Warhammer 40k novels seem to be the male equivalent of romantasy novels. The pulpy over-the-top grimdark action set in a technofascist dystopian world checks all of the boxes that the average cishet man with autistic tendencies might be looking for.

Suffice to say, that what I’ve read so far of the Eisenhorn series would immediately crumble under a crude feminist analysis (of the three women introduced in the text thus far, one dies immediately, the second is in an asylum and the third is a sex worker with the preternatural ability to repulse everyone around her).

The first book in the Eisenhorn series, Xenos, reads like a Micheal Bay movie adapted into a novel. The text is the text, if you’re looking for subtext you won’t find it.

But, there’s value in critically thinking about any and all art and Warhammer 40k novels are no exception to this. Especially, when they’re this much fun, bold and satirical.

Bonus points for at least one interesting autistic depiction…

‘Most perturbatory,’ said Aemos. It was his most frequent expression.

[…]

“Uber Aemos was my savant, and my longest serving companion.”

[…]

I saw how Aemos watched the work with keen interest, making notes to himself on a data-slate strapped to his wrist. At the age of forty-two, he had contracted a meme-virus that altered his brain function for ever, driving him to collect information – any sort of information – whenever he got the chance. He was pathologically compelled to acquire knowledge, a data-addict. That made him an aggravating, easily sidetracked companion, and a perfect savant, as four inquisitors had discovered.

… which I’m excited to unpack over the course of the series.

• Xenos: ⭐⭐⭐⭐▫️
• Malleus:
• Hereticus: