In the grim darkness of the 40k universe, war is a way of life.  Ciaphas Cain, a commisar in the Imperial Guard, is called in to bring discipline and authority to an unruly band of soldiers assembled from the remnants left over from previous battles.  Shortly after his arrival, Cain and his soldiers are faced with the unenviable position of securing order to a planet on the fringe of Tau space.  Following the assasination of a local ambassador, Cain and his troops find themselves on the edge of war.

 

Follow Cain and his troops as they search out the truth of why the ambassador was killed.  How can Cain keep his heroic image despite being a self-described scoundrel who's only on the look out for his own safety?  How will  he find a way to survive the horrors of a world tearing itself apart from within?  What's the deal with his attendant, and why do psychers fall to pieces around him?

 

For the Emperor is a wonderful and quick read that introduces us to the character Ciaphas Cain, and is the first book in what promises to be an exciting and thrilling collection of books.  Written from Cain's point of view as a form of memoir, this novel is an excellent way to dive straight into the universe of Warhammer 40,000, and I feel that any fan of the science fiction genre would do well to give it a shot.  It's far from Shakespeare, but its humor and grit make it well worth the time.