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Is Gaunt’s Ghosts: First and Only worth reading? Yes — it’s the definitive Imperial Guard war story and one of Black Library’s most acclaimed series openers. Dan Abnett’s 1999 novel introduces Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the Tanith First-and-Only — the last survivors of a homeworld destroyed in its first hour of war — as they fight through the meat-grinder of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. If the Space Marines are 40k’s demigods, Gaunt’s Ghosts is about the ordinary soldiers dying in the mud, and it’s magnificent.
This review is spoiler-light. For more starting points, see our best Warhammer books guide.
Where to Buy Gaunt’s Ghosts: First and Only
Our pick of edition: First and Only – 20th Anniversary Edition (Kindle).
Price details
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What is First and Only about?
Colonel-Commissar Gaunt leads the Tanith First — nicknamed “Gaunt’s Ghosts” for their stealth and for being the sole remnant of a world that no longer exists. They’re superb scouts and skirmishers, bitter about their losses, and perpetually thrown into the worst fighting of a galaxy-spanning crusade against Chaos.
First and Only follows the regiment through brutal campaigns while a political knife-fight plays out behind the lines: rival officers, Imperial intrigue, and a conspiracy that threatens Gaunt as much as any enemy shell. It’s military science fiction in the truest sense — trench warfare, command decisions, and the human cost of the Imperium’s endless wars, told from the perspective of the men and women who pay it.
Why it’s a landmark
- It made the Imperial Guard matter. Before the Ghosts, Guard fiction was thin; Abnett turned the setting’s ordinary humans into its most affecting heroes.
- The regiment is the real protagonist. You come to know the Ghosts as people — Rawne, Larkin, Bragg, Corbec — and their losses land hard.
- Gaunt is a superb lead. A commissar who actually cares for his troops, caught between duty, politics, and conscience.
- Abnett writes war brilliantly. Tense, tactical, and grounded, with a real sense of what combat costs.
The good
- The gold standard for 40k military fiction. If you want boots-on-the-ground war in the grim darkness, this is it.
- Deep, lasting characters. The series rewards long-term readers with one of Black Library’s best ensembles.
- A complete, satisfying opener that still sets up a sprawling saga.
The not-so-good
- Early-series structure. First and Only jumps around in time more than later, more streamlined entries — a couple of readers find the opening a touch disjointed.
- Grim and grief-heavy. Abnett is not precious about his cast; if you get attached, it will hurt.
- It’s the start of a long road. The series runs many volumes, so a great opener is also a serious commitment.
Who should read it?
- Fans of military science fiction — this is 40k’s finest.
- Readers who want the human side of the Imperium, not superhuman Astartes.
- Anyone building an Astra Militarum army — pair it with our Astra Militarum army guide.
For the comedic take on Guard life, pair it with our Ciaphas Cain review — the two together show the full range of Imperial Guard fiction.
Verdict
First and Only launched a series that many fans consider the heart of Black Library’s catalogue. It’s grim, human, and gripping — a war story that makes you care about ordinary soldiers in a setting obsessed with gods and monsters. Essential reading.
Our rating: 9 / 10 — the best Imperial Guard fiction, and a Black Library landmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is First and Only the first Gaunt’s Ghosts book?
Yes. It’s the first novel in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series and the recommended starting point, followed by Ghostmaker and Necropolis in the opening “Founding” arc.
Do I need to read Gaunt’s Ghosts in order?
Yes, more so than most Black Library series — it’s a continuous saga with an evolving cast, so reading in order gives the character arcs and losses their full weight.
Is Gaunt’s Ghosts good for newcomers?
It’s very accessible and requires no prior lore, though its serious, grief-heavy tone suits readers who want grounded military drama over light adventure.
Who wrote Gaunt’s Ghosts?
Dan Abnett, Black Library’s most acclaimed author, who also wrote Horus Rising and the Eisenhorn series.
Who is Commissar Ibram Gaunt?
Ibram Gaunt is an Imperial commissar and colonel who commands the Tanith First-and-Only. Orphaned young, he was raised in the Schola Progenium and mentored by Commissar Delane Oktar. He served in Warmaster Slaydo’s Sabbat Worlds Crusade before taking command of the Tanith regiment at its founding. His political enemies and loyalty to his troops drive much of the series.
What is the Sabbat Worlds Crusade?
It is the Imperial campaign to retake the Sabbat Worlds, a cluster of systems seized by Chaos, and it is the backdrop for the whole Gaunt’s Ghosts series. Warmaster Slaydo launched it, and Warmaster Macaroth continued it after Slaydo’s death. Dan Abnett has set many other novels and short stories in the same crusade.
Who is Caffran in Gaunt’s Ghosts?
Caffran is a young Tanith trooper who serves with the Ghosts from the first book onward. He’s best remembered for his relationship with Tona Criid, the Verghastite ganger who joins the regiment in Necropolis. Together they raise two children rescued from Vervunhive. He is one of the rank-and-file Ghosts readers follow across many volumes.