that the Games Workshop site provides sufficient fluff anymore as it's turned into more of an online catalogue/store.

And if you have got money to burn then you could always turn to the table-top rule books. I haven't read the newest releases but I've still got some of the old and older codex books and rulebooks from Warhammer 40,000 that I refer to now and then. You might also want to look for the Inquisitor rulebook if you can get it.

Edit: Luddite got in there just before me. Damn this inferior warp drive! Also, Luddite, did you just dump your bookmarks folder into a forum post?

The Dan Abnett books Eisenhorn and the Ravenor series are great for DH background, seeing how DH is pretty much just 'Dan Abnett the RPG'.

Headhanger said:

Not all of it...

I got bored.

The Eisenhorn novels give one view of the Inquisition certainly.  I also think that an absolutely essential read is the Inquisitor rulebook, and more especially the Thorian Sourcebook by Gav Thorpe.  For me he nails the Inquisition perfectly (although others disagree).  But i'd suggest reading both 'types' of Inquisition and sorting out your own version is the way to go.

You'll find the Inquisitor stuff as free pdf downloads here:  http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?community=&catId=cat1290321&categoryId=1100009&aId=4900004

Evilscary said:

People always say that like it's a bad thing....

Nerd King said:

Aye.

I'm a TOTAL Abnett fan.  I think he's an excellent writer.  If you haven't already, every 40k gamer should read his work on the Durham Red graphic novels (basically, as far as i can see, he brings 40k to a different IP and its just amazing - what 40k could be!)

Durham Red - The Scarlet Cantos / the Vermin Stars / The Empty Suns  http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/newsite/mambo/content/view/343/54/

That said, i just don't like his view of the Inquisition; that is a structured, hierarchical society.  I'm much more of the opinion that Gav Thorpe got it right, although as pointed out in other discussions, the 'pure' Thorpian approach is probably unworkable since all human society is inherently structured - we're cognitively incapable of functioning otherwise...

Another book worth reading is Scourge the Heretic by Sandy Mitchell. While Abnett's writings may have inspired a fair amount of Dark Heresy this book is literally written for it. It focuses on a group of acolytes (arbitrator, assassin, psyker, two guardsmen and a tech-priest, to be specific) seeking out heresy on Sepheris Secundus.

Snidesworth said:

There's a sequel to Scourge the Heretic due out next year as well, continuing where Scourge left off...

N0-1_H3r3 said:

Good to hear. I hadn't heard word of a sequel until now and was afraid things would be left unfinished.

Some people may argue that the original "inquisitors trilogy" (the one revolving around jaq draco and his grim band of adventurers) transport the feeling of the setting better than the (undisputedly good) dan abnett novels....

I must say that I really, really do not rate Draco. Not read the next two books, but....eh. It's not quite Goto bad, but it was pretty poor.

Snidesworth said:

Poor....it´s Ian Watson...a timeless piece of what 40k was....i won´t suggest to take it "like it´s all there is to know about 40k", but the basic idea is nicely shown. Cultists (Slaaneshi), Civilians, Space Marines, Abhumans, Traitors, Titans, Eldar...it got everything...

It does, but the handling of it felt slightly ham-fisted and juvenile. The short stories he did in the various compilation books struck me as the same.

For background fluff, I strongly recommend "The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer" an excellent background book in the form of a handbook issued to all new recruits to the Imperial Guard. It's absolutely fantastic.

Full of  usefull survival tips for the rookie trooper along with rules and regulations and fantastic propaganda (genestealer claws are weak and puny, Eldar weaponry is old and ineffective and they attack from long range because they are cowards!). In the back is a whole load of prayers and litanies for every conceivable  occasion e.g.  the Litany of unjamming, the Litany of Reloading and the Litany of  Impending Death!

This is a background book that you can actually use in game and I intend to, especially as one of my players is playing a Guardsman.  The Primer will act as the source of all his xenos related information, God Emperor help him...