The Essential Emperor's Children Storyline

It can be somewhat overwhelming to start reading Black Library books.  It's hard to know where to start and know what the most important novels are to read to get the story.  While I've done a fairly complete index of all Black Library fiction related to the Emperor's Children in the past, I thought it might be useful to present a pared down reading list in order to provide a new reader with the essential Emperor's Children storyline.

Here are essential books in the storyline:

1. Fulgrim

Fulgrim is the central Emperor's Children novel.  It presents a vivid picture of the legion in its pre-heresy glory, and details step by step how they fall to chaos.

2. The Reflection Crack'd

The Reflection Crack'd is a very important short story.  It establishes that Fulgrim is clearly in control of the path of the legion, and that he has a definite path in mind for his sons.

3. Angel Exterminatus

Angel Exterminatus is a pretty horrifying novel, but it describes in detail the ascension of Fulgrim to daemon princehood.

4. Path to Heaven

Path of Heaven may be one of the best novels of the Horus Heresy.  Having ascended, Fulgrim has essentially left the Legion to its own devices.  Eidolon has taken control of a third of the legion, which is rapidly being corrupted to chaos.  Nevertheless the Emperor's Children seek to prevent the White Scars from returning to Terra to defend the Emperor.

(Because the Horus Heresy is not yet complete, it is fairly certain that additional novels will be added to this list after Path of Heaven.)

5. Talon of Horus

Paradoxically Talon of Horus is an optional inclusion to this essentials list.  It does not centrally feature the III Legion, but it does provide a short but insightful snap shot into their activities after the Horus Heresy.

6. Fabius Bile: Primogenitor

While a 40K book, this bio pict on Fabius Bile provides a wealth of information regarding the state of the Emperor's Children in the 41st millennium.

Hope this is helpful!