(The Emperor confronting his heretical son, Horus)And there is only....War.
Such is the opening tag of Warhammer 40k, a table top game started in the 80s that today has a HUGE back story that has taken a life of its own. Ive known about 40k for a long time but Ive only started reading into it after I finished the Dune series a week ago. Like Dune 40k is set in a dark far future that would seem bizarre to us present day folk. Humanity is spread over a million worlds and is besieged on all fronts by aliens, ancient killing machines and the dark heretical forces of Chaos.
The story of 40k is so large that it would take multiple blog posts to just summon up the basics. I will just mention a bit of info and some history. (And lets face it, other then Dr. Smith who the hell is going to show any interest?)
The Imperium of Man is ruled by the God Emperor who is himself half dead after nearly being killed by his own son during the Horus Heresy (30,200 - 30,207 A.D.). The God Emperor in the 40k world is a god like deity worshiped by all loyal Imperial citizens.
The Imperium is large, from the Inquisition to the Space Marines writing about it would take time, so ill only point out my favorite organization within the Imperium, the Imperial Guard. The IG are normal men and women who are given a las-rifle and flak armor and told to fight huge insect like aliens, hordes of Orks, sadistic Dark Eldar and even the Demons of the Warp. The IG is a trillion plus army that forms the principle defense of the Imperium of Man. Unlike the superhuman skills of the Space Marines the IG's only strength is in their numbers, weaponry and near fanatical devotion to the God Emperor and Humanity.
For further reading into 40k I suggest you check out Wikipedia which has a large selection of articles.
Main 40k Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_40%2C000
Imperium of Man Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperium_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29
While 40k has dozens of books, comics and video games the table top is still played by thousands worldwide.
Games Workshop:
http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40K/default.htm
Forge World:
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/
And finally two great videos about 40k,
The intro video to a 40k video game,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiM8drnIR0Y
A tribute to the Imperial Guard,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Ewd8OeYEA
Final word on the scope of 40k, Humanity is but one faction. Check out the Tau, Eldar, Necrons, Chaos, Orks etc and their many splinter groups and factions.
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