Guy Haley is one of Black Library’s most prolific Warhammer 40,000 authors. If you’ve read a big event novel in the last decade, chances are it had his name on the cover.
Who he is and why he matters
Haley writes for Black Library, Games Workshop’s publishing arm. He’s tackled almost every corner of the 40k universe: Space Marines, the Imperial Guard, the Adeptus Mechanicus, even Warhammer Crime.
He’s best known for the Dark Imperium trilogy, which helped launch the modern 40k era, and for his work on the Dawn of Fire series. He also writes Horus Heresy novels, Primarch books, and audio dramas.
Major series and novels
His Dark Imperium trilogy (Dark Imperium, Plague War, Godblight) follows the Indomitus Crusade and the return of Roboute Guilliman. It’s a good starting point for newcomers to the current setting.
The Dawn of Fire series includes Avenging Son, Throne of Light, and The Silent King. These books push the narrative forward and often tie into major lore events.
For the Horus Heresy, he wrote Pharos, Wolfsbane, and Titandeath, plus Primarch novels like Perturabo: Hammer of Olympia and Konrad Curze: The Night Haunter. He also contributed to the Siege of Terra with The Lost and the Damned.
- Dark Imperium trilogy: Dark Imperium (2017), Plague War (2018), Godblight (2021)
- Dawn of Fire: Avenging Son (2020), Throne of Light (2022), The Silent King (2025)
- Horus Heresy: Pharos (2015), Wolfsbane (2018), Titandeath (2018)
- Primarchs: Perturabo (2017), Corax (2018), Konrad Curze (2019)
- Siege of Terra: The Lost and the Damned (2019)
Belisarius Cawl and other characters
Haley has written a trio of novels about Belisarius Cawl, the controversial Archmagos Dominus. The Great Work (2019) explores Cawl’s past and his grand plans, while Genefather (2023) and Archmagos (2025) continue his story.
He’s also written about the Blood Angels, including the novel Dante and its sequel Darkness of the Blood, plus the novella Astorath: Angel of Mercy. These were later collected in the Lords of Blood omnibus.
Beyond novels
Haley’s shorter work shows up in anthologies and audio dramas. For the Horus Heresy, he wrote audio dramas like Strike and Fade and Hunter’s Moon, and short stories such as The Laurel of Defiance and A Safe and Shadowed Place.
He’s contributed to Warhammer Crime with the novel Flesh and Steel, and written for Necromunda, Blackstone Fortress, and the Imperial Guard (Baneblade, Stormlord). His background books include works for the 40k roleplaying games.
Key facts
- Guy Haley is a Black Library author writing Warhammer 40,000 fiction.
- He wrote the Dark Imperium trilogy (2017-2021) and the Dawn of Fire series.
- His Horus Heresy work includes Pharos, Wolfsbane, and Titandeath.
- He’s written multiple novels about Belisarius Cawl and the Blood Angels.
- He also contributes short stories, audio dramas, and background books.
FAQ
What is Guy Haley best known for?
He’s best known for the Dark Imperium trilogy and the Dawn of Fire series, which are central to the modern Warhammer 40,000 storyline.
Which Guy Haley book should I start with?
If you’re new to 40k, start with Dark Imperium. It’s a good entry point for the current era and doesn’t require deep background knowledge.
Has Guy Haley written about Belisarius Cawl?
Yes, he wrote Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work, Genefather, and Archmagos, forming a loose trilogy about the Archmagos.