The Ultramarines series is Graham McNeill’s run of novels about Ultramarines Captain Uriel Ventris, one of the most popular Space Marine story arcs Black Library has published. It’s a good entry point if you want to see how the Ultramarines actually fight, argue and doubt themselves, rather than just reading about them in a codex.
What the series covers
The series follows Uriel Ventris from his first command as Captain of the 4th Company through to some very dark places. McNeill wrote seven novels in the main run, plus several short stories and an audio drama that fill in the gaps between them.
The first three novels were collected in The Ultramarines Omnibus, which also includes the short story Chains of Command. The next three, along with the short story Eye of Vengeance and the graphic short Black Bone Road, went into Ultramarines: The Second Omnibus in 2012.
- Nightbringer: Ventris takes over the 4th Company and heads to Pavonis, where an ancient horror is waking up.
- Warriors of Ultramar: a Tyranid splinter fleet bears down on Tarsis Ultra, and Ventris has to decide whether to follow the Codex Astartes or break from it.
- Dead Sky, Black Sun: the story takes a much darker turn, sending Ventris into the Eye of Terror.
- The Killing Ground, Courage and Honour, The Chapter’s Due and The Swords of Calth round out the run.
Omnibus editions and reissues
If you want to read the series in print, the two omnibuses are the easiest way in. Both were reissued in 2019 under new titles, and the reissues added extra short stories that weren’t in the originals.
The first omnibus became The Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume 1, which adds Leviathan and Consequences. The second became Uriel Ventris: Volume 2, which adds Codex and Do Eagles Still Circle the Mountain?
| Collection | Contents |
|---|---|
| The Ultramarines Omnibus | Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky Black Sun, Chains of Command |
| Ultramarines: The Second Omnibus | The Killing Ground, Courage and Honour, The Chapter’s Due, Eye of Vengeance, Black Bone Road |
| Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume 1 (2019) | First omnibus content plus Leviathan and Consequences |
| Uriel Ventris: Volume 2 (2019) | Second omnibus content plus Codex and Do Eagles Still Circle the Mountain? |
Short stories and audio
The series isn’t just novels. Several short stories featuring the same cast appeared in anthologies, including Torias Telion: The Eye of Vengeance, Marneus Calgar: Lord of Ultramar, Two Kinds of Fool, The Death of Uriel Ventris and The Labyrinth of Lost Souls.
Eye of Vengeance also got a standalone audio drama release in April 2012, which is handy if you’d rather listen than read.
Why it matters
The Ultramarines are the poster boys of Warhammer 40,000, and this series is one of the main reasons why. It takes a Chapter that’s often written off as rigid and by-the-book and gives it characters who actually wrestle with what the Codex Astartes demands of them.
Ventris is the hook. He’s not a maverick for the sake of it, and he’s not a mindless follower either. Watching him try to do the right thing inside a system that doesn’t always reward that is what keeps people reading.
Key facts
- Written by Graham McNeill and published by Black Library.
- Follows Captain Uriel Ventris of the Ultramarines 4th Company.
- Seven main novels, starting with Nightbringer and ending with The Swords of Calth.
- Collected in two omnibuses, both reissued in 2019 with extra short stories.
- Includes short stories and the Eye of Vengeance audio drama.
- A good starting point for readers new to Space Marine fiction.
FAQ
Do I need to read the Ultramarines series in order?
Yes, it’s worth reading in publication order. The novels build on Ventris’s career and relationships, and later books assume you know what happened earlier.
Who wrote the Ultramarines series?
Graham McNeill wrote the main run of novels and most of the tie-in short stories.
How many novels are in the Ultramarines series?
Seven main novels, from Nightbringer through to The Swords of Calth, plus short stories and an audio drama.