WH40K Marine Recommendations

[FarAway Sooner]

So, I'm looking for some reading recommendations around Space Marine literature in the WH40K world.  My tastes don't run typical to a lot of the genre, so let me elaborate.

I really liked the Gaunt's Ghosts series and have read the first 6 books (2 omnibus trilogies).  I liked the fact that they weren't just bad-ass Forces of Righteous Imperial Might, but had to accomplish stuff through superior cleverness, skill, and subterfuge.  I'm not looking for some WH40K literature where the primary virtues of the Marines are badassery, huge weapons, monstrous strength, and general willingness to be tough (like anybody who goes to war plans to be a wimp).

That's where I struggle with the WH40K stuff--the lines between good and evil only get blurred when REMFs enter the picture.  But, with Gaunt's soldiers, the REMFs were at leats a persistent threat.  I'm just not interested in books where victory belongs to the guy with the biggest penis gun, and I worry that an awful lot of the Marines WH40K literature might feature that.

Any recommendations would be welcomed.  One other request:  Please avoid spoilers.  Thanks!   :D

[Arctic Blast]

You might like the Blood Angels omnibuses. Definitely a lot goes...wrong. The Soul Drinkers omnibus might work as well, though it gets a little bit silly in places.

[undercovergeek]

You might like the Blood Angels omnibuses. Definitely a lot goes...wrong. The Soul Drinkers omnibus might work as well, though it gets a little bit silly in places.

im on Blood Angels omnibus 2, foolishly purchased before 1 because i thought 2 would contain 1 - sigh, anyway - its spectacular - none of that might is right, we are marines so we will win crap at all

[Jarhead0331]

I thought Soul Hunter, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden was phenomenal.  It is extremely well written, and it is not your typical WH40K sci-fi.  All around, I think it is one of the best WH40K novels ever written.  The characters are complex and conflicted...it seems to be what you're looking for.

It is the first book in the Night Lords trilogy.

I'd also check out the Horus Heresy books.  They seem to take a deeper look at the Space Marines.  Most of the books in this series show how despite their physical perfection, the Space Marines and the Primarchs are still fallible.

[FarAway Sooner]

Thanks, guys!  The suggestions are much appreciated.  I'll use your recommendations and pick one of 'em up sometime soon.

[FarAway Sooner]

Just thought I'd revive this thread to let you know that I read both the first and second trilogies of the Blood Angels.  I enjoyed both, and found them a lot more complicated than I'd anticipated.  However, by the end of the second trilogy, I found the storylines feeling a bit repetitive.

Both were a good nice read and had some very excellent scenes, but I think I prefer the Gaunt's Ghosts WH40K novels myself.  To each their own, but the second volume in the Gaunt series and especially the final book in the second trilogy were freaking awesome!