After the 1987 release of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 wargame, a military and science fantasy universe set in the far future, the company began publishing background literature to expand on existing material, introduce new content, and provide detailed descriptions of the universe, its characters, and its events. Since 1997, most of the background literature has been published by the affiliated imprint Black Library. An expanding roster of authors contributes to a growing collection of fiction across various formats and media, including audio, digital and print. These works, which range from full-length novels and novellas, to short stories, graphic novels, and audio dramas, are parts of named book series.

The Horus Heresy

Novel series

The saga chronologically continued with the Siege of Terra novels.

Siege of Terra novel series

Primarchs of The Horus Heresy

Other characters from The Horus Heresy

Novellas

Siege of Terra novellas

Audio Dramas

Omnibus

This omnibus edition contains the books Horus Rising, False Gods and Galaxy in Flames, and also the stories "The Wolf of Ash and Fire", "Lord of the Red Sands" and "Death of a Silversmith" included in book #35, #33, and #22 respectively This omnibus edition contains the books Fulgrim and Angel Exterminatus, the novellas The Crimson Fist and The Reflection Crack'd, and also the stories "The Phoenician", "Iron Within", "Imperfect", "Chirurgeon" and "Lucius the Eternal Blade" included in book #22, #20, #33, #16, #33, #33, and #31 respectively This omnibus edition contains the books A Thousand Sons and Prospero Burns, and also the stories "Howl of the Hearthworld", "Rebirth", "Hunter's Moon" and "Thief of Revelations".

The Beast Arises

Adepta Sororitas

Short Stories

Adeptus Mechanicus

Forge of Mars series

Adeptus Mechanicus duology

Other stories

Adeptus Titanicus

Alpha Legion

Astra Militarum

Novels

Other stories

Bastion Wars

Authored by Henry Zou

Black Templars

Authored by Jonathan Green

Blood Angels

Novel series

Authored by James Swallow

Other stories

Mephiston trilogy

Authored by Darius Hinks

Carcharodons

Chaos Space Marines

Abaddon the Despoiler

Ahzek Ahriman

Khârn the Betrayer

Fabius Bile

Lucius the Eternal

Ciaphas Cain

Authored by Alex Stewart under the pseudonym

Novel series

Other stories

Commisar Yarrick

Authored by David Annandale

Crimson Fists

Dark Angels

Legacy of Caliban trilogy

Other stories

Dark Eldar

Authored by Andy Chambers

Novel trilogy

Other stories

Dark Heresy

Authored by Sandy Mitchell

Dawn of Fire

Dawn of War

Novel trilogy

Authored by Cassern S. Goto

Other stories

Death Guard

Deathwatch

Novel duology

Authored by Cassern S. Goto

Other stories

Novel Series

Eldar

Path of the Eldar

Authored by Gav Thorpe

Phoenix Lords

Other stories

Emperor's Children

Gathering Storm

Novel series

Other stories

Gaunt's Ghosts

Authored by Dan Abnett

Novel series

Other stories

Genestealer Cults

Gothic War

Authored by Gordon Rennie

Grey Knights

Novel trilogy

Authored by Ben Counter

Other stories

Castellan Crowe series

Imperial Knights

Inquisitors

Eisenhorn

Authored by Dan Abnett

Ravenor

Authored by Dan Abnett

Bequin

Authored by Dan Abnett

Czevak

Authored by Rob Sanders

Astor Sabbathiel

Authored by George Mann

Inquisition

Vaults of Terra trilogy

The Horusian Wars trilogy

Agent of the Throne audio drama series

Watchers of the Throne trilogy

Other stories

Inquisition War

Authored by Ian Watson

Iron Hands

Iron Warriors

Authored by Graham McNeill – these works are closely linked to the Ultramarines Series

Last Chancers

Authored by Gav Thorpe

Legends of the Dark Millennium

Macharian Crusade

Necromunda

Novel series

Other stories

Necrons

The Twice-Dead King

Authored by Nate Crowley

Other stories

Night Lords

Authored by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Novel series

Other stories

Officio Assassinorum

Orks

Raven Guard

Authored by George Mann

Rise of the Ynnari

Rogue Trader

Novel trilogy

Authored by Andy Hoare

Blackstone Fortress

Other stories

Salamanders

Authored by Nick Kyme

Tome of Fire trilogy

Circle of Fire trilogy

Shira Calpurnia

Authored by Matthew Farrer

Silver Skulls

Soul Drinkers

Authored by Ben Counter

Novel series

Other stories

Space Marine Battles

Novels and Anthologies

Space Marine Legends series

Lords of the Space Marines series

Omnibus

Space Marine Conquests

Novels

Space Marines Heroes series

Other stories

Space Wolves

Ragnar series

Sagas of the Space Wolves series

Blood of Asaheim series

War Zone: Fenris series

Other stories

T'au Empire

Short Stories

Ultramarines

Authored by Graham McNeill – these works are closely linked to the Iron Warriors Series

Novel series

Other stories

White Scars

Word Bearers

Authored by Anthony Reynolds

Novel series

Warhammer Crime

Anthologies

Audio dramas

Warhammer 40k other releases

Anthologies

Space Marines anthology series

Audio dramas

Gamebooks

Novels

E-shorts

Hammer and Bolter stories

Hammer and Bolter was a download-only Black Library monthly e-magazine published between October 2010 and November 2012. It included short stories, novel extracts, and serialized novellas in text and audio formats.

Inferno! stories

Inferno! was a bi-monthly print magazine published by the Black Library between July 1997 and January 2005.