Overall that's my goal, but I'm hesitant of SM central stories because of how many there are and how their quality. .. varies. Have found some I like and ultimately I am sympathetic to the Emperor's cause, but to me he asked your for your very soul(forsake your beliefs) and forsake your independence. However, I am willing to dabble in good SM lore. I rather liked Scars, for 1. I understand why someone would turn to him for survivals sake, but he just asks too much and his methods became too unsavory for my tastes.
Luckily, free-thought is beaten out repeatedly with a Power Fist. Or if you're lucky enough to be part of the IG, the hand of a Commissar.
First three in the HH are three of the best: they basically take you from the days of glory in the Great Crusade to the almighty hellstorm of Istvaan III. Fulgrim then gets you to Istvaan V. Advance warning, though. The Word Bearers, and Lorgar in particular, don't get the smoothest of rides in the books that focus on them! If you want to see a slightly different side of chaos, Daemon World (not HH) is an interesting take, which some Word Bearers as minor characters. Storm of Iron and the Night Lords trilogy are both excellent, and look at two of the other EC chaos factions. The Black Legion are only just starting to get this kind of attention, but Talon of Horus is a good story of the birth of the Black Legion, and features the infinitely quotable sorceror Iskandar Khayon. Outside of those focused purely on Chaos, there's a reason that Dan Abnett's stuff gets raved about. The Gaunt's Ghosts series and Eisenhorn trilogy are both excellent.
