Gaunt’s Ghosts is Dan Abnett’s long-running military sci-fi series about the Tanith First and Only, a light infantry regiment of the Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) fighting through the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. It’s one of Black Library’s most popular and influential book series, and it’s also playable on the tabletop.
What the series is
The books follow Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the soldiers of the Tanith First, a regiment from a destroyed world that’s often overlooked by the wider Imperial war machine. Gaunt is unusual because he holds both a commissar’s political authority and official command of a regiment.
Abnett drew inspiration from Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels, so expect grounded soldiering, dry humour, and a rotating cast rather than a single hero’s journey. The viewpoint shifts between characters, usually from the Imperial side but sometimes from the enemy’s.
Publication history and structure
The series started as short stories in the Black Library magazine Inferno! before the story ‘Vermilion Level’ was expanded into the novel First and Only, which became Black Library’s first original novel. The early shorts later turned up as flashback chapters in the second book, Ghostmaker.
The novels are grouped into story arcs. Three are complete and the fourth was still being published as of the early 2020s. As of 2019 the series spans 16 novels, and the run began in 1999.
- Author: Dan Abnett, published by Black Library (Games Workshop)
- First novel: First and Only (1999)
- 16 novels as of 2019, with a fourth arc ongoing
- Omnibus editions collect the arcs, including The Founding and The Saint
Why it matters
Gaunt’s Ghosts helped define what Warhammer 40,000 fiction could be: human-scale, character-driven, and focused on ordinary soldiers instead of Space Marines. It’s often the series people recommend to newcomers who want a way into the setting.
It also connects outward. Elements of the series reappear in Abnett’s Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies, and it spun off the novels Double Eagle and Titanicus. There’s even a mock historical book about the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, plus badges, shirts, and special editions.
The Ghosts on the tabletop
The Tanith First returned to Warhammer 40,000 as a miniature squad you can field as an HQ choice in any Astra Militarum army. They’re built around stealth and specialist skills, and each named character brings something different.
They’re expert scouts and light infantry, so they can appear where your opponent least expects and stay hidden from all but the closest threats. Many of their abilities buff the whole squad.
| Character | Tabletop role |
|---|---|
| Ibram Gaunt | Squad leader and close-combat fighter; keeps the squad in line |
| Colonel Corbec | Voice of command; helps activate Stratagems |
| Major Rawne | Close combat with his Tanith straight silver knife |
| Hlaine Larkin | Master sniper with a long-las; spots enemy positions |
| Trooper Bragg | Carries heavy weapons, though his accuracy is poor |
| Sergeant Oan Mkoll | Stealth specialist; guides the squad through enemy territory |
Key facts
- Gaunt’s Ghosts is a military sci-fi novel series by Dan Abnett, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
- It follows the Tanith First and Only, a light infantry regiment of the Astra Militarum, during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.
- The protagonist is Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, one of the few commissars given official command of a regiment.
- It began in 1999 and spans 16 novels as of 2019, organised into multi-book arcs.
- The series inspired spin-offs including Double Eagle and Titanicus, and links to Abnett’s Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies.
- The Ghosts also exist as a playable Astra Militarum HQ squad in the tabletop game.
FAQ
Do I need to read Gaunt’s Ghosts in order?
It helps, since the arcs build on the same cast and the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Starting with First and Only or the Founding omnibus is the usual advice.
Is Gaunt’s Ghosts connected to Eisenhorn?
Yes, loosely. Elements of the series reappear in Abnett’s Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies, though you don’t need one to follow the other.
Can you use Gaunt’s Ghosts in Warhammer 40,000?
Yes. They have a datasheet and can be taken as an HQ choice in any Astra Militarum army for open, narrative, or matched play.