Following the 1987 initial release of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 wargame, set in a far future science fantasy universe, the company began publishing background literature that expands previous material, adds new material, and describes the universe, its characters, and its events in detail.
Since 1997 the bulk of background literature has been published by the affiliated imprint Black Library. The increasing number of fiction works by an expanding list of authors is published in several formats and media, including audio, digital and print. Most of the works, which include full-length novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels, and audio dramas, are parts of named book series.
Entries marked with an asterisk (*) have been collected in omnibus editions.
Authored by Henry Zou
Authored by Dan Abnett – these works are closely linked to the Eisenhorn and Ravenor stories
Authored by Jonathan Green
Authored by James Swallow
Authored by Alex Stewart under the pseudonym Sandy Mitchell
Authored by David Annandale
Authored by Christian Dunn
Authored by Andy Chambers
Authored by Sandy Mitchell
Authored by Dan Abnett – these works are closely linked to the Bequin and Ravenor stories