First and Only

Gaunt's Ghost, Book 1

By: Dan Abnett

Narrated by: Toby Longworth

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

A Warhammer 40,000 audiobook.   

In the Chaos-infested Sabbat Worlds, Imperial Commissar Gaunt must lead his men through as much in-fighting amongst rival regiments as against the forces of Chaos.   

Listen to it because: First and Only was one of the first books published by Black Library and is the most read Warhammer 40,000 novel ever, an absolute classic. This story begins the saga of Colonel Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only that has since grown into a multi-novel epic. It all starts here.  

The story: For a thousand years, the Sabbat Worlds have been lost to the Imperium, claimed by the dread powers of Chaos. Now, a mighty crusade seeks to return the sector to Imperial rule. And at the forefront of that crusade are Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only - better known as Gaunt’s Ghosts. Trapped in the grinding trench warfare of Fortis Binary, the Ghosts find themselves drawn into a conspiracy to assassinate the crusade’s leader, Warmaster Macaroth. 

With enemies all around them and no one to trust, Gaunt and his men must find a way to save the warmaster and prevent the Sabbat Worlds Crusade from falling into anarchy - even if it means waging war on their supposed allies.

©2019 Games Workshop Limited (P)2019 Games Workshop Limited

About Fething Time!

As an avid fan of 40k fiction and tabletop, Gaunt's Ghosts has always be a favorite. The opening book of the series is an excellent story filled with intrigue, action and most importantly, character development. If you are looking for the first book in a masterpiece of a series(And the first ever Black Library book ever), you should take a listen. Toby does a fantastic job portraying what Abnett has written on the pages. What are you waiting for you Feth stains!?! Get this book!

Shut up and take my money!

But seriously, Abnett's writing is on point as always. A lot of credit needs to go to Toby Longworth, the narrator. He has an amazing range as a voice actor, able to bring dozens of characters to life simultaneously. I highly recommend this and his rendition of Abnett's other work Brothers of the Snake.

Great Listen

Disclaimer: I love the Gaunt’s Ghosts books. I have bought them all at least 3 separate times at this point. Hardcover, paperback, and ebook for all and I’m looking forward to getting more.
I won’t bore you with a review of the story as there are countless others out there. This is a faithful and exacting recreation in audio form. The performance is also great. The only bad part is that of the 4 GG audiobooks available as of this review, there are 3 different narrators. This can make it slightly confusing book to book as they pronounce names differently and give some main characters different voices. It’s still a great listen and I really hope they decide to do the others books as well.

Glad that I chose this one to try.

Perfection of both story and narration in one great literary work of dark military science fiction fantasy

Loved It

I read this series years ago and have been waiting for an audiobook for quite some time. I'll be impatiently waiting for the next one in the series.

I've been begging for this for years

This is the first book in a truly epic series. This transcends the 40k universe and makes 40k amazing.

great book

loved the book and the performance although I prefer the narrator of salvation's reach. hope they make the rest of the series.

Couldn’t even finish it.

I don’t understand how anyone can like this book. The author labels paragraphs chapters, no character has any depth, and there is no reason to care about any of them. It skips back and forth between sprinting through Guant’s backstory and the sprinting through the present day.

We meet Gaunt’s mentor for three paragraphs, then in the next flashback he is dead and its explained in two sentences. In the present it starts a battle then skips to several hours in. The book largely introduces characters that don’t have models for the game just so they can be killed off next “chapter.”

To top it all of the voice acting is cliche. Really, the regiment called “Tanith” are Scottish, and their leader is Victorian styled British? Yikes.

I'm a fan.

I got this on a whim and it is now one of my favorite Warhammer 40k Novels. Definately getting the next book.

Thank the Emperor

So glad this is finally on here!!! Lets get the rest of the series and you can have my money!

Please make the rest of the series into audio!

This is my favourite book series of all time, to the point where my main tabletop army is the Tanith First and Only. Toby Longworth is also my favourite narrator, so it pains me that only the 1st book, and for whatever reason books 14/15/16, are in audio format. I need me more Gaunt!

Abnett Strikes again.

Band of Brothers but in 40k. One of the best from Black Library. Truly epic. Longworth shines as well.

Start of an epic saga

Loved this book when I first read it and was delighted to find it here. I do so hope that the rest of the series find their way to Audible.

this is the start of the series that really defined a universe for me and made the great catalogue of books from the 40K universe what they are. An epic saga in it's own right without Annette's work I don't think you'd get the amazing stuff Black library has gone on to create since. so pleased he's still one of their star players!

Dan’s done it again

Up to now I’ve only read and listened to the Horus Heresy so I was unsure about a Imperial army story set long after the original heresy but Dan’s done it again and with Toby Longworth narration it’s an absolute gem looking forward to the next 4 Gaunt stories

Vermilion level book

I picked this book up to have a change of narrative coming from finishing the Eisenhorn trilogy, the intention to hopefully enjoy a different perspective of the imperium from the mind of a Commissar. I had heard nothing but good things about the Gaunt's Ghosts Novels and thought I would give it a try. (I listen to audiobooks in bursts of 40 - 50 mins while running 3 times a week)

Honestly, I nearly did not finish reading this book, on my first run-through I must have been a bit unengaged as they were a point two hours in where I was completely lost off to the story and where it was going to the point of frustration. Normally this would be a death sentence for a book for me but something told me to give it another try and pay more attention this time and I am glad I did. I can see why it is one of the most read 40k books ever and loved all the characters once I had payed enough attention know who they were properly. Story escalates nicely from the original mission to the over-arcing story and wrapped up making me want more.The plan was to dive into the Ravenor series after this one but now I think I am going to be diving into Book two Ghostmaker instead.

Finally

Just finally I get to listen to the book I read these many years ago

a great story and stoey teller

I love the story, and I think that Toby Longworth needs to do the most of 40k books.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Enjoyed the book, it was a great story and the narrator was excellent as always

An impressive start

Was told this was Sharpe in 40k, was not disappointed. will definitely read more Gaunt.

Brilliant book

My first time reading a warhammer book and at first I find it hard to immerse myself in the narration but that changes after the first couple of hours and then I was loving it